Summary:

Mig Jimenez needs no introduction in model building circles. Now of AK-interactive fame after leaving a former company named after him Mig is producing model finishing products including washes, oil paints and pigments at a prodigious rate. Up until now his products have been aimed at model armour, (the “Dark side”), but now Mig is testing the water on the model warship front by releasing a DVD on weathering German WW II warships to accompany a line of washes and oil paints designed especially for us “boat builders”. Being rather immersed in my Trumpeter 1/200 Bismarck build at the moment it was a no-brainer that I would order the DVD and some of the washes to incorporate them in my project.

Contents:

The DVD comes nicely packed in a plastic DVD box with a small booklet with photos of finished models. The DVD has English narration, (by Iain Hamilton, sounding vaguely like Robo-cop), and includes English, Spanish and Polish subtitles. The models used as weathering objects are built by Fran Romero who does a very nice job building a Prince Eugen class heavy cruiser and a German destroyer mine layer. Mig states very clearly that he is responsible for the weathering techniques but I don’t really think there is any doubt about that. Mig has a very recognizable style of weathering.

The DVD can be viewed in a single 1 hour session or you can study the effects used in 6 separate chapters listed in the main menu. The DVD also includes some WW II film material including shots of the Bismarck. Most of the warships shown in the WW II clip seem to have escaped Mig’s attention and weathering techniques.

The effects shown include basic preparation of the model ship, basic painting, painting the hull, dirt and rust, chipping and last but certainly not least some special effects. This list doesn’t do the material shown on the DVD justice. Mig manages to give a tremendous amount of information in the one hour available that will be of interest for all warship modellers, be it beginners or the very advanced ship builders.

I very much enjoyed watching how easy it is to create the much sought after “oil canning” effect seen on warships using oil paint instead of gouging chunks of plastic out of your model. Mig’s way of weathering the underwater hull is worth studying too.

If building a damaged or burnt ship is what you want to do Mig shows how to “toast” your build in a very realistic fashion. The obligatory hairspray chipping method is also well explained and Mig also shows how to use his collection of enamel washes to their best effect.

Some of Mig’s techniques cannot be called subtle and I can imagine that the First Officers on board of the two ships built and weathered on this DVD would have been demoted and packed off to the Russian front by the respective CO’s quicker than you can blink an eye. Both builds look like they have just completed a demolition derby. A little restraint when weathering will probably produce a more realistic portrayal of a well used warship. That being said, there are photos of WW II warships that looked really bashed up and in need of maintenance due to long periods of hard work in appalling weather and sea conditions.

Conclusion:

At a very reasonable 13 Euros, the price of a good bottle of wine, it is definitely a must-have item. For this you get a “Master-class” from the man himself. It’s a painless way to learn some new effects and to refine some known tricks.

I enjoyed watching the DVD, it is informative and entertaining. I have seen some new tricks and effects that I can’t wait to try out.

The combination of the DVD with the launch of a set of specific washes and oil paints for warships is an excellent marketing strategy, I will probably be ordering the rest of the washes and oils just have them in my paint collection.

Thanks to my bank account for supplying this sample :)