Art of Modelling: For a long time one of the best magazines
available on the hobby. But until up to now only available (in hard copy) in Dutch,
French & German. However now the English speakers are in for a treat as we
have the first volume of the English version of this mag up for review – how does
it fare? Well read on to find out if it is indeed art we can appreciate…
ART of Modelling Issue
I
English version reviewed here
(Also available in Dutch, French & German)
January-February 2014
66 pages
A4 portrait format
Available directly at their website
8.50Euro/US$12.99/£7.95
TO be honest I really dislike reading texts on screen, and books
with no pictures really are THE last straw when it comes to reading
electronically. Now magazines I can COPE with and reference books are ok when scrolling
thru to help you learn as you model – but the fact that the “Art of Modelling”
series was available on PDF form really didn’t float our boat. Then we found
out it was available in “engrish” and in physical good old fashioned print we
had to have a look see!
This is one of the new breed of magazines. Typified by
others like Kagero’s “Supermodel”, Ampersand’s “MMiR” and the new Pla editions “Abrams
Squad.” These are magazines of limited release and availability (it seems)
littlered with good quality pictures and helpful text with little or no
advertorials which make up the cost by a few "ducats" more on the price.
This magazine – the first in the printed series of English
language mags ticks all these boxes. In an A4 portrait format this is has
surprisingly thin paper that has a matte feel which I am not sure I like or not
– it doesn’t take anything away from the content inside though.
Some great model photography, top quality models and quite
famous modellers litter the pages of this mag. Adam Wilder, Pierre Pla are here
and are joined by modellers who should be as well known by the look of the work
they do.
There is a theme for this magazine and two ways to read it.
One – to look at pictures and read the steps which accompany them. These
include pictures of materials used. And the other way – to go through the
regular block text and then read the captions. Both ways lead to the same place
and one way doesn’t often tell much more than another. So you kind of get the
duplication of some of the texts which is understandable as there is usually
only one person telling the story. Part of me thinks this is a helpful way of
doing things and the other half thinks this is just double the reading. It
cannot hurt though. Different people learn in their own way.
Ok ill stop waffling on and tell you about each of the main
sections.
We start of with something I have gone on the record before
with as a waste of time for magazines – “What’s new” and a “reviews” section is
a waste of time in the 21st century – the lead in time and space
allocated is just not helpful to magazines. I know this part of the mag feels
like it needs it almost – but I would urge all magazines to drop this as it offers
only cursory interest for most readers and here it is four pages better left to
a build or technique. Most modellers have the “internets” and already know this
information from online resources.
The real showcase for magazines however are model builds –
and we go into them next…with Adam wilder and his VERY nice build of the paper
panzer Bär 30.5cm L/16. This is a several part build and we pick up the story
in the second part. (the first six parts
were in the previous electronic only version if you want to read it)
Adam casts his own parts from resin, shows us some of his
soldering techniques and more than anything you just soak in a lot of knowledge
from just reading how this guy goes about his modelling. This is a very
interesting part of the magazine and my favourite article.
But there are others here just as good – Hugo Luyten shows
us his lovely build of the union jack clad Wessex Hu-5 helicopter. Hugo went to
great lengths to detail the inside and make it something you want to peek
inside to see after you have taken in the exterior The lengths Hugo went to on
the riveting and rotor folds are impressive but more little “how-to’s” would be
welcomed here – e.g. how he used “Rosie the riveter” as it is such a feature of
this build.
Next we have an interesting build of a lopsided CyberHobby
T-34/76 STZ Model 1941 from Kristoff Pulinckx.
The is a very good article with many pictures of step by
step action showing most of the kit made up in steps. There is even a
stand-alone part showing how to make up the Fruil tracks modellers like so much
and why. The only thing missing is the
picture of the tank from the book that inspired this model. I suppose copyright
an all that jazz…
A departure from armour is most welcome and this build of a
camouflaged soviet era MIG-21 PFM from Eduard in 48th scale is very
nice as well.
Again we have the editor Kristoff making this kit making the
best out of the “Brassin” sets from Eduard (along with some comparisons with
the original kit parts) – all shot with very good photography and the
impressive layout which is featured through this entire book.
I am surprised he has the time – but Pierre Pla takes a
break from modern armour to make a winterised whitewashed version of the SKP
Models Cromwell MK.VI CS in his very nice build.
Pierre includes a nice figure with lots of canny wreathing in
this article. I was very impressed with how he shows the use of enamel and weathering
pigments to create dust and the use of whitewash and chipping to create the
distressed upper hull.
Next we are shown the second in the series of modelling tutorial in two small scale models
how to recreate and paint and weather buildings by Emmanuel Nouaillier.
One scratch built gate and a kit are shown from start to
finish with both wooden but mainly metal rendering techniques in Thirty nine
steps (isn’t that a movie in this?) on just how to recreate your own replica in
small scale. Transferable in larger scales of course this is a great tutorial
and more like this is much welcome.
Lastly this mag feature’s a reader’s article – a sci-fi
setting of a battle on a modelling desk – Pascal Tognon takes us through his
recreation of a battle between a space marine and a giant Machienenkreiger
mecha robot.
This “David V Goliath” battle on the modelling cluttered
workspace included a paintbrush and several sprues and parts – some nice lateral
thinking in the creation of this and good skills in modelling in the making of
the vignette. A great way to get your name and creation in print and I must
take my hat off to Art of Modelling for giving novice modeller a chance.
Well that is all she wrote – and it was in a language and
format I understand! I am really glad this magazine is out in print in English and
I reckon the circulation will go way up now the rest of us lazy linguists can
read it too. The models are top notch as is the photography and the writing.
The news section can go and we need to find a better solution to doubling up
text but the rest of the magazine is top shelf and a worthy addition to your
workbench downtime.
I must add you can get this electronically if that is your
bag from their website and the app stores.
Adam Norenberg
Thanks to the Art of Modelling
for sending us this mag to read and review..