Tuesday, October 6

Read n' Reviewed: How to Paint Modern Russian Tanks from AMMO by Mig Jimenez

Ammo continues to bring out new "how-to" step-by-step books on making models with tips and techniques, tools and how to use them - so we keep reading them. See what we thought about the latest edition - centred on painting Russian tanks in our review...

Read n' Reviewed: How to Paint Modern Russian Tanks
From AMMO by Mig Jimenez 
Catalogue No #A.MIG-6518
Softcover, A4 format 
68 full-colour pages 
Multilingual: Includes four languages: English, Spanish, French and German
Price: 9,95 €
 AMMO by Mig Jimenez has long been releasing books on how to improve your modelling skills. The book we have today is closely tied to their products, and it aims to show the reader just how to use their materials to paint and weather your modern Russian armoured vehicles.

How to Paint Modern Russian Tanks in its physical form:
Bound in softcover in sixty-eight pages and with multilingual text in English, Spanish, French and German, this book is filled with a step-by-step guide from start to finish of the modelling of a Russian T72B tank from Trumpeter. Each step is clearly described in text and photographs, each one with annotations to show clearly what is going on, just like a modeller's instructions. This time only with paint. 

Page by page:
Just like a model's instructions, the materials are laid out at the start of the book. These are all AMMO products, so those who want to use other brands can still get an understanding from them, but it is, without doubt, a promo for their own product. They are no the only company to do this, and if you like AMMO's gear, well, all the better.

After a brief introduction explaining the book, we start to work ourselves through the steps and processes to paint this T-72B. From chipping to a basecoat, where to chip and distress this paint and in which colours according to the materials of the tank you are working on, to applying the first layer of camouflage and highlights and shadows are all covered clearly and in order.
You will notice those annotations that helpfully show time, working method, material to use and all of the other motions, mixes and techniques and when to apply them. this is one of the more helpful parts of this guide that works with any type of paint. 
By the time the tracks and undercarriage are dirtied up we are already looking like we would have a very nice looking kit. 
The areas to make wet and dry, the methods of pigments, streaks and splashes and just where to put them is an excellent help to this modeller for sure. The authors keep in mind to tell you exactly what shade and type of product to use along with the actions described in the text and the annotations that show you the actions and quick guides.

Thin mud, splashes, sprays and all sorts of residual dirt and grime is explained in these next steps, how to apply, with what and in what motion for how long, like a modeller's cookbook, as long as you like shopping at the one shop! 😃

To end the book and the process we are shown an overview of the materials from AMMO and just where they were used the most or most prominently. 

Although short, this is a really helpful book for many modellers. Most useful to those will all or mostly AMMO products, second to those who like to use other gear but like to adapt the methods shown, and third to those who are not yet modelling and would like to know just how to go about the whole process.

A book like this makes it all easier for especially those who need help and a guide to walk them through the process, so to them, this book is worth all of the 10 Euro on the price tag.

Adam Norenberg

Thanks to the people at AMMO for sending this book to us to read and review. This book is now available on the AMMO Website...