Manufacturer: Swanny’s Models
Product: Instructional DVD Vol.2 “Advanced Modeling Skills: Resin and PE cockpits” (2-disk set)
MSRP: $29.00 plus shipping from http://www.swannysmodels.com/DVD2.html
Reviewed by: Pablo Bauleo
The
second volume of this series moves into more advance techniques: Resin, Photo-etch and
vacuformed canopies in a 2-disk set for a total running time of 4hs
50min. Note that I said “advanced techniques” and not “difficult
techniques”, as this DVD set will teach you how to build the skills (and
confidence) needed for you to finish your models the way you always
wanted to. If you feel like you are ready to take your models to the
next level of detailing, but you are not sure how-to, this DVD set will
show you that resin and photoetch is not difficult, it is just a little
bit different.
The
first disk of the set shows how to put together a P-39 resin cockpit
from Cutting Edge. It begins from resin parts preparation and shows how
to fix deformed parts and how to work with acetate panels for instrument
dial details. It then moves into the whole assembly and painting of the
cockpit, with emphasis on the importance of dry-fitting, particularly
when you are working with aftermarket parts.
The
second disk focuses on photoetch parts, by working with a .50 caliber
machine gun from Aires and a P-47D cockpit detail set from Eduard. It
shows you how to anneal parts, how to cut them from the fret, how to
paint and assemble them. Again, it shows step-by-step the process to do
all of the above, de-mystifying the use of photoetch. It won’t make it
seem easy; it will show you that it is not that different than working with plastic parts.
Among
many other things, this DVD taught me how to bend photoetch parts by
using simple tools (razor blades) or how to do it with a photoetch
bending station. I like the fact that for each technique, it shows
different tools and ways to do things.
Something
I’ve found really interesting is that most of the assembly is shown in
real time (i.e. almost no video editing). That is done as to show that
working with resin/photoetch is not a high time-consuming task. It takes
about the same time that would take you to assemble and paint a
plastic-injected cockpit.
This
set is wrapped-up by showing you how to score, cut and trim vacuformed
canopies. After all, if you put all that effort in super detailing a
cockpit, you want to make sure it is possible to see it very clearly!
As
with the previous set, it includes a round-up of the tools needed to
work when you are dealing with resin and photoetch and more importantly,
how to do it in a safe way.
This
set is perfect for the modeler that has already built some kits and
wants to move to the next level, and for the beginner that is wondering
all about aftermarket detail sets.
