Customer Reviews

Armour Modelling (Modelling Masterclass)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want to learn more about scale modelling (armored vehicles specifically) than this book is "the" book to own. It's been put together almost like a cook book with an extremely sturdy reinforced external cover and then the book inside is spiral bound (sturdy plastic spiral) so it has been well designed to be placed open on your home workbench (without the pages flipping or book closing itself). The topics covered include everything you could or would need to know about building scale models of armored subjects. The chapters include: Tools/Materials/Paints, Example building tiger tank, painting and finishing, creating bases, working with photo-etched metal, working with resin and white metal, scratch building conversions, at least 3 more example model building instructions, a final chapter on reference and research. The pictures are color, very detailed and well chosen to provide reference for the written sub-sections. The overview of tools is current, and very complete going over photo-etch bending tools such as the hold-and-fold, the grab handler, the brass-assist tool, etc. The price of this book is absolutely worth it considering it really is like a school text book or a very detailed cook book for the scale model builder. If you are just getting into this hobby and like building armored subjects I would say this book is an absolute must own (even if you have been building models for a few years you will still find some very good info). I was hesitant at first since the price is a bit higher than most other how-to type books but once you have it in your hand you will understand that this isn't at all like most modelling books and that even paying 25% more, this book would still be an excellent value... 5 stars all the way.

I am a modeller returning from a long 'leave' of some 25 odd years and I have to be truthful, with the amount of new 'stuff' out there, photo etch, acrylic paints, resin, white metal etc etc, it was pretty daunting to open a 'modern' kit and finish it to any standard! So this is where this book sells itself. Concise, very informative and 'recipe type' instructions are great for the likes of me. I like the authors writing style and his way of explaining things. The only thing I struggle with a little is the figure painting, particularly faces, as I could have done with a real step-by-step, almost infant teaching style with this, but that's just personal and something for me to work on.
Covers all those topics like photo etch and painting techniques that I needed to bring me up to the modern way of modelling.
Overall a great reference for plebes like me and a good refresher I'm sure for those who know a thing or two.
I gave it four stars as it covered the subjects I wanted to know now well but I would have to take his word for it over other subjects that I just haven't got to in my modelling experience to date! All round worth the money spent to get it here to NZ!

I have just started building plastic model kits again and boy have they changed since I last put one together 40 years ago. I have stated purchasing books on this hobby to get me back up to speed. First off the book is well constructed with a heavy duty cover and the spiral binding lets the pages fall nice and flat for viewing while using it for reference during the building assembly of a model. The is a great book for armored vehicle models, lots of tips and details with, and this is important to me, color photos that follow the text in a step by step manner. Not like some books that just show the finished model. There are some pages on painting figures, but the main thrust is armored vehicles. This is by no means a complete reference book on the subject but I have found it to be very useful, I have already incorporated some of the things I learned in two of my latest models. It is a book I know I will find myself going back to over again many times as I progress with my skills. I highly recommend this book.

There is no doubt Mr. Prigent is a Master Modeller, and his advice is extremely valuable.
However, I have two issues with the book:
First, my copy was missing one page (17-18). Not enough to bother to return the book, but it was frustrating since the book was sold as new.
Second, the book is clearly a series of articles combined into one volume. The problem is that they are not combined very well. There is no logical progression to the book, and the (good) illustrations are often way out of "synch" with the text. You have to search for the relevant text or picture several pages ahead or behind. This makes it quite a bit harder to follow Mr. Prigent's valuable advice than it should be.
The Master Modeller deserves 4 stars (some of the advice, while valuable, is becoming a little bit dated); the editor gets 1 star for doing a lazy job. I rounded the review up to three stars.
All in all I think Mr. Greenland's book is better.

This is a masterclass book - twice the size of the normal Osprey offerings. The technical aspects are outstanding - photos etc. This is very strong on advanced technique such as dealing with resin, PE, scratch building etc. The author is "old school" - he isn't keen on heavy weathering, oil paints and pigments. Indeed, if you're looking for help on painting and finishing this book is quite weak considering its size. (Far better is Gary Edmundson, "Painting and Finishing Techniques" for Osprey: half and half armor/aircraft. It deals only with painting and finishing: no fancy stuff at all.) I think a good modeler would get a lot out of this book - the author is a veteran modeling author. If you're looking for the basics, this isn't your book. Nor is it your book if you want to sample the newest techniques found in armor modeling such as "color modulation."

For armor modeling, with plenty of techniques and examples
of construction, finishing and weathering, this is it!
It is much less expensive than other books on the subject, and in my
opinion, just as good.
The techniques inside also can be applied to truck and vehicle models,
and also, especially useful, to Model Railroading.
A really useful Reference to modelbuilding in several areas.

Fantastic book. Well laid out, very precise and east to understand, even for a beginner. Great pics