Tankmödeller, AFV Models in Scale / Volume 1 - I LOVE 48 (Mödellingbooks)
There is a growing popularity of quarter scale armor and although most AFV modellers remain faithful to 1/35 and/or 1/72nd , the intermediate scale has many advantages: small enough dimensions to fit limited shelf/cabinet/showcase space, great detail, perfect match with 1/48 aviation themes, reasonable prices and, not the least,Tamiya and other manufacturers involvement, including resin kit makers like Gaso.line, increasing the range of subject choice plus aftermarket companies.
The first publisher to grab this opportunity is Murat Özgül, who designed and edited this book in Turkey, under the Mödellingbooks publications label (and website at www.modellingbooks.com). This book is entirely focused on models built to 1/48 scale and contains six (6) step by step tutorials by some very well known AFV modellers.
All builts are very professional and detailed, with many step by step photos and informative text, close-ups and filled with useful modelling techniques (easily translated into larger of smaller scales and different modelling genres).
The first build in the book is a Tiger 1 (AFV Club) by Jose Luis Lopez Ruiz in 16 pages and 19 construction/painting/weathering steps. Very nice and the techniques used are extremely convincing/realistic and easy to follow.
Next comes a resin kit of Churchill MkIII (Gaso.line) by Domingo Hernandez (14 pages). Third model presented is the Sturmtiger (Tamiya) by Sven Frisch (10 pages). American modeller Pat Johnston follows with a StuG III Ausf.B (Tamiya, 14 pages) and 43 steps. Pat shows the reader how to extract great depth out of a single colour paint scheme by using filtering and streaking techniques. Fifth build and Lucian Rodrigues guides us to model a very different M10 Achilles (Tamiya, 12 pages) and finally Michael Rinaldi builds a SdKfz 251/22 from Gaso.line (18 pages), the most extensive of all, including hairspray chipping technique and many more weathering details.
There is something for everybody, if he/she is interested in World War II subjects as, anyway, most 1/48 AFV model kit manufacturers focus on this era.
We liked the beautiful layout, excellent photography, close-ups, good quality semi-matt paper and very informative text of this book. For the next volumes, we would suggest the manufacturer name to be more prominent, added separately near the title of each subject, as it is faster to get the info this way, than searching the text.
Both the average or novice modeller and the most experienced will benefit by reading Tankmodeller Volume 1 and we are eagerly awaiting the next volume as promised in the last page. (May we ask for including some lovely/popular Panzer III & Sherman themes Murat?)
Highly recommended! You can find it here. (and order it online)
Tankmödeller Volume 1 - I LOVE 48
Published by: Mödellingbooks
Softcover Portrait format: 210 x 270 mm
88 pages/ 200+ step by step photos
135 gr coated paper/ 350 gr coated paper softcover and matte-lamented w/ Perfect binding
Model authors: Domingo Hérnandez, José Luis López Ruiz, Luciano Rodriguez, Michael Rinaldi, Pat Johnston & Sven Frisch
Six different models featured inside
ISBN: 978-605-80974-0-7
Price: 24 €
Shipping Cost: Europe: 7 €/ Worldwide (Outside Europe): 9 €
