Scale Military Vehicle Conversions [Paperback]

Duncan Howarth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2007

Duncan Howarth has been modeling military vehicles for years. But he started to find the range of models offered by the kit manufacturers restricting - there were so many unusual and interesting prototypes that he wanted to model, but couldn't. So he began to use ordinary kits as the bases of increasingly adventurous conversions.  With the help of drawings and photographs, parts are made to create new variants of existing models and, sometimes, almost completely new models, using just a few components from a donor kit. This book guides the reader through a series of increasingly complex conversions based on readily available kits of World War Two types, and culminates in a magnificent model of the Vomag self-propelled gun built entirely from scratch. Each build is accompanied by drawings, prototype photographs and photocopyable templates which will allow you to build the conversion yourself. The book also gives you the know-how to undertake new and different conversions of your own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Internet Modeler, November 2007

“Model builder Duncan Howarth offers his years of experience creating unusual vehicle models not offered from kit manufacturers. He uses ordinary kits as a basis for his conversions and instructs you on how to do your own. He includes wonderful photographs, some in step-by-step sequence, and scaled templates / diagrams breaking down the subassemblies needed to create the conversions. From assembly through painting and weathering you will learn to do it yourself.”

Book Description

Duncan Howarth has been modeling military vehicles for years. But he started to find the range of models offered by the kit manufacturers restricting - there were so many unusual and interesting prototypes that he wanted to model, but couldn't. So he began to use ordinary kits as the bases of increasingly adventurous conversions. With the help of drawings and photographs, parts are made to create new variants of existing models and, sometimes, almost completely new models, using just a few components from a donor kit. This book guides the reader through a series of increasingly complex conversions, accompanied by drawings, prototype photographs and photocopyable templates which will allow you to build the conversion yourself.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Crowood (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861268882
• ISBN-13: 978-1861268884
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,421,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Way to Expand Your Hooby, April 22, 2011

By 

Michael Baker (Falls Church, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scale Military Vehicle Conversions (Paperback)

While I usually don't like "canned" project books, this one is more than just a "build this model."
The techniques the author uses and describes could be used on any project you might want to attack.
The difficulty level builds up through the projects so you don't get frustrated immediately.

He avoids forcing the builder to spend even more on expensive resin and photo-etch details that some builders insist you also purchase. This is real scratchbuilding.

Also, the author doesn't give you the steps to the last final detail. There is an assumption that the reader can figure out how to complete the build - the book supplies the plans and drawings for the major build assemblies.

It is a bargain. The resin kits to build the M31 tank recovery vehicle are $60, the resin kit for the BARV is over $70. If you built just these 2 projects think of what you'd save.

Highly recommended

5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual Vehicles & Well Written Instructions, Images & More!, August 30, 2008

By 

J. Hand (southern Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scale Military Vehicle Conversions (Paperback)

Hands down, this is a great model building book! After having read it through and studied it from cover to cover I have no doubt I would buy it again. The 174 pages are all heavy, glossy stock. Photos and illustrations are in color. Those showing the construction are large enough to clearly show the detail they portray. There are also illustrations and pictures of real vehicles for each vehicle. There are patterns and blueprint type drawings accompanying each conversion. The book opens with a chapter on tools, supplies, and technique that is concise. There are 11 kit conversions of varying complexity. These include in order 1) a Hetzer Flammpanzer 38(t)(there's a photo of a great ambush camo paint pattern on a model in one photo), 2) a Ford of Canada F30s Ambulance, 3) a Jeep T27 Rocket Launcher, 4) a T19 105mm Howitzer Gun Motor Carriage, 5) a Panther Raketenwerfer (Skoda), 6) a KV3 Obiekt 220, 7) an M31 Lee ARVII (a personal favorite!), 8) a very unusual Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf C mit Schwimmkorper, 9) a Sherman Beach Armored Recovery Vehicle (another favorite!), 10) a very unusual looking vehicle, a BAD2 Amphibious Armored Car, and 11) the coolest and most complex of all- a Vomag with 88mm Flak. Each vehicle chapter has a brief overview of the real vehicle and photos or illustrations of the real thing. Each of the conversions is an interesting and unusual subject that will result in a model any builder will be proud to have created. There's also a chapter on dioramas which, while not lengthy, cuts to the chase with useful tips and ideas. I did a quick search for the base kits used for each conversion and all were available. (I only searched eBay because there is a wide variety of kits for sale there. It's also a good indicator of the availability or scarcity of any given kit.) The conversion instructions are clear and very well written, straight forward and easy to follow. The scratch build additions and modifications themselves are superb practical references as "how tos" that can be carried to other projects. The rocket launch tubes used in several conversions are a good example. Think Sherman Calliope in 1/35th scale (a 1/48 scale Verlinden conversion is available, but nothing in 1/35th). Of course, the model builder will need to bring something to the table, too, as with any how to book. The instructions, no matter how clear, are not going to impart the skills neccessary to follow them. However, if this book is of serious interest to you, chances are you already have the skills. If I had a complaint about this book at all it would be that I wish it was twice as long and contained double the number of builds! I hope a Volume 2 follows! Meanwhile, I don't think you can go wrong with this book, especially if you are looking for a guide into scratch building or enjoy scratch building already.