Revelatory. That''s the best one word description I can give you of this book specifically and the series generally. What I hold in my hands is the first series of true weathering textbooks. Matt Flegal takes a look at this latest in the new line of publications from Michael Rinaldi.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Agreed. As a beginner to model building, these books are invaluable in my efforts to get better at painting and especially weathering.

For me this is a must buy also, as is the first volume. It surpasses the Mig books in that Rinaldis books are more thought out in explaining how to do the techniques.

I agree about the comment on the figure chapter, specially as there are photos missing so the numbers in the text do not match the discription, a pity on an otherwise flawless book.

Thanks for the great review Matt! I appreciate your candor and insights, there is always room for improvements on any product and I appreciate the reviews for their clear unbiased opinions.

On the matter of the final chapter by the guest authors, there are few factors in play that collaborate to create the basis for that material. Would I like to give the 30+ pages - absolutely, but there are multiple elements needed to get there. They are the images (both size and quantity) and unique text I'm after, plus I asked the first two guys to supply material on rather short notice, and I needed subject material specific to the book's subjects.

The crux are the graphics, which have a very specific style and it takes time for another author halfway around the world to get me a full article to the 30-page level with images I can use and edit and fit seemlessly into the books. So in the end it's a real compromise, and any publishing editor will tell you the same thing when working with other source material.

But...my goals match your guy's thoughts, they always have. Eventually as I have now had a good 6 months of development work on the books and can present my requirements a lot easier to the guest authors and say "Here, this is how I want to illustrate your chapter...etc." I am also ahead of that curve now, and new guest authors will have an easier time supplying all that is needed so I can fully flesh out those last elements on their chapters. I have new authors already working to supply material well into 2014.

That's the plan anyway, and the one in Vol. 3 Modern Armor will indeed be a full-length chapter.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Best,

Mike
www.facebook.com/RinaldiStudio
www.rinaldistudiopress.com

I bought both of Mike's volume 1 and 2 as a combo and can definitely tell you I'm enjoying every minute of the first one now. If I had to change anything about these, I would change the background color of the 'further thoughts' sections on almost each page to a color that contrasts better with the white text. That red/orange color with the white text is a bit hard to read in my humble opinion.

Great work, Mike. Keep them coming!

Rob

You don’t always get what you pay for but in this case you’re getting a lot more than your money’s worth! Mike has saved me a bunch of time, money, effort and frustration in getting to where I want to go with the finishing on my kits. Seriously for less than the price of one armor kit per each volume I get a superb 1st rate guide on painting and weathering techniques that will take me further faster and cheaper to where I’d like the completed finish my models to be. The plus side is that anyone of us can build on these techniques to suite your own personal taste.

I now have both volumes but have only started reading through the second book; the first one is still packed away from moving. For sure these volumes will stay on the bench as ready and handy reference during the painting and weathering phase of my builds. Thanks Mike!

~ Eddy

I am about half way thru Vol.2 and am enjoying it a lot.
While I have yet to try Mike's techniques I have found things that I want to try. The books have given me great ideas now it's up to me to take some theses techniques and put my own twist on them, not copy what Mike has done.
Great printing too !
Thanks Mike and put me down for Volume 3 !