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Osprey Publishing |
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Modelling Waffen-SS Figures by Calvin Tan |
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Reviewed By Jack Kennedy, #12511 |
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MSRP: $17.95 USD Wow, is all I can say about this book. It is what I have been looking for, for a long time. I have always been interested in painting camouflage on German Waffen SS uniforms but have had to fake the patterns. This book was the answer to my prayers. Calvin Tan from Singapore has presented a wonderful book not only showing many of the camouflage patterns with their colors picked out but also detailed and beautifully photographed step by step instructions on making major improvements on stock figures. Mr. Tan has detailed four different scenes showing different ways to detail the figures and paint the appropriate camouflage. The first shows an SS-Sturmmann, 1st SS Panzer Division, ‘Leibstandarte, Adolph Hitler’, Kursk, 1943. With this figure he shows how to paint the pine tree pattern. He also shows how to detail the gas mask canister and add handles on a land mine. One of the things he did that I liked was to show in detail how to paint the face of the figure and the proper colors to use. This is a big help to the beginning figure painter. He also shows how to make a realistic ground cover. The second figure Mr. Tan does is an SS – Scharfuhrer, 1st SS- Panzer Division, ‘Leibstandarte Adolph Hitler’ – Normandy – 1944. In this chapter Mr. Tan illustrates converting a tank crewman in overalls to a panzer wrap tunic and painting the dot pattern camouflage. He used a Hornet kit as a basis and then proceeded to show how to make the conversion and even re-sculpting the hands for a more realistic grip on a packing crate. The thirds figure is a Grenadier, 12th SS-Panzer Division, ‘Hitler Jugend’, Normandy, 1944. On this figure Mr. Tan uses several kits to make a conversion. He shows how to add more realistic belts and straps. On this figure he scratch builds new hands to show a more realistic grip on the weapon. In figure modeling, too many figures are shown holding a weapon in a manner that cannot be done. A cloth helmet cover was made to cover the kit helmet for a better look. Finally the Italian Camouflage pattern was used on one figure and the Spring Oak Leaf pattern on the other figure. He shows how to make the appropriate ground cover for this vignette. Overall, the effect is terrific. The final scene is called “salvation”: SS-Schutze, 3rd SS-Panzer-Division, ‘Totenkopf’, Vienna, 1945. This is a major conversion using a destroyed tank hull and a figure praying on top of the tank hull. The concept is wonderful and Mr. Tan shows how to make the tank very realistic and converts the figure into a scene that displays a great deal of emotion. He shows how to paint the Autumn Oak Leaf camouflage pattern on this figure. This piece was my favorite in the book because of the emotion displayed. It could be a winner at any National convention. Overall I found this book to be GREAT. It is published by Osprey Publishing and is Osprey Modeling #23. The list price is $17.95 and well worth every cent. I would highly recommend it to both the novice figure modeler and also the experienced. I know I learned a lot from it. I wish to thank Osprey Publishing and John Noack for allowing me to review this book. I look forward to more from Mr. Calvin Tan. |
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