Brief:
This past summer, I discovered the CultTVman Fantastic Modeling sci-fi modeling site. Being dedicated to sci-fi, it has plenty of information on starships, spaceships, and saucers. The site even offers limited edition kits that may be suitable for PMC. The Ultimate Modeling Guide to Classic Sci-Fi Movies is a compendium of 17 of the site's most popular build articles. I bought mine from Jack Hagerty/ARA Press at NARAM-50.

Construction:
This soft cover book is large-format (nominally 8 ½" x 11") and features lots of B&W photos and illustrations, with a few in color. The articles are "expert quality" and are compiled and edited by the site manager, Steve Iverson. I lifted the table of contents from Jack's site:

Foreword by Star Trek's Rick Sternbach

A Trip to the Moon - the first sci-fi movie spaceship - a diorama by Steve Iverson using the Herb Deeks kit

Flash Gordon's Rocketship by John Lester covers building Herb Deeks resin kit and finishing it with metallic paints

Destination Moon's Luna by Jim Piszar builds the Lunar Models kit and features the use of Light Line for lighting

Rocketship X-M by Dave Bengel uses the Lunar kit and discusses scratchbuilding parts as well as casting replacement parts

Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still by Bill Bryan shows resin figure construction

The War of the Worlds Martian War Machine by Ron Gross builds the Skyhook Models kit

The Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jim James features the kit from Comet Miniatures in a creative model display

The C-57D from Forbidden Planet Marc King builds the Polar Lights model and Bob Perovich offers painting suggestions

Robby the Robot by S.M. Clark features the Polar Lights kit and discusses lighting, finishing as well as comprehensive construction tips

The Time Machine by Joel Tavera is a build up of the Lunar Models kit and offers suggestions for a creative diorama

The Proteus from Fantastic Voyage is another model by Joel Tavera using the Lunar Models kit and presents some lighting and detailing suggestions

The Planet of the Apes spaceship by Shane Johnson modifies the Monsters In Motion kit and place it in a diorama

The Discovery Greg Harmon details the restoration of the studio model from 2010. Mike Evans discusses the creation and construction and building of the kit from Lunar Models. Model by Michael Alvarez.

The Orion from 2001 by Jay Chladek uses the Airfix kit to present the basics of styrene kit construction

The Enterprise from Star Trek: the Motion Picture by Don Matthys with models and photos by Joel Tavera and Kyu Woong-Lee. Covers the use of aftermarket parts and painting the ship.

The Enterprise A Studio Model is a history of the filming miniature by Jay Chladek with photos by Jeff Brown

Tool Selection by Jay Chladek

The Essential Workbench by S.M. Clark

Resources for the classic science fiction modeler

As you probably have determined, the subjects in this book are all highly detailed static models. You won't find anything between its covers that will help to convert a model for flight. However, if you are interested in learning detailing techniques to improve your scale contest scores or ownership pride, then this book might prove quite useful. Its many illustrations can even provide scale data if you want to scratch build some of these models, although the Spaceship Handbook would be a better source. I have to admit the finishing techniques are generally over my meager abilities, but the many illustrations will provide another source of inspiration and ideas.

Summary:
That all being said, I have to rate this publication a 2 due to its limited applicability to sport rocketry. If you don't have a copy of the Spaceship Handbook, your hard-earned money would be better spent there. Still, if you are a finishing or sci-fi scale fanatic, then give this book some serious consideration.

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5