THE AIM OF THIS book is to bring the US Army of World War II to life on the gaming table as well as the display cabinet for both wargamer and collector alike. Practical step-by-step instructions demonstrate how to create realistic models in metal, resin and plastic, using various techniques from hand painting to airbrushing.
My modelling career started in the mid-1970s when, five years old and living in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, I received my first Airfix kit. This sparked an interest that has grown and developed over the years, allowing me to graduate from modelling with plastic soldiers to modern metal versions. It has been a journey that could be rather trying at times, but mostly it has been engrossing and enjoyable.
I still have very fond memories of taking the weekly Saturday journey into town with my mother while she did her shopping, and waiting patiently until we could, at last, visit the local toyshop, which seemed to stock every Airfix kit available. After handing over my pocket money for the chosen kit, the journey home was filled with anticipation and excitement at the prospect of building my latest prize. At that time painting the models was optional, but the fun I had in building them was boundless.
Many years later, and a lot older, I am happy to say that I still feel that same excitement at the thought of tackling a new modelling subject, no matter what size: from a small kit with only a few parts to one with many hundreds. I am an avid modeller in 1:72 and 1:76 scales, Wargaming is a significant part of my modelling hobby and I enjoy every aspect, from researching a unit to using it on the tabletop battlefield.