Introduction

AK interactive and AK interactive USA have not been going for a year yet and already they have become a powerhouse of new and exciting products, both for the painting and weathering of scale armour models and digital media covering how to produce stunning models and effects both with their own products and others. With Mig Jimenez involved with developing products for AK interactive you know they have many more products coming to the modeling hobby. In this review I will be taking a look at the recently released AK interactive Winter Techniques DVD.

Review

The DVD is packaged in standard DVD fashion with the sleeve showing some of the effects it will teach you to replicate. On the back it also provides a short introduction in two languages, and when opened it shows you more images of the two models used in the DVD. Inside you will, of course, find the DVD itself and a four page glossy booklet showing yet more images of the two vehicles used. The DVD has a running time of 60 minutes and is in the PAL format, which does mean if purchased in a country that uses an alternate format it will have to be played on your PC rather than a DVD player. The narration is provided by Mig Jimenez in English with sub titles in Spanish.

The DVD, after a short introduction, breaks down into three segments;

• Examples
• Basic winter techniques shown being applied to an Opel Blitz Truck in 1/35th scale.
• Advanced winter techniques shown being applied to a KV II in 1/16th scale.

The examples area of the DVD only lasts for just over 3 minutes and provides you with a number of vehicles and dioramas where this winter techniques DVD will come in handy. There is also a small amount of film footage showing both Allied and Axis vehicles with a host of differently applied finishes that were in use by both sides of the conflict. The narration by Mig Jimenez also explains where pictures can sometimes lead the modeller into making errors due to the stark contrast in some colours.

The basic winter techniques shown being applied to an Opel Blitz Truck in 1/35th scale uses a combination of Tamiya, Humbrol, and Vallejo paints along with washes, filters, and weathering products from AK interactive and Mig. This segment of the DVD lasts twenty minutes and while titled basic winter techniques I am sure you will agree the results are striking. Some of the techniques used, while touched upon here, are best explained in detail in the Enamel Weathering Techniques: Washes, Fading and Oils DVD reviewed Here on Armorama by Jim Starkweather.

The Advanced Winter Techniques are shown being applied to a KV II in 1/16th scale and lasts roughly 37 minutes. This part of the DVD covers the hairspray technique and the results that can be achieved via this method, and I have to say this segment removed my fear of attempting this method. This area also provides an insight into using both enamel and acrylic paints in order to achieve results that would be hard to achieve with acrylic paint on its own.

Another method used in this segment is the correct use of a sponge to obtain realistic chipping effects, in this case with enamel paint. Also covered in this segment are the materials used for mud effects on your model which is, of course, applicable to models for shown in most areas of the world.

Conclusion

For me this DVD did not cover any techniques that I had not heard of previously but, and it’s a big but, gave me an insight into the correct methods of application and suggested products in order that I could achieve a finish that I would be happy with.

The best thing I can say about this DVD is that it gave me the confidence to attempt methods and techniques I have never used before, and at the same time proved to me that some results I had seen in my own work were not me messing up but that I didn’t know what to do next. I very highly recommend this product to you as it will help guide you in achieving the results you seek.