|
Modelers have always looked for ways to improve their skills. A traditional way has been to buy books or magazines and use the step by step procedures within. Another way has been to attend seminars at model conventions such as those hosted by IPMS and/or AMPS. This avenue allows the modeler to ask questions of a live instructor to clarify or delve into an area which the instructor had not expected to include in their presentation. The last has been video format such as those which appeared on PBS stations in the US or downloadable such as the Testors Workshop series.
Dennis Koleber is an award winning car modeler who decided to produce DVDs to show various techniques or to film a convention for those who want a memento or could not attend. This particular DVD was filmed at the IPMS/USA National Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2005.
A seminar on painting and weathering armored fighting vehicles was given by Adam Wilder using a PowerPoint slideshow presentation and fielding questions from the audience. It is an informal set up designed to impart knowledge in a comfortable setting.
Dennis Koleber provides the DVD in a professional cover with a proper label even though the Region is not stated. For the purposes of this review, I have tested it on a DVD player connected to an NTSC standard television as well as a PC with DVD-R drive.
The DVD itself has an autoplay feature which works with Windows. Those who have upgraded to service pack 2 on Windows XP may not that the DVD will not play. This is a built in security feature which entails going into Internet Option from the Internet Explorer's Tool menu and click on the Advanced tab. Scroll down to Security and make sure the checkbox labeled "Allow active content from CDs to run on My Computer" is checked off. After clicking OK, restart your browser and the DVD will work as designed.
After starting, one is brought to a screen where a choice is made to play the complete DVD or go to a particular chapter for scene selection. I used RealPlayer 10, Window Media Player 10, and Power DVD DX software. They all worked equally well. The playback resolution at 100% is smaller than the screen I use (1152 X 864 pixels) and had to be enlarged to 160% for full screen playback. The video was clear and did not show pixelization until I paused the movie.
The room lighting was low to allow for the screen presentation and Adam jumped right in explaining the how and why of weathering his models. For the examples, he used his T-34 Model 1940 running up the hill as well as some of the others for variance. Starting with the bare plastic model, he explained some of the details he added and the sequence of building he followed to allow him to paint and weather to his style.
Basic painting is covered as well as explaining when and where he used acrylics, enamels, and oils. Although not mentioned, he used an Iwata HP-C airbrush but was clear in providing the paint to thinner mixtures he used for the base coat and camouflage colors. Brand and paint colors were also provided.
Jumping to weathering, wet and dry muds are explained as to how to achieve the effect. Pin washes, filters, washes, scratches, rust, dust, rain marks, and fuel spills are covered in detail. Again, thinning ratios, mixes and proper techniques are covered. He did not mention any dry brushing and was adamant about not using Dullcote as a finish.
Bear in mind that this is all in a PowerPoint presentation format and a model was not being worked on at any given moment. The audience was quiet for the most part until questions arose which were handled well by Adam. To finish off, and to show how simple the techniques are, Adam displayed photos of a model built by someone who tried his techniques for the first time. Comparing them to his own model, one can see that a beautiful result was attainable.
The presentation was certainly inspiring and the information quite useful. Considering the limitations of the room such as lighting and sound, Dennis Koleber Productions did a splendid job in capturing this seminar for those of us who were not able to attend. While the DVD format does not lend itself to increasing the brightness of the imagery in the film, it is nonetheless a very useful addition to anyone’s modeling library.
I thank Dennis Koleber Productions as well as IPMS/USA for allowing the filming and offering the product for sale. A portion of each sale is donated back to the IPMS/USA non-profit organization. This, as well as several other DVDs, are available from Dennis Koleber directly from their site; www.denniskoleber.com
|