Master Scale Modellingby Jose BritoReviewed by Francisco Guedes Summary
FirstRead This book is a long and hard work by the author. José Brito is a fantastic person and great modeler, in a category that, for me, is one of the complete and beautiful of modelling – Dioramas. When I got the package (a very early example posted directly by the author to me), I was quite surprised. It weighs a ton! When I opened, I saw the beautiful cover and the size of it… it is HUGE!
The soft cover is very well designed and very attractive with a sentence that is what this book is all about: “The Ultimate guide for painting and weathering with Vallejo water based acrylics”. Most of us, modeler, as used to work with lacquers/enamel/oils to paint, and specially weathering models, but this book wants to give to all modelers (expert/intermediate or novice) a new look to water based products and what you can do with them. For that, this book has 552 pages, in very good impressed color and high quality satin paper.
As general items and basic guide (even thought, with good tips), you got:
Then you enter the works parts. An here the author show steps by steps of all the techniques used, in all modelling stages, showing it in work in progress. “In detailing the kit chapter”, there´s several used tips that can be used in those models used (CMP C15A, Sexton II or Panzer IV/70A) or any others. A fantastic conversion is use on the “extreme kit transformation”… see for yourself. In painting area, you got a chapter of Zenith light technique and next “Decals how to”. Then it is a diorama paradise with chapters of all kind for all tastes:
In addition, this is not all, as you got several fantastic works (all dioramas) where the author shows the techniques and all kind of terrain and vehicles:
Enough? Well the author did not think so… So a fantastic 1:32 HK B-25H is made with all step-by-step. Utterly fantastic.
However, it is not over, as the author pass also to figures with base with metal and blood and four large-scale figures made step-by step from RP Models. All other dioramas, step-by-step of the 1:35 figure is given. At this time, it`s over… well not yet, as there also chapters of sfi-ci with “detailing a sci-fi” and “Sci-fi scene” Moreover, it end in the best way: An extended gallery with lots of lots of work from the author. All the works showed in this book are from José Brito and no one else (there`s only on model not made by him but all the base and diorama/vignette scene was).
C o n c l u s i o nI have had the pleasure to be José Brito friend, over 15 years now and because of that, I`m one of the lucky person that saw almost (probably all) models/diorama that are in this book… The book of 552 has high-grade paper and satin finish with top quality pictures with great contrast color. It is really quite hard to review and comment a perfect work.... For me, it is art! In sum, this book is quite outstanding. The text is quite simply, very comprehensive and an easy reading. The print quality is outstanding (great job Vallejo).
This is a huge a systematic book, thoroughly very informative with the materials and techniques used! Perfect and on top of that, and tons and tons of inspiration! José Brito is one of the best in the world in dioramas (and he shows here that is probably the most complete modeler in the world… he just can do anything with high quality. The modelling world have waited far too long for a José Brito diorama book and the wait has paid off. The modelling world got an all-new master scale modelling ultimate book!
Very special thanks to my friend José Brito, for the fantastic BOOK! For more information, check Acrylics Vallejo site here. If you found this review helpful and decide to purchase this product, please tell them you read about it at Missing-Lynx! Disclaimer: all photos were taken in order to preserve and prevent all copyright.
Text and Images by Francisco Guedes |