4 comments about Making Miniatures: In 1/12 Scale.

1. To start a dollhouse may seem discouraging for many people when you think about the time it takes to finish such a project. Here are the ideas how to do just one room box, but still create the atmosphere that you want in a miniature. This may inspire the beginner to really start with a project to try his/her new hobby, but it is also a great source for the advanced hobbyist to try for a real masterpiece. I can only highly recommend this book to everybody who is into 1/12 scale.



2. Venus and Martin Dodge have produced (what I feel) are the most beautiful books on the skills of making miniature scenes, dolls and accessories. My first project was the kitchen in this book. It turned out beautifully. I cannot stress enough how realistic their roomboxes are. Have a great time creating!



3. I've used this book as a reference on how to make clay tiles for roofing and flooring. It has other good tips on designing rooms, and information on making the furniture in the rooms. The furniture is way beyond my ability to make, but it's still a lovely book.



4. The photographs are beautiful, and the projects are lovely. I only wish they'd given more detailed instructions on some items, such as making flooring from clay.

3 comments about Wargaming: An Introduction.

1. This book is a colorful, readable overview of figure wargaming across the range of available wargame periods, from ancient battles of Greeks or Romans to the most modern battles. There are examples of different army organizations and uniforms. The sample rules for each period are easily used, although should the reader decide to seriously pursue the hobby, he will want to find more sophisticated rules designed for his particular period. The photographs illustrate figures from the various periods and show various wargames in progress. Great for youth readers and people who are just curious about this special hobby.



2. Although I have collected toy soldiers for years, I had never really gotten into the world of wargaming. Once I decided to do so, I picked up this book and was blown away by how good it was. It is the complete package, as it provides everything first time wargamers need to know. Thomas also provides a full set or rules and army lists for six different periods (Ancient, Pike and Shot, Napoleonic, American Civil War, Skirmish and World War II). These rules are excellent, and can be slightly tailored to meet the requirements of other conflicts not covered, such as the Crimean War or World War One. To be sure, I did find the Second World War rules a bit difficult at first, and it will take a little bit of practiceto master these, though the other rules are more straightforward.
   Overall, this is an excellent wargaming resource. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to get into this hobby.



3. As a longtime miniatures wargamer who has been involved in the hobby for 25 years, I didn't really NEED this book as I'm already quite familiar with wargaming. But I love to collect and read books on wargaming; and as a game designer, I find that there are always ideas to be gleaned from examining different approaches to gaming. Plus, there are very few books of recent vintage that give a good, general overview of the miniatures wargaming hobby. This book by Neil Thomas does just that.
   
   This is not a deep history book by any stretch of the imagination, but Thomas provides a solid overview of warfare & tactics in various periods (from ancient times to modern). The book is divided into multiple sections (Ancients, Pike & Shot, American Civil War, etc.), with rules provided for each specific period. While the game rules provided are pretty simple and have an "old school" feel to them, they're perfect for folks just getting into this wonderful hobby -- sensible, not too complex, and play in a reasonable amount of time.
   
   This is a book that newcomers should find very useful as a jumping off point into a rich, deep, fascinating hobby, and I would recommend it to that audience.
   
   For veteran wargamers, this book isn't a necessary purchase, but I do feel it has 3 uses.
   
   First, if you're looking for a simple set of rules to play at a convention, or just like to study other rule sets to gather ideas, this is a worthwhile book in that regard.
   
   Secondly, if you want to introduce new friends into the hobby, loan this book to them. It's approachable and not overwhelming, and you can fill in the missing details.
   
   Thirdly, if you're like me and enjoy collecting general books on the topic of miniature wargaming, this book is a nice addition to your collection.
   
   If you enjoy this book, you will probably also enjoy "Ancient & Medieval Wargaming" by Neil Thomas as well. It's founded upon the same basic rules system used in the intro book (with some tweaks), and provides more depth and richer army lists throughout the Ancient and Medieval periods (my preferred era of historical wargaming).

5 comments about Victorian Dolls' House Projects: A Day in the Life.

1. Loved the book. I always enjoy books with projects in them. I've already put some the instructions to use. Loved the pictures and the directions.



2. This is an ideal publication for those dolls' house enthusiasts who enjoy making their own furniture and accessories. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, with required materials being easy to obtain. Beautifully illustrated, this book is enjoyable to read and gives inspiration to make your dolls' house into a unique possession.



3. The projects in this book are great and are suited to beginner doll house enthusiasts or more experienced. The information about Victorian life is presented in an interesting way, looking at how a typical Victorian day progresses from early morning to night, with interesting and fairly simple projects to accompany the text. Highly recommended for anyone aiming for a Victorian doll house!



4. The book 'Victorian Dolls' House Projects: A Day in the Life' by Christiane Berridge, is to me, one of the most interesting books I have ever purchased on the Victorian Dolls' House era. Her down-to-earth manner of explaining things and making use of every-day items in and around your home, are all you will need to further enthuse you in creating items for your hobby. Christiane, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!



5. I bought this book based on reviews, but was very disappointed. It is filled with simplistic projects that produce crude results, not likely to satisfy the modern sophisticated dollhouse collector. The description of daily activities in a Victorian home is mildly interesting, but nothing you will not already know if you collect miniatures. Basically, the author sounds like a nice lady, but the book is a waste of money and time.

2 comments about The Claude Glass: Use and Meaning of the Black Mirror in Western Art.

1. 
   The "Claude Glass" sounds like a very interesting topic, but the handling of this topic by the author A. Maillet is out of the limits of professional academic research. The very short chapters filled with heterogeneous thesis and arbitrary pictures and diagrams evade a clear art-historian or philosophical approach of the Claude Glasse's use for artists in the 18th century. The first interesting thesis, that you expect normally in the introduction, is presented on page 163 (of 221 pages main-Text): "The Claude Mirror... is... an apparatus that enables one to transpose reality into a melodious harmony." In the internet you find articles that give you more insight for free.



2. Arnaud Maillet's study of the Claude Glass was informative and insightful in the main. As an artist and geometer I found all of the information contained in the book of great interest and instructive. As one who has of late been studying the subject of reflections and mirrors in general, as well as applications to the nuero-visual and geometric, this filled an improtant gap in my knowledge. It may not be a perfectly organized study but it is the only one I am aware of in English. It had the effect of my creating my own Claude Glass with a converse clock face glass cover and enamel black paint sprayed on the back. I have been enjoying experimentation with it since and will no doubt employ it in some art work. Any book that prompts one to use the information inside is a book worthy of reading I think. It seemed to cover the various areas of the subject; It's developement and history, occult use for scrying, as a device for reducing an image and also for
   accessing the tonal values. I doubt I would require another book on the subject after reading and studying this one.

5 comments about How to Paint Realistic Military Figures (Scale Modeling Handbook, No 14).

1. Actually, I haven't seen the new edition of this book; only the original. The techniques of using acrylics for figure painting are explained very clearly and the photos are very good. Each stage of achieving the final result is shown. BEST OF ALL: The authors of this book do good work, so you know THEY know what they're talking about! Beware of another book on painting figures with acrylics...this was the first I've seen and is still light years ahead of the 'other'.



2. This book was exactly what I was looking for. I'm fairly fussy when it comes to my hobbies, and will only invest in something that I know is good.
   
   It has lots of step-by-step photos and techniques explained in detail.
   
   The authors are very experienced and do excellent jobs of conveying their many years of experience.
   
   I highly recommend this book if you're interested in painting figures. Novice to experienced painters will not be disappointed, it's definitely a keeper that will be used many times as reference in the future.



3. The current edition is a major revision of the original book, and includes detailed information on painting with oils as well as acrylic paints. Most techniques are well illustrated with good quality closeup photographs, which really helps to walk you through the steps.



4. One of the best I've ever seen in teaching modelers. Great pictures and everything very well detailed.Perfect for figure modelers.



5. For the price it is OK. It reminds me of the videos that teach you how to pinstipe and paint flames. They make it look so easy when it isn't. For a much better, albeit more expensive and a bit more difficult to locate, get the FAQ Frequently Asked Questions about painting figure techniques by the Andrea Miniatures Team published by Andrea Press.

3 comments about Dolls House Do-it-Yourself - Curtains (Dolls House Do-It-Yourself).

1. This book was an excellent source of ideas for curtain making for your dollhouse. A good assortment of curtains/drapes and easy how-to instructions. The pictures were great and so are the patterns.



2. THe book comes in good condition and I enjoy very much! Thanks!



3. Wow what a great book! Has all the wonderful "secrets" and instructions to making dollhouse drapes and curtains. Exactly what I was looking for!

No comments about The Pistner House ... A Master In Miniature.

3 comments about Miniature Dolls' Houses in 1/24th Scale: A Complete Guide to Making and Furnishing Houses.

1. His books are so well written...for the beginner to the advanced miniaturist. The book is full of wonderful ideas. It is hard to believe they are in miniature, much less 1/2" scale. The instructions are very easy to follow. The photos alone are more than enough to get the ideas flowing.

   This book is a must for any mini library. Even if you never build anything in 1/2" scale, it is so much fun to read over and over again. Bonus: these ideas will translate well into 1" scale. It's like getting 2 books in one!




2. I've recently begun my first project from this book. The book has progressively more difficult projects in this scale, starting with a very simple room and ending with a very large Tudor house. My project is with one of the more advaced houses, the Georgian townhouse. While I like the way this book is organized, as with most how-to books there are mistakes. I have found a couple of places where the measurments or diagrams don't match or don't add up. But so far none have been too difficult to correct. It would be advisable to spend some time looking at the photos of the house you are working on before building it, especially on the the more advanced projects.



3. Lovely book, great pictures, full color. Great period houses and shops, which were inspirational. The author is obviously a great lover and builder of miniature houses and shops. I enjoyed the layout of the book, lots of information on tools, ideas and decorating ideas for each period house. The building patterns were clear and concise. Wish there was a modern pattern in the book which would have made it complete for me. It stays in my collection of books, no thought of selling or giving or lending it. :^)

3 comments about Dollhouse Decor: Creating Soft Furnishings in 1/12 Scale.

1. I highly recommend "Dollhouse Decor: Creating Soft Furnishings in 1/12 Scale" to anyone interested in furnishing dollhouses or just at looking at pictures of how others have furnished theirs. The Forder's book is arranged by periods of style, and goes into a bit of detail about what makes each period's style unique. The projects are designed for all skill levels, from those who work best with a bit of glue and a pair of scissors, to those who enjoy doing their own weaving. Each project is preceded by a symbol to let the reader know the level of skill required. Yet regardless of the level, all the projects are well explained.
   Equally enjoyable is the photography. There are none of the grainy pictures that are so annoying in some dollhouse books. Each photograph is large and clear, and shows the meticulous level of detail that the Forders put into their work.



2. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions excellent. The projects are for every level of craftmanship, from glueing to weaving, from rather simple to more complex. I only whished there were even more of them included.



3. If I had had the opportunity to look thru this book in a store before purchase, I would not have bought it. It's not about making soft furniture, only re-covering purchased furniture.

4 comments about Making 1/12 Scale Wicker Furniture for the Dolls' House.

1. Real excited when I glanced through this book. Beautiful pictures and instrutions. Where do I purchase the materials to make these little treasures? CAKE WIRE No 22....says they are available from "cake decoration specialist". No one knows what I am taking about locally, nor can I find it on the Internet. MOUNT BOARD -- what thickness? Is it cardboard, foamboard or what? THREADS -- Twilley's Lyscordett No. 5. crochet cotton. Unable to find locally or on the Internet. I assume it is a 3 ply cotton crochet thread. AUNT LYDIA'S FAST FIVE may be comparable. Book is published in England, I was unable to communicate via the Internet with WickerCollections.com-- Shelia Smith site for sales of Wicker. I have USA Oregon e-mail "barshere@earthlink.net". would appreciate any information or help on locating these products.



2. I loved the pictures in the book, and was looking forward to try to make some of the items. I have searched the internet trying to find cake wire no.22 that the author of the book says is the best wire to use, but I haven`t found anything called cake wire. When in comes to the thread used, I would think you would get a more realistic look using waxed linen cord, as I know some other wicker artists use. I guess I just have to try to find some other kind of wire that can be used...



3. I adored the book because he teaches the technique of clear and objective form. Exactly never having made an only part before, I did not find difficulty to understand the execution. E really the parts are pretty.



4. I've read a lot of complaints about not being able to find the supplies in order to make these beautiful miniatures. I just recently purchased this book and did a lot of investigating.
   
   Cake wire is just "cloth wire" in various gages. This kind of wire is usually found in the floral section. [...]. You can also find linen cord here which (I think) resembles wicker the best.
   
   The mount board the author is talking about is more commonly known as "illustration board" to artists. Its approximately the thickness of the backing to a school notebook and comes in a few colors. Its very sturdy but on the pricey side.
   
   Any questions please email me. I would be delighted to reply to your emails. :)