Woodland Scenics

I was given this book as a Christmas present, though my friend said "I suppose you know all this already". "No!" I replied. "I learnt my scenic modelling forty years ago - this book is up-to-date with modern techniques and materials", and indeed has given me ideas about a range of new modelling projects.

Be aware that it is a manufacturer's guide and so refers directly to their own products. It is also from the USA, and so refers specifically to a US perspective on scales, architectural styles, measures and common household objects. But this is not a great problem, and in some areas the US perspective is interesting, The USA includes a number of different geographical forms and climate areas, and this guide reflects that in giving advice on modelling deserts and winter weather, things the UK either doesn't have or doesn't see very frequently,

However, this actually makes the book of value beyond the railway modelling fraternity; military modellers will find this extremely useful for diorama projects, especially those involving desert scenes.

I have a couple of reservations, though. The section on assembling plastic building kits suggests that cyanoacrylate (CA) glues are suitable for assembling such kits. I think most modellers will disagree; CA, or 'superglue', can be difficult to handle, and is well-known for bonding to skin. They will also fog clear plastic parts. They are best used to join dissimilar materials, but the guide makes no mention of this.

And there is a section in using decals, but they only describe their own range of rub-down dry decals, making no mention of the much more widespread waterslide decals.

These reservations aside, this is a useful and well-presented manual, and I shall be keeping it close to my workbench.… (meer)