Introduction

MrBlack Publications lately released the 3rd volume of World War II Special series. The book includes articles of figures, busts and dioramas in different scales by old and new contributors but all inspired by the events that took place between the years 1939-1945.
As all former books, this one is also in A4 format with a matt laminated cover and a strong binding which will never let pages break up though reading it many times.

Inside the Book

There are hundred of color photos for step-by-step articles and finished models on 84 pages. The book includes 12 articles for World War II Axis and Allies figures, busts and dioramas in various scales.

Road to Amiens ; Michael Lee explains how to make an impressive 1/35 scale diorama combining commercial kits with scratch built elements and using various painting techniques. He paints a Tamiya Sherman, tank crew , tank riders and Germans from Dragon and Alpine with Hornet heads and civilian from Masterbox and displays all on a diorama base with a stratch house section. First, he tells about his weathering process of his Sherman in 6 photos and how he made diorama base and house in 10 photos. Hand painted warning signs is a great part of this article. He explains his paintwork of a slow down sign with a pin up girl in 6 photos and interior of house and lay out / details in 6 photos. Then he continues with the figures. 10 step by step photos for painting a US soldier and 4 finished photos of US tank riders, German Paras and a civilian, all in AK color codes. 7 photos for the final work. Painting quality on this diorama is really amazing and especially hand painted signs are top notch.

Operation Konrad, Budapest 1945 ; a small but a fantastic After the Battle scene created by David Hernanz Caldevilla using 1/35 scale Evolution Miniatures German figures and diorama accessories from various companies. He describes painting each figure one by one giving the Vallejo Model Color codes and weathering in oils and pigments. No WIP photos but 24 photos for the painted figures, house ruin and whole scene.

Razvedchik! Operation Bagration 1945 ; A great SBS article by Calvin Tan on painting Amoeba camouflage of Soviet World War II overalls. He paints boxart of 35129 Alpine Miniatures Soviet Scouts in Jo Sonja’s Acrylic Paints and shares his work with 27 photos in numeric sequence supported by text with color recipes for each photo. 6 photos for the finished figures. Very useful article by a master painter.

Machine Gunner 12 SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend ; Regular contributor Toshihiro Sano paints Alpine Miniatures 120 mm figure in Tamiya enamels with his wet-on-wet technique. 28 step by step photos for face and hand flesh tones, helmet with Oak leaf camo pattern and alternative head with M42 Steel helmet and 25 for painting overall in Italian camouflage, field gear and machine gun. All photos in numbers and supported by texts with Tamiya paint codes. Another great SBS article including 6 photos of the painted figure.

Then the book continues with 4 two page articles by two regular contributors, each including 4 photos of the finished figure and detailed texts with techniques on Vallejo color codes and recipes. So good to see 3 different scale bust painting articles in a row.

Feldgendarmerie ; 1/35 scale Mantis Miniatures figure painted by Christos Katselos

WW II French Foreign Legion Skier ; 150 mm WoS bust painted by Ernesto Reyes Stalhuth

Retreat to Victory, the Evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk, 1940 ; 180 mm Life Miniatures bust painted by Christos Katselos. Interesting piece as Sang on Lee sculpted legendary Beatles member Paul McCartney’s face on this figure.

German WW II Feldgendarmerie ; 200 mm Masterclass bust painted by Ernesto Reyes Stalhuth

Leningrad 1941-1944 - The Greatest Siege of WW II ; A very useful and detailed article comes from MrBlack Studio himself. :) A 1/35 scale fantastic snowy scene by an old Verlinden building and just one kit - MB3571- of plastic Masterbox figures with Hornet heads. After a historical note, he explains each figure and his conversion process one by one in 25 photos. Then he shares construction of the building and placing the figures to diorama in 18 photos. Next, he paints the figures and building giving the color codes for Vallejo acrylics and oils. He finishes the article by telling how to make snow and dirt. 12 photos for the finished diorama.

Kurt Paner Meyer, Kharkov 1942-43 ; Another step-by-step by Toshihiro Sano on painting in Tamiya enamles. This time , a large scale full figure – Stormtrooper Miniatures 120 mm SS Brigade Commander. 34 photos with numbers and text for painting head, officer cap, hand and map, 27 photos for uniform, field gear, jerry can and figure base with snow. 5 photos of the finished figure.

Last two articles are from Stelios Neofytidis for figures in 1/35 scale painted in Vallejo colors.

German Infantry in Kursk ; 4 photos for figure base with wall, 7 for the figure and 6 for final with short text including color codes.

Operation Barbarossa 1941 ; A small scene with a wall and German figures from Dragon and Masterbox with Hornet heads. 5 photos of the final scene and text for flesh tones, uniforms and field gear paint codes.

Conclusion

Standard quality of MrBlack Publications with high resolution clear photos,substantial text content and adding new contributors habit. Variety of scales, different techniques, useful tips and color codes of well known paints make it a useful and helpful reference for all level painters especially for bust and 1/35 figure World War II painters.

Stelios Demiras always states he will be pleased to hear feedback and suggestions to add new articles due to readers demand on next issues. Please don’t hesitate to send your opinions to him by e-mail to [email protected] or visit at MrBlack Publications –Facebook