Compendium Films, Ltd

Expert Model Craft DVD: Realistic Model Buildings

Hosted by  Marcus Nicholls

Reviewed By  Darrin Van Deman, IPMS #44482

MSRP: $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-905573-77-6 Running Time: 95 minutes www.compendiumfilms.com Review copy provided by Casemate publishing www.casematepublishing.com If you are anything like me, you are more of a "hands on" type of person. Watching someone else work is about as exciting to me as sitting out on my porch listening to the lawn grow. With this in mind, I popped it into my DVD player. I shouldn't have worried. Hosted by the legendary Marcus Nicholls of Tamiya Model Magazine fame, Expert Model Craft's "Realistic Model Buildings" features Marcus at his finest. There is truly something for everyone in this title, with Marcus starting out painting a medieval rock building, and progressing through to modern Middle Eastern buildings. Several techniques and applications are shown, all with great camera angles showing every moment of fine detail and expertise Nicholls offers. Unlike other videos I have seen of this nature, techniques are explained in detail. Instead of the typical "I've already dry-brushed the building and applied all of the detail work in the cut scene," Nicholls explains each step thoroughly, including tips on how to make things easier, as well as advice from his own arsenal. Nothing used in the video is exotic or impossible to find, and often it is explained how to obtain some of the more unusual items. Some of the best moments are in the bonus features. Taking the basic buildings a bit further, Marcus gives additional tips and strategies for bringing life to his creations, from bomb and artillery damage to advanced woodwork painting. Bonuses also include a breakdown of every item used in the video. I am now a firm believer in this series, and look forward to future releases. Now, I just have to practice on some of those buildings I've been saving for a dio… Special thanks go to Casemate Publishing www.casematepublishing.com and IPMS for the review sample. Highly recommended.

Information, images, and all other items placed electronically on this site are the intellectual property of IPMS/USA ®.