Just a little “heads up” for my fellow modelers. I recently purchased a DVD set from Matt Swan called Basic Model Building Skills. It is EXCELLENT!! Lots of the secrets of realistic weathering revealed here. So just wanted to give an unsolicitated opinion of this 2 DVD set. You can check in out on Swanny’s Models Website.
Thanks Skipper, glad you liked it.
I’m such an easy sale, you just sold another Swanny [:D]
I ordered one as soon as I heard that stock was low - and received it in less than a week!
Thanks, Swanny!
(Man, could this be the groundwork for a commercial?)
I have 12 DVDs left then this item is OUT-OF-STOCK!!!
I haven’t worked my way al the way through yet, but I’ve been very impressed with the DVD so far.
I hope you still have one left, I just ordered one. [:)]
Glad I got mine early on! It has become an imdispensible part of my modeling kit and I refer to it frequently. Get 'em while they’re hot! Thanks a million, Swanny!
Brian [C):-)]
Thanks for all the positive comments. The overall response to this video has been much better than expected. Don’t forget, in August volume two comes out.
9 left.
Make it 11, I just ordered.
mine is on its way to Mass 
I hope
I hope you cover PE parts handling - I have a Hasegawa (1/48) Hurricane Mk I just waiting with Eduard PE enhancement for cockpit. At this point I can only imagine how easy it would be to destroy those parts :). I just got my PZL-P11C with PE parts as well. Plenty of areas for … imrpvement - since I finished just one model (and it is in a process of fixing already
Thanks Swanny !!
Greg
What’s going to be covered in vol 2?
Volume one is basic model building skills like working with glues, painting, weathering, seam filling, stuff like that – 4 hours of it. Volume two so far covers working with resin detail sets, working with photo etched detail sets, working with acetate instruments. Right now volume two is two discs and I’m trying to decide if I should add a third disc covering vacuformed conversion sets and alclad paint or if I should save that stuff for the third volume. If I add it to this one then it’ll make it a three disc set. Also starting to lay out ideas for the third volume beyond these things already mentioned. If there are things you guys want to see speak up – I want to know what you want covered.
sign me in !
one copy goes to Greg
Hope you have a few left Swanny?[%-)] I just ordered one.
Chris
P.s. Don’t let my wife know. She caught me online window shopping today.[:-^][;)]
Isn’t it just a matter of getting more done up?
Do you make the DVDs at home?
I do not burn these at home but have them run in lots by and actual production company. Would be pretty time consuming to burn several hundered DVDs at home. Demand has slowed down a bit now but when this first came out it was pretty crazy. I am putting my time home into shooting more video and building models anyway.
5 units left.
The DVD arrived today and I watched through the futuring of the clear parts. Looks like this will be a great resource of information, I wish I had gotten it earlier. Only one small complaint, the shaky cam on some of the extreme close up shots was distracting.
Good stuff, I’ll definitely be watching for your next video.
Swanny, just a bit of advice for volume 2: Keep it at a 2 disc set. That way, we have something to look forward to! I missed out on the first edition[xx(] Wish I had $20 laying around. Oh well, I’ll be sure to get volume 2!
When we did the first DVD we were very new at this. There were several things we needed to address for the second set such as camera stability, sound quality, close-up quality and improved lighting. From proceeds of DVD sales we were able to replace one of the two cameras with a better unit (sold the old one on ebay to help with those $$$), we added a new macro lense, two new tripods, two new studio lights and a new lapel mic. As you can see every cent we have made has been put right back into making better DVDs. I have already reviewed the raw fottage for the second set and there is a world of difference in overall quality – it just blows my mind. I start watching this stuff and I can’t turn it off.
As for the material covered in the second set. We have decide to keep it as a two disc set for several reasons.
#1 helps keep the selling price down, estimated at $29.00
#2 we already purchased a boat-load of two-disc crystal packs and want to be able to use them. This also helps keep costs down.
#3 We have continued to shoot material towards the third set which will be coming in 2008.
Material covered in Volume #2 is working with resin cockpit sets, working with photo etched detail sets and working with vacuformed canopies.
Material to be covered in Volume #3 is building vacuform models and conversion sets, using Alclad 2. Have not gotten much further than that on Volume 3 but ideas like salt chipping and scratch built details (brake lines?) are floating around my head. I am open to suggestions guys. If there is something you would like to see in a DVD please say so. The reality of this is YOU dictate what I do.
I want to thank everyone who has purchased one of these DVDs and everyone who has offered kind words and support to my modeling efforts. Five years ago I would never have believed I would be here doing this stuff.