MrBlack Publications released their 42nd book as WW II Special Volume.5. The book is in A4 format with a laminated cover and 84 pages.
As the 2nd book of the series focused on Man Jin Kim, this book brings us the figures and vignettes of Luc Klinkers . He shows how to sculpt your own WW II German figures , convert commercially available figures, paint them and create fantastic dioramas.
There are 250 color photos inside and about 200 of them shown in step-by-step sequences supported with detailed texts.
There are 5 chapters that the author reveals his techniques gathered over his 20 years experience. In the first chapter, he briefly explains the basics, tools and materials on sculpting and converting figures.
The Late War Trench, Germany,Eastern Front
Second chapter is about creating a three figure vignette in 1/35 scale totally from scratch. Luc sculpts two figures using wire armatures, covering them putty and showing his talent in 64 photos in numerical sequence supported with explanations. The third figure is his Short-cut method with 30 photos. Carving an old Tamiya figure, cutting his head and boots and covering his body with putty. He uses commercially available resin heads and boots. Then he paints the figures in Vallejo paints and shares his color codes for skin tones and different camo patterns on clothing.
Next step is making the base. 23 photos for creating the base from MDF, detailing it with balsa trench, making the ground and sandbags, adding the figures and painting details.
The final is a great vignette showing a verywell detailed trench section with almost all kinds of German weapons and 3 figures with 3 different camouflage patterns. It totally reflects World War II German Army in such a small base.
German SS Grenadier, Falaise Pocket 1944
Third chapter is Luc's favorite scale 1/16. He sculpts a German soldier carrying a Panzerfaust and MP44 using wire armature. After posing the wire skeleton, he covers with putty. 32 photos with useful texts for sculpting and detailing especially for cloth folds and wrinkles. 27 photos for painting face, field gear, weapons, Pea dot pattern trousers and Oak leaf pattern smock. 13 photos for the figure base and finished figure.
Run for Cover
Fourth chapter is like a combination of first two chapters; 3 figure vignette and 1/16 scale but this time artist makes it more difficult sculpting action posed figures instead of static poses. Once again, Luc uses well posed wire armatures and covers them in putty to create excellent running posed figures. 27 photos with texts for sculpting period, 7 for painting and 4 for the finished scene.
Author's Awesome Creations
The 5th chapter is a feast for eyes with 26 photos of the 1/35 and 1/16 scale figures and vignettes created by the artist. Great poses, great scenes and great painting patterns.
The last page of the book shows a list of Vallejo codes used for painting WW II German figures and a color sketch with color codes for painting Pea dot pattern.
Conclusion
Besides usual MrBlack Publications high standard quality, this book is a useful book for the modelers dreaming to create their own figures. Luc Klinkers explains it easily and well detailed with photos to show us sculpting a figure is not impossible for any modeler. Maybe not good as his figures, but worths to give a try. :)
More info and photos for this book and other books of company can be seen at MrBlack Publications .
Thanks to Stelios Demiras for the review sample.