TANKART 2 WWII Allied Armour

Rinaldi Studio Press
Author: Michael Rinaldi
ISBN: 978-0-9883363-2-2
Format: English text, Full colour, soft cover, size 81/2” x 91/2”, 207 pages.
Review by Bill Curtis

Initial assessment

I bought Volume one because it covered my particular interest in German armour and as I said in my review of that volume I was very impressed, so much so that I purchased this volume.

This volume is to the same high standard having excellent pictures with a layout of text and captions which is very good giving an easy to read for the various topics covered. I particularly like the thought process and the tips given which follows the first volumes format.

The book is broken down into the following chapters

1. Products and Materials
2. Weathering Principles
3. Hairspray Techniques
4. Oil Paint Rendering
5. Painting Olive Drab
6. Pigment Application
7. Russian Churchill Mk.III
8. Pershing M26
9. Char B1 bis
10. Sherman Firefly Vc
11. KV 1 Enkranami
12. Figure special by Radek Pituch

Although the first four chapters of the book repeat what was in the first volume I think the inclusion is valid from the point of view that if you didn’t get TANKART1 you would miss out on some very good basic knowledge. There is also included such as the use of a dark undercoat for colour modulation and the shading and tonal variations required for a monochromatic finish.

The next five chapters show how the author finishes various models in different schemes and for me the dirty worn Russian Churchill is a model I would love to see in the flesh, as so many different weathering techniques are used in its finishing. It is truly one of those models that you can look at time and again finding something new each time. Each of the models is finished with differing finishes whilst using the same basic techniques and shows what can be achieved with practice and a little knowledge, not to mention skill.

As with the first book a guest author, Radek Pituch, gives his take on figure modelling / sculpting and the constructing of scenic bases to display the figures. Radek is a skilled sculptor and figure modeller as the photographs show and the sculpting process is most interesting from an inspiring modeller.

I rate the standard of this series very highly on several levels but found several spelling errors which are a minor point but hopefully these will be caught on future volumes to make them as near perfect as possible.

Put modellers together and the topic will soon turn to realism, artistic interpretation, historical accuracy and how we deal with each in our quest to produce that masterpiece at what ever level we are at. These books act as a catalyst to inspire with how-to information and Mike’s own philosophy, telling the story of the vehicle up to that point in history, and on his take on achieving these goals with both clear explanations and excellent photography.

I have the feeling that these will be well thumbed volumes not only at the time of publishing but in the future as a reference source for techniques but mainly for the inspiration they give.

Very highly recommended

Copy bought from
http://www.rinaldistudiopress.com

Bill C.