Scale Modelling Books

Sunday 11th January 2009

Can anyone recommend me any good books on scale modelling. By that i mean things like the good old 1/72 scale aircraft kits, that sort of thing.

I used to make lots as a child but want to make a few more now but to a higher standard than i used to make them (not that my standard before was bad!!). Hence i'm after a book that's up to date with modern techniques on things like filling, airbrushing and general weathering etc etc...

Many thanks

Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

227 months

Sunday 11th January 2009

I guess you could class forums as 'online books' so here's one that's quite good with some very good tips sections;

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php

Also worth searching for you local IPMS group, http://www.ipms-uk.co.uk/

I think the online option gives you greater access to the progress and innovations in the hobby that may take time to make it into print.

350Wedge

Original Poster

2,364 posts

273 months

Sunday 11th January 2009

Excellent, many thanks for the links. I'll have a look at those this evening...

The_Jackal

4,854 posts

197 months

Sunday 11th January 2009

BritModeller and Pro Modeller are excellent ones.
There are hundreds though out there in the world of the internet.
I found the best things to improve the overall standard of my models were extra thin cement, a good set of sanding sponges and an airbrush.

121,958 posts

265 months

Monday 12th January 2009

Osprey Publishing do a whole series of books on modelling.

I'd recommend the following magazines too:

Scale Aircraft Modelling
Scale Aviation Modelling
Model Aircraft Monthly
Model Airplane International

Skodaku

1,805 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th January 2009

Eric Mc said:

Osprey Publishing do a whole series of books on modelling.

I'd recommend the following magazines too:

Scale Aircraft Modelling
Scale Aviation Modelling
Model Aircraft Monthly
Model Airplane International

Add to that :

Tamiya Model Magazine International. Out monthly. Excellent.

121,958 posts

265 months

Friday 16th January 2009

Skodaku said:

Eric Mc said:

Osprey Publishing do a whole series of books on modelling.

I'd recommend the following magazines too:

Scale Aircraft Modelling
Scale Aviation Modelling
Model Aircraft Monthly
Model Airplane International

Add to that :

Tamiya Model Magazine International. Out monthly. Excellent.

A bit of an advert fpor Tamiya products - no surprises there.

There are some other model mags about as well. The venerable "Scale Models" is still around. It was once THE scale model magazine but has been somewhat marginalised by all the more specialist magazines that now exist. It currently goes under the name of "Scale Models International" or "SMI" and tends to concentrate more on scale cars, fanatsy spaceships and sci-fi subjects.

I still have old copies of the long defunct "Airfix Magazine" (the first scale model magazine of them all and "PAM Mews" which existed for a brief spell in the mid to late 1970s. PAM was edited by Neil Robinson, who is now the editor of "Model Aircraft Modeller"

There's also the American magazine "Fine Scale Modeler".

Skodaku

1,805 posts

219 months

Monday 19th January 2009

Eric Mc said:

Skodaku said:

Eric Mc said:

Osprey Publishing do a whole series of books on modelling.

I'd recommend the following magazines too:

Scale Aircraft Modelling
Scale Aviation Modelling
Model Aircraft Monthly
Model Airplane International

Add to that :

Tamiya Model Magazine International. Out monthly. Excellent.

A bit of an advert fpor Tamiya products - no surprises there.

There are some other model mags about as well. The venerable "Scale Models" is still around. It was once THE scale model magazine but has been somewhat marginalised by all the more specialist magazines that now exist. It currently goes under the name of "Scale Models International" or "SMI" and tends to concentrate more on scale cars, fanatsy spaceships and sci-fi subjects.

I still have old copies of the long defunct "Airfix Magazine" (the first scale model magazine of them all and "PAM Mews" which existed for a brief spell in the mid to late 1970s. PAM was edited by Neil Robinson, who is now the editor of "Model Aircraft Modeller"

There's also the American magazine "Fine Scale Modeler".

The reference to TMMI wasn't meant to be an ad for Tamiya; merely to add to the list of available publications - it does cover other manufacturers kits as well, (but does mainline on Tamiya, of course). Fine Scale Modeller is excellent. A trip to Hannants and a trawl through their stock of publications would be worthwhile, provided the trip isn't too onerous in terms of distance. However, be warned.............only take a limited amount of cash and no cheques or credit cards else you could be going home very happy but broke. Having wandered around the Norfolk location I speak from experience !

121,958 posts

265 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009

Never been to their base at Lowestoft - it's a bit out of the way.

I've certainly bought from them Mail Order (going back over 30 years) and have bought from their stand at model and air shows.

They also have an afiliate shop next door to the RAF Museum at Hendon which is pretty good, although tiny compared to Lowestoft.

andymin

197 posts

212 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009

These magazines are great: http://www.afvmodeller.com/ plenty of large detailed pictures showing various techniques.

They also have a Tamiya 40th anniversary special which i found in Borders the other day.

121,958 posts

265 months

Saturday 24th January 2009

I received my latest edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling in today's post. They have anounced the mag is undergoing a facelift from next month with a new editor (Paul Eden is being replaced by Jay Laverty) and new design.

I've been buying SAM since it was launched by the late, but legendary, Alan W Hall back in 1978. Under Mr Eden's editorship I have felt that it was beginning to look increasingly tired and I was contemplating whether I would continue with my subsctription. It certainly had fallen behind its main rival, Scale Aviation Modelling for freshness and readability.

However, the taster shown in this month's edition indicates that the new look SAM will be a bit livlier in tone and content. I'll keep my subs going for a bit longer, I expect.

Nicholas Blair

4,096 posts

284 months

Sunday 25th January 2009

I have an Osprey Masterclass series - 'Luftwaffe Fighter' modelling book free to a good home, now surplus to requirements and in mint cond.......

ps will throw in Postwar Aircraft modelling (Osprey Vol 12) also.

Edited by Nicholas Blair on Sunday 25th January 14:55

121,958 posts

265 months

Sunday 25th January 2009

Nicholas Blair said:

I have an Osprey Masterclass series - 'Luftwaffe Fighter' modelling book free to a good home, now surplus to requirements and in mint cond.......

ps will throw in Postwar Aircraft modelling (Osprey Vol 12) also.

Edited by Nicholas Blair on Sunday 25th January 14:55

Me Me Me?

Nicholas Blair

4,096 posts

284 months

Sunday 25th January 2009

Eric Mc said:

Nicholas Blair said:

I have an Osprey Masterclass series - 'Luftwaffe Fighter' modelling book free to a good home, now surplus to requirements and in mint cond.......

ps will throw in Postwar Aircraft modelling (Osprey Vol 12) also.

Edited by Nicholas Blair on Sunday 25th January 14:55

Me Me Me?

Hi Eric

Ping me your info offline and I'll fire them off to you.

Cheers

Nick

350Wedge

Original Poster

2,364 posts

273 months

Sunday 25th January 2009

Bugger.... Too late....lol

121,958 posts

265 months

Thursday 29th January 2009

Books arrived today.

Many, Many thanks.

sclayto2

964 posts

209 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

If anyone is interested I have a number of the Osprey books as PDFs

[Osprey][Modelling Masterclass] Terrain Modelling.pdf
[Osprey][Modelling Masterclass] World War 2 Luftwaffe Fighter Modelling.pdf
[Osprey][Modelling Masterclass] Ancient & Medieval Modelling.pdf
[Osprey][Modelling Masterclass] Panzer Modelling.pdf
Osprey - Modelling Manual 019 - North American P-51 Mustang.pdf
Osprey - Modelling Manual 001 - Basic Aviation Modeling.pdf
Osprey - Modelling Manual 011 - WW 2 Soft-Skinned Military Vehicles.pdf
Osprey - Modelling Manual 009 - Modelling WWII Figures.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 035 - Modelling the M4 (75MM) Sherman.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 037 - Modelling the Tiger I.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 031 - Modelling Fallschirmjäger Figures.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 023 - Modelling Waffen-SS Figures.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 024 - Modelling the F4U Corsair.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 021 - Modelling the Churchill Tank.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 019 - Modelling the German 15 cm siG33 Bison And Grille.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 016 - Modelling the F--A-18 Hornet.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 012 - Modelling the Messerschmitt Me 262.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 011 - The P47 Thunderbolt - Supplement.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 017 - Modelling The Panzer IV.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 010 - Modelling the Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer.pdf
Osprey - Modeling Suplement - Modelling the P-47 Thunderbolt in 1-72 Scale Supplement.pdf
Osprey - Modeling Suplement - T-55-Somalia.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 040 - Modelling the M4 (76MM) Sherman.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 008 - Modelling Panzer Crewman of the Heer.pdf
Osprey - Modelling 003 - Modelling the F-4 Phantom II.pdf

Be warned they aren't small, the Terrain Modelling manual is 114MB(!), so I could only send a few out. If enough of you want them I could find a download spot.

paulfgr2

1 posts

111 months