Aircraft Modelling
A Detailed Guide to Building & Finishing 1/72 Scale Aircraft

by Libor Jekl

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe Workbench Guide No 1

Reviewed by Mark Davies

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com
 

Published by Valiant Wings, this is the first in a series of Airframe Workbench Guides. As such, it introduces a new category to the Airframe series that already includes Airframe & Miniature, Airframe Album, Airframe Constructor, Airframe Detail, and Airframe Extra.

The author of this first Workbench Guide is Libor Jekl, a talented modeller whose work will be familiar to some through postings here on and HyperScale and articles in various modelling magazines.

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The book uses a wire spiral binding with an almost square format featuring full colour throughout. The spiral binding means the pages can be turned completely back on themselves, effectively halving the book’s size when opened; and so it is ideal for use at the modelling bench whist working on a project. It covers the following topics:

• Rigging techniques

• Rescribing

• Building a resin kit

• Creating rivet detail

• Camouflage paint weathering

• White distemper

• Fabric, wood and stripes

• Natural metal finish

• Kwik (sic) building-organise your builds

Good quality step by step images with easy to read text guide the reader through each process. These include images of Libor’s excellent models as well as various tools and modelling products.

Experienced modellers may see little need for another “how-to-model” book; and I confess this was my initial reaction too. It may also be argued that less experienced modellers can easily find plenty of advice through modelling websites and on-line videos, which is also largely true.

However, upon taking a closer look I soon realised that this was certainly no typical “How to Go Plastic Modelling” type of book, with no disrespect to Chris Ellis intended; suited only to novices contemplating modelling for the first time. It is just as its sub-title suggests - A Detailed Guide to Building & Finishing 1/72 Scale Aircraft. Although the techniques apply equally to other scales too, I have to say “well done Libor” for underpinning the paramountcy of “The One True Scale”! 

While I found nothing totally new in any of the techniques covered, I still found that the quality images and explanations gave a clarity lacking in some other sources, plus there is the obvious benefit of having a compendium of finishing techniques close to hand at the workbench. Libor’s images and text also seem to have an encouraging effect to make the effort and have a crack at repeating the technique he outlines.

As an experienced modeller, would I buy the book? Perhaps not, as I am already aware of the techniques covered. Would I be happy to receive it as a gift? Yes, definitely. This is not just a confession that I may have deep pockets, but it seems the best way I can explain the book’s utility to an experienced modeller – it is very nice to have as a handy go-to guide at the workbench, and it does a better job of explaining and inspiring the use of the techniques it covers than many other sources. But therein lies the rub, as the other sources free online or paid for in the case of print magazines already bought.

This is a quality publication that offers a bit more than might be assumed for a “how-to” modelling guide. The images and explanatory text encourage the reader to follow Libor’s advice and apply his techniques.

I am happy to recommend this book as amongst the best of its type I can recall. For new or conservative modellers it will help expand their range of techniques, and for experienced modellers it may encourage refinement or modification of existing talents.

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2015 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 27 October, 2015
Last updated 28 October, 2015

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