by Martha Sutherland
Book Review for Card Modelers on-line
Let me start by saying that Martha Sutherland was an instructor on mine while I was in collage, but I had no knowledge of this book, nor influence on it . I discovered this book while surfing on Amazon.com looking for one of her others books about architectural lettering. Yes there was devoted a portion of a class to freehand lettering for architects, but back to the book.
The book is divided up into 9 chapters, all of which deals with model making that would be of interest to most of the people reading this. The chapters pertaining directly with the design and construction of card models are chapters 3 (Paper Models) and 4 (Illustration Board models.)
Lets start at the beginning.
Chapter One: Getting Started
This chapter covers the bare necessities one will need when designing
and construction card models. For any modeler that has built more than
a few models you'll wonder why that special tool you find indispensable
that high-jacked from a completely non-related hobby is not mentioned,
well its not. The basics are covered; knifes, drawings tools and
different paper options and glue options. There are explanation on what
works best and what to avoid.
Chapter Two: Chip board and Cardboard Models
Short chapter with some illustrations of the creative use of card board
with the corragted edges exposed.
Chapter Three: Paper Models
As the name implies and makes up almost one quarter of the book by
itself. This is the chapter that anyone interested in this book will
spend most of their time. There are numerous illustrations that can be
photo-copied, cut and scored and constructed that consist of many of
the basic shape s to design and build complex models from. Starting
with a cube, to hip roofs, to chimney;'s , to dormer windows to
cylinders, advancing on into more complex shapes inspired by the Sydney
opera House, the Air Force Acadamey Chapel, to Frank Ghery inspire
amorphous shapes and the multi faceted spheres.
Chapter Four: Illustration Board Models
if your not familiar with this (the thickness is about 1/16", though
its flexible to be formed into cylinders and cones) it comes i sheets
18" x 24" and bigger. The intention with this material is to create one
of a kind models from scratch, but the illustration can be used in any
paper medium to design cylinders, domes, vaults, stairs and specific
layer architectural details.
Chapter Five: Contour Bases I've constructed many paper model of various architectural subjects and the base (context for the model to sit on) has been omitted from most of them, or a complicated bas has been simplified to a flat surface on which the model sites. This chapter details various ways of constructing a site for a model. Granted the application for a card models is limited, it is possible to add that extra layer of detail to an existing kit model.
The next four chapters may be of little interest to card modelers; 6 - Foamcore models, 7 - Balsa and Basswood models, 8 - Tents, 9 - Entourage.
Chapter 8 - Tents may be of interest to anyone wanting to expand beyond paper and use fabric to design a model, say a model of the Denver Airport with its tensile fabric roof. Chapter 9 may be on interest to make the landscaping and additional items that can make a model stand out. Various techniques are used here, two of which employ paper, the rest are made out of the stuff you may find on a detailed model railroad set.
Every page of the book is covered by half or more of all the various illustrations that depict the written description for design of the various techniques described in the book. For someone wanting to design airplane or other various modes of transportation, this book will be of limited help for you. If you wish to design models of various architectural projects this is a great first step. The following steps would be to draw, cut glue, and repeat until correct.
At 112 pages from cover to cover and a size of 5 and 13/16 inches tall by 9 inches wide, it easily fits into your hand and regardless of you actually making any of the test models, the illustration will keep your mind occupied and thinking of all the possibilities of what can be designed in paper. At a suggested retail price of 17.50 US dollars, if you have to have it, its worth it. A quick check of two bookstores on the Internet, returns a price as low as 12.25 US dollars.
| Model: | Modelmaking |
| Publisher: | W.W. Norton & Company |
| Designer: | Martha Sutherland |
| Scale: | NA |
| Difficulty: | Mild |
| Number of Pages: | 112 |
| Instructions: | English |
| Diagrams: | Excellent |
| Coloring and Artwork: | Excellent |
| Availability: | Amazon.com |
