This is another book in Osprey's superlative 'Masterclass' series of how to books. The 192 pages of color are enclosed in an easy to use hardcover spiral bound book that keeps the pages open and flat. This allows the modeler to more easily use this reference to duplicate or use the information provided as a guide.

Unlike other Osprey modeling books, this one concentrates on airbrushing and is in many ways, a primer on the subject. Author Brett Green has done a number of previous Osprey books and this one brings together his experiences as well as models built by himself and his friends. I do wish the book would have pointed out who did what, but it really doesn't matter in a title of this type.

Once past the introduction, there are sections on airbrush fundamentals as well as a brief history of color and how it applies to models. Then we get into a 'getting started' section (thinning paint, how to hold the airbrush, etc) and then into basic techniques. This latter section covers masking and freehand work.

Then into the meat of the book. Not surprisingly, a rather large portion of the book deals with various ways of painting aircraft models, covering the use of masks and applying washes and dry brushing and doing canopies and wheels and applying decals, and a plethora of different aspects of completing an aircraft model. The examples are quite varied with just about every possibility covered in some detail. The last 15% or so of the book covers armor models and 'others'. This last bit shows a car being done and some of the special considerations needed when building car models. Primarily how to get the finish to shine.

In the back are some resources that you might find useful. If you are looking for a book on basic construction and weathering, this one isn't it. Its purpose is to show you the myriad ways to achieve various finishes with an airbrush and in that it does a superb job. This is one of those books where the less you know about a subject, the more valuable the book is to you. Those with a greater experience level will also find some useful advice and information as well, but this one really is more for those who need to add to their knowledge base.

Thanks to the copious number of quality color images that accompany each section, those with the will should be able to follow what was done with ease. It is a book that I can highly recommend to you.

September 2008

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