Comparison

Model Aircraft Magazine vs SCPDCA

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Model Aircraft Magazine

This app delivers in-depth articles on model aircraft building, including kit reviews, historical pieces, and expert photography. It caters to scale modelers with detailed information and visuals, offering a unique resource for enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Kit builds and conversions
  • Historical and reference articles
  • Expert photography
  • In-depth research
  • Scale modeling focus
  • Authoritative authors
Features
Read full description

Model Aircraft Magazine is first and foremost a modellers magazine, mixing kit builds and conversions with historical and reference pieces, but with the focus always on information and images that will be of use to those building in scale. Regular authors include military historian Anthony Tucker-Jones, Jack Herris, whose WWI articles couple in-depth research with a seemingly inexhaustible archive of historical photographs, aviation photo journalist Steve Palmer, and Robin Polderman, whose position on a Dutch F-16 squadron allow him global opportunities to exercise his considerable skills as a photographer. Modelling features have a wide pool of talent to draw on, accumulated over sixteen years with Scale Aviation Modeller International, and as Editor of both titles Gary Hatcher is able to collate and direct material as appropriate, and see that it is showcased in the best possible way. One regular article features the work of Trevor Pask, author of the best of the recent titles on building Airfix kits, and a modeller whose enthusiasm and commitment to each project he undertakes might be said to personify the hobby as many of us regard it. Anything goes on Trevor’s workbench, and unlike so many of us, he always finds a way to finish a kit. Currently no other magazine in the marketplace caters for the very real audience that Model Aircraft is designed to appeal to, and with other titles having changed their direction away from the historical/reference field, leaving a noticeable void, it offers a unique and essential read to the enthusiast. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

About

SCPDCA

Connect with your community association on your mobile device. View statements, make dining reservations, book tee times, and connect with other members. Stay informed about upcoming club events through notifications.

Highlights
  • View member statements
  • Make dining reservations
  • Book tee times
  • Connect with other members via Roster
  • Receive event notifications
Features
Read full description

Delivering the ability to connect the Sun City Palm Desert Community Association to your mobile device. The Sun City Palm Desert Community Association app provides members with the ability to view their Statements, make Dining Reservations and even book Tee Times. Use the Roster to connect with other members and receive notifications on upcoming club events, all by the way of your handheld or tablet.

Screenshots

Model Aircraft Magazine1 screens
SCPDCA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SCPDCA at none against Model Aircraft Magazine's 10. SCPDCA also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Model Aircraft Magazine's advantage is ratings volume (25 vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Model Aircraft Magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. SCPDCA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SCPDCA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Model Aircraft Magazine has 25 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Model Aircraft Magazine ships an update every 7 months, SCPDCA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Model Aircraft Magazine versus SCPDCA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModel Aircraft MagazineSCPDCA
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (25 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.2 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB8 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMA Publications LimitedSun City Palm Desert Community Association

Customer experience

Model Aircraft Magazine

All ratings25 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

SCPDCA

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Model Aircraft Magazine

Subscriptions3
  • Model Aircraft auto-renewable subscription$2.991 Month
  • Model Aircraft auto-renewable subscription$22.996 Months
  • Model Aircraft auto-renewable subscription1 Month trial$39.991 Year
One-time7
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 3... (id:416966)$3.99
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 5... (id:416970)$3.99
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 7... (id:416974)$3.99
Show 4 more
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 9... (id:416978)$3.99
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 1... (id:416980)$3.99
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 1... (id:416982)$3.99
  • MA Vol 15 Iss 1... (id:416984)$3.99
None

SCPDCA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Model Aircraft Magazine free?
Model Aircraft Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SCPDCA free?
SCPDCA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Model Aircraft Magazine or SCPDCA?
SCPDCA is rated higher. Model Aircraft Magazine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while SCPDCA averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Model Aircraft Magazine or SCPDCA have ads?
Neither Model Aircraft Magazine nor SCPDCA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Model Aircraft Magazine or SCPDCA?
Model Aircraft Magazine ships an update every 7 months, and SCPDCA every 2 months. Most recently, Model Aircraft Magazine was updated on November 6, 2026 and SCPDCA on November 2, 2026.

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