Introduction

Besides Diorama Modeling books, Theme Collections and new Painting Guide series, MrBlack Publications keeps to release Figure Modelling Series books with no interruption. They added the 25th book to their product range. As before, this book includes step-by-step articles of masterpieces by regular and new contributors. The printing quality, explanatory texts with color codes and personal recipes , numeric sequence on photos, multiplicity on articles always made the series a worthy and high standard reference for all modelers.

Review

As usual, the book is in A4 format with a matt laminated cover and 52 pages.

The book offers 7 articles from Ancient times to Modern Wars with tips and techniques on painting and weathering including color codes used for figures in different scales. 5 of the articles cover the subjects in detail, illustrated with step-by-step photos and explanatory texts.

Articles are;

Painting Realistic Flesh, Metals, Fabrics and the Shield using Acrylics and Oils : Sergey Popovichenko paints Medieval Forge Miniatures 75 mm figure Greek Hoplite at the Battle of Marathon 490 BC. He starts on a short info about the Hoplite clothing, preparation before painting and base construction. Then he explains face and body painting in 12 step by step photos. Then 9 photos for the metal parts, 3 photo for the cyclpos pattern on the shield and 4 photos for the figure base. 5 photos for the finished work.

Painting a Large Scale Figure Using Oil Colours : A short article by another master painter Louis D’Orio. He tells about his painting on Pegaso Models 200 mm Templar Standard Bearer. He uses enamels, acrylics and oils and gives his color codes. 4 full figure photos and 5 close-ups.

Painting a Colourful 75mm Napoleonic Period Figure with Acrylics and Inks : Regular contributor of MrBlack Publications books Ernesto Reyes Stalhuth paints a very colorful 75 mm figure Drummer of Greadiers, 67th Line Refiment Vienna, 1809 by Troop54. 12 on progress photos and 6 photos for the final. Color codes and artist’s recipes for skin tones, shako headgear, clothing, field gear, drum and groundwork details.

How Tamiya Enamels were used to Paint a WWII Vignette with Different Camouflage Uniforms : Master of enamel painting Toshihiro Sano brings us boxart painting of Rado Miniatures 1/35 scale Russian Razvedchiki with Waffen SS Tanker Prisoner of War 1944-45 sculpted by Radek Pituch. Article starts like an open-box review of the kit with 20 photos of the kit parts. He describes his enamel painting style giving Tamiya enamel color codes. Useful for World War II painters with codes of Soviet Amoeba pattern coverall and German M44 Dot pattern camouflage. 8 photos of the boxart from all angles.

Finishing a World War Two Vignette in Less Than 25 Hours for an Urgent Box Art Cover A Present for Hitler by Eduardo Fernandez Rodriguez is a small vignette inspired from a real wartime photo taken in 1945, during the Battle of Remagen. Vignette shows two African-American soldiers in 1/35 scale with artillery shells. Step by step photos and explanatory text. 12 photos for face painting, 20 photos for uniforms and 3 photos for the finished vignette.

Creating and Painting a Vignette Using Commercial Resin Figures and Base : Stelios Neofytidis makes a World War II Italian Front 1943-44 vignette with Alpine Miniatures 1/35 German figures and Black Dog resin base. He starts with the painting of base and then continues with the figures giving Vallejo color codes for all details including the camouflage patterns. 8 photos for the painted vignette.

Painting a Multicam Camouflage Pattern on a 120mm Figure with Acrylic, Oil and Lacquer Colours : Huy Nguyen useful article on painting 120 mm US Navy SEAL 3D figure by Legend Productions. 4 photos of the assembled figure, photos of color tones, 8 photos of the painted figure - 6 are full page and 10 sketchs to paint multicam camouflage. Excellent paintwork and face painting is incredible.

Conclusion

I can say Volume 25 is my favorite of Scale Model Handbook Figure Painting Series. I am not a fan of busts and this book includes 7 full figures in different scales. It covers many periods chronically - starting from a Greek Hoplite, then a Templar Knight, a Napoleonic figure, World War II figures of United States, Germany, Soviet Union and finishes with a Modern US Navy SEAL. All paintworks are top-notch and articles are very useful.

Very Highly Recommended