Review: F.A.Q. VOL. 2 Frequently Asked Questions of the AFV Painting Techniques by Mig Jiménez

When Mig Jiménez released the first book in this series it soon became a best seller number one and a vital tool to not just Military modelling fans but all genres of model making. It became a constant companion to many modellers and a handy thing to have near the modelling bench.
Since then there has been many new techniques and products to come into our modelling lives – how have the techniques changed? Well Mr Jiménez has released his second book called – yes you guessed it AK Interactive’s F.A.Q. VOL. 2 – to answer these newest but frequently asked questions – read on by clicking the link below…

Review: F.A.Q. VOL. 2 Frequently Asked Questions of the AFV Painting Techniques by Mig Jiménez

Written by: Mig Jiménez, (with Carlos Cuesta & David Marti)

Languages: English, Spanish, German, Belgian, Italian, French, Russian

Pages: 303

Format: Soft cover A4 (210x297 mm)

ISBN: 978-84-615-4814-9

RRP:  from the AK Interactive site

A very helpful directory is a quick short-cut to the skill you need to brush up on

Mig starts the book in describing the changes in the industry in the last five years and indeed the changes made from the first FAQ book to this volume two. How he has taken on advice and broken the book into several sections that are like little lessons – and that is how I view them. From reading this I can say it’s the ultimate “back room book” meaning you can just pick it up for a few minutes – find and read what you need to know and move on as it were.

The glossy pictures in this tome are top class - paper quality is excellent and the book is quite a large package!!

To do this the book is broken up into four larger sections themselves each broken up into smaller bite sizes, and these pages have just as much written information as they do helpful pictures to make you better understand. So if you prefer learning and reading with text or alternatively if you are a little shy of reading you can rely on the pictures without really needing to read something the size of war and peace. The book is indeed thick (just over 2cm for a softcover at 300 odd pages) but never does it seem like too much to get through. The pages are well formatted and glossy in appearance and the pictures and the text are relevant to each other which is important if you are learning from a book like this. The points are well written in my edition - the English translation -  and I am glad that the person in charge of translation in this version did such a good job of the text, never does the text seem dry or boring, I think he got the feeling of the text right.

The first part of the book proper talks about materials – and especially about the importance of GOOD materials in your toolkit. For this purpose Mig talks us through each of the different materials modellers are due to use and highlights a few of each type in particular. You cannot help feeling like these are is personal favourites but I think this is a good thing for most people, if it weren’t for recommendations most of us would still be nicking paints from our dad’s shed, it can’t help to know what a master modeller prefers.

Alternatively Mig does mention that some of the preferred materials do not work well with other materials which is just as handy to know as which ones do. Airbrushes and solvents are discussed and just as well as these are really important tools to a modem kit maker. Little numbers indicate exactly which picture he is talking about – these are close to the text thankfully.

Painting techniques are next discussed in the second chapter of the book – this part is a large section of one hundred and seventy-three pages – just over half of the book-  that is broken up into several subsections. If you need any help with any of these you are in luck…

 Priming – The basic premise of priming and the differences in requirements and preferences of the modeller are taken into account here in this section. Mig goes through which application suits which material better.

Base colours – Enamel, Lacquer and acrylic bases are talked about in this section. Mig explains the method in which he applies the different types of paint and the mixtures he uses, what can help the rigidity of some of the base colours and the working properties of each of the different ones he uses.

Colour modulation – in fifteen pages Mig describes the newer method of painting called colour modulation. Many readers are already familiar with this but I don’t think it ever hurts to have someone in Mr Jiménez’s class trying to help you along the way. I would advise anyone wanting to know all about colour modulation and light to dark shading effects to invest in this book. No shortcuts are taken as Mig talks us through first basic modulation – just using lighter highlights, then on to complete modulation, which involves adding highlights and lowlights to each panel, through to advanced modulation which involves adding paint chipping effects, highlighting and the comparison on a pair of king tiger hulls that although have the same colours look completely different. This is more like a lesson in modelling than answering questions!

Panelling and outlines – Mig explains the older method of panelling outlines as well as the newer methods, using masking and pigments to achieve a more realistic result

Washes – A popular subject with many and a much needed lesson – with such finely detailed surfaces of today’s models this is a great trick to have in your toolbox. Mig describes here his methods for an overall wash and also the newer technique of pin washes. Also here are the do’s and don’ts of washes, forewarned is forearmed.

Filters - A trick that has been around for a while now, Mig talks you through the difference between this and a wash, how to make your own and how to apply the wash is explained as well.

 Streaking Effects – Streaking rust and grime effects are a useful realistic way of adding age to a vehicle, and these are explained in excellent pictorial detailed reference by Mig. He uses six different vehicles to show you many of the different scenarios and applications you can apply these to on a vehicle.

Oil Paint Techniques – using deep blues and greens Mig explains how to add depth to your military model while decolouration using an oil based pin wash is demonstrated on a Kingtiger tank, while dirt effects using oils are shown, as is the benefits on certain vehicles colours against others. Highlighting is made easy and explained by the author as well

Rain Marks – With a lot of AFV modelling focussed on either the northern colder climates or tropical Asia you could imagine that this topic would be popular! Using enamels and rain effects are better described here.

The “Hairspray” Technique – The modelling “craze” (pardon the pun) of the moment - the hairspray technique - is described in this passage. Thirty three pages of information help describe the basic techniques along to all of the advanced uses better than I have ever been explained. Even better than that video of a barrel everyone has watched on you tube. You know how sometimes you learn something better in a different person’s explanation; well I got it with this book’s text. I want to jump on the bandwagon now and chip away like everyone else!! Chipping and hairspray are explained as are the differences in the techniques; winter chipping and engine wear are explained in lots of text and pages of many many pictures – large and small – of the process in action.

Chipping – Again this is a large section of text reserved for this subject. With good reason, I haven’t seen many models on the judging table without the effect applied. The one thing I notice is some people overdo it – myself – well I needed lessons – that is why this book is now next to my modelling desk, because in twenty pages Mr Jiménez takes us through firstly some examples of the real thing, then the science of what is underneath a paint job and why knowing this is important. Through to the techniques he uses. Again here many pictures of many different examples of the effects in practice make it easy to follow what the text is relaying to you. The art of chipping using brushes, sponges, hairspray and even salt are described here is detail with plenty of shots.

Rust – The science of oxidization and rusting is briefly described and shown in the real world. Then the techniques of streaking rust and accumulated rust are discussed right through to the model of a completely rusted out hulk of a Panzer.IV completely taken over by rust.

Dust effects – the lighter dust effect is shown in action here, several pages dedicated to the realistic application of dust on first vertical and then horizontal surface as well as  the most used – dust in the desert.

Mud Effects – again very popular with modellers from all scenes, both dry and wet mud are shown in application here, in separate little lessons, added to the mix is the application of splashed mud. Mig shows how and what materials you use to get the effects as well as how to fake it with subtle touches to recreate the realistic tones needed.

Oil and steel - the other types of liquids you could find on a vehicle - Oil and fuel - are shown “in action” in this section.  Mig explains how we see these forms of weathering every day and explains the characteristics of each briefly before showing how to achieve these on your model. Mig also gets to show off with the oil effect he helped create here as he talks us through applying oils stains and also spilt fuel.

How to paint tracks – This is a good one to have here. Good and bad tracks are so noticeable on a kit - here is the remedy!  Plastic tack and metal track techniques are described as is the acidic like “blacken-it” product is show along with AK’s stuff in action. Painting rusted static tracks is also demonstrated here again this and the rest of these sections have a myriad of illustrated shots to help you through the descriptions.

Special effects – Last but not least in this large middle sections “special Effects” are described. There are too many individual sections to go through here and describe what is said without going too long (too late) but they are: Metal using graphite, pigments and other products, fallen leaves, dry transfers, headlights and licence plates and using quick wheel masks. These are all given the proper treatment with just enough text and lots of great pictures.

Section 5.3 talks us through painting accessories. A great topic – this is explained as to the importance of adding them to your scene and talking about the condition you will show them in. Mig takes us through with a double page or a page spread on each of the main accessories you would find lying on a vehicle or a battlefield. Fuel drums, helmets, wooden cases, stowage bags, toolboxes, weapons and most importantly painting them so their positions on the vehicle/scene show them off as they would be in real life is just as important as throwing them at a diorama. Mig explains it all here over several pages and (I know – I have said it) lots and lots of pictures. But very good pictures!

Thirty seven pages are put aside next for dioramas. Mig talks us through the theory and the composition of small dioramas.  Recreating history isn’t easy and Mig explains in this large section lots of different considerations you need to take into account when making your mini masterpiece.

How to scratch build your own scene and how to best adapt shop dioramas is explained as well as showing many very nice dioramas with figure son them it’s surely inspiring stuff. Dioramas are my favourite subject and I have read this section several times since first finishing this book. The design, creating terrain and vegetation and the placing of figures is demonstrated both in correct and the less than desired examples and why these do or don’t work as well. Several dioramas are shown from scratch through to conclusion, I get the feeling he knows how to cook up a good diorama! You will learn too if you pay attention while reading this.

Next is the pay off – or the bragging rights it depends on if you made the model or not – Fourty two pages of open spreads taken of each of the vehicles ( shown here to be in many different scales) here in this book which were used to describe the techniques. You can see these on simple backgrounds of monochrome colours in their full glory. Part of me would love to see these in a diorama setting, but that would take away from the focus on the results gleaned from learning about these techniques step by step. They all look great and are as aspiring as they are perfect. A large variety of vehicles is shown from civilian diggers to WWII fare and modern AFV’s and softskins.

Funnily - in summing it all up Mr Jiménez sort of thanks the people he has met and talked to from all around the world. People he has met through his passion modelling. It really comes through in the writing of this book that the people were the inspiration for this book. It isn’t just a brochure to sell AK’s products, as it shows plenty of other companies’ products in use and even how to make your own product. You can tell that the author really loves modelling and the opportunities to meet fellow modellers through making publications like this one. There are several pages of Mig meeting modellers from around the world – and I suppose that is why we all go to shows, to show off our great creations and share knowledge. That is what has happened to us here when we read this book.

I guess you can work out I liked this book. It is the best all round book of its kind right now and runs circles around and surpasses its Vol.I companion, which is good – but this one is like its better looking and more fun sister – it just does everything that you need it to.

I recommend it to any modeller. You will become a better modeller no matter what you make if you use this book correctly.


Also the next book is on Dioramas - yay!


Adam Norenberg.

Thanks to the people at AK Interactive for one of the better reads we have had in years…