New Publications from these prolific publishers are always welcome; each one sets new boundaries and standards for others to follow.

 This new series Inside & Out, is one of these. Sub titles A Modeller’s guide to improving scale model kits No 1. It is bilingual in English and Czech. Price unknown as it is a review copy, so check out with your local book store.

 It is printed on a large format 32cm by 24 cm larger than standard A4, it has 64 pages and this allows for very good quality full colour photographs of outstanding quality. It contains 364 photographs of the highest quality.

The Subjects in this edition are aircraft in different scales. The following are covered, Tamiya 262 1/48, Hasagawa TBM-3 Avenger 1/72, Hasagawa Kawasaki Ki -61 Hien 1/48, Italeri Henschel Hs 129B 1/72, Revell Panavia Tornado GR-MK1 1/72, Tamiya Focke Wulf Fw 190 D-9 1/48.

 Each subject is covered in a photomontage of the actual kit after it is built up and painted it truly shows the level of detail and skill that the modeller has for his subject. In each section there is a explanation of what has been done to the kit and the add on details from resin or photo etch used and some brief outlines in text only of the parts scratch built or super detailed.

 The actual kits are outstanding and I could see many of them winning in major international competitions up to best of show or gold medal. Looking as some of the models from a none aircraft modellers point of view it is hard to tell model from real aircraft. I know I am looking at models but the quality is outstanding. 

 However there is one down side and I hope the author will take this on board as a constructive criticism, unless you have encyclopaedia knowledge of resin accessories and photo etch; in the completed models it is near impossible to see what is not his work and the work of bought items.  I would like to have seen at least half of the photographs devoted to the construction stages to show the level of detail in the models before final painting.

If asked to pick out one of superb models that for me is just that bit higher standard above all the rest it has to be the Avenger, it is hard to imagine it is a model and in 1/72 scale, I am lucky a few years ago I was able to see an original example being worked on in the maintenance hangers at Duxford Museum here in the UK, I know from first hand experience  the level of work the modeller has had to put into it to achieve this outstanding model.

 Conclusions, a very well presented book by a master model maker, the photographs are stunning, a good read, inspirational to those who are ready to take on the hard mile in super detailing.

For our American readers who like to see points awarded, over all I give it 8 out of 10 for content , photographs it has to be 10 out of ten , ease of read  10 out of 10. selection of subjects and scales for this I could not see much difference between the level of detail in 1/72 or 1/48 both are outstanding so again 10 out of 10. my overall mark is a high 9 out of ten, had it had the early construction photographs in it would have been a full set of marks.

Go out and order your copy now you will not be disappointed. 

 Many thanks to Franti for the advance review copy handed to me at Scale Model World 03.

 If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 200,000 visits a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.