How-to books are just as popular with model builder as they are with those who like to build cabinets or fix their furnaces. This one from Specialty Press is on model cars. Pat Covert has authored a number of books on parts of the subject, but this one brings together three of his smaller books and a bunch of new material under one cover.

It takes you from the very basics of choosing tools and materials, through assembly, painting and finally into detailing. Cars are a very different beast from aircraft and tanks. With a car, you generally don't weather and these are all designed to have as shiny a paint scheme as one can get. If you want to weather (many of us call it 'returning to nature'), then there is a section on how to properly rust out your model.

I found the book particularly fascinating as it goes step by step through some of the mysteries of the subject, especially the section on how to get those superb paint jobs. Some of the others I found quite familiar, such as the section on working with photo-etch and cast metal. I'm glad to see that Pat and I agree that clear paint is the best way to attach much photo-etch!

Throughout the book are crisp and clear photographs as well as some well done drawings. I liked the 'intermission' sections with photos of some pretty incredible looking model cars. These are the sorts of things that inspire builders.

Overall, a really excellent book and in today's market, a real value for the money. It is one that I can highly recommend to the car modeler and anyone else who wants to improve their modeling skills.

January 2006

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