CultTVman’s Fantastic Modeling – Volume 5
$17.95 USD (plus shipping); available through CultTVman’s
Hobby Shop.
Two-disc set; combined run-time is three hours.
David Merriman’s “One Man Show” DVD’s in the
CultTVman series are way up there, on my personal list of “live”
how-to’s. I’d hate to have to count all the times I put on
one of the volume five or seven DVD’s,
in the background, as I worked on some scale modeling project or other
– sort of to keep me energized … but also to be able to better
absorb all of the model-making knowledge crammed onto those particular
DVD’s.
But hey, maybe that’s just me: I’m one of those guys that
couldn’t care less what the subject matter being modeled was, so
long as there’s good how-to info on display. The fact that Merriman
is a professional; and one of the top people in his chosen niche –
inventing the parts to make submarine models both look good while on static
display; as well as being fully-capable radio-controlled subs –
matters less to me than this: Dave’s forgotten more cool, practical,
and common-sense how-to than six of me will ever know.
Even Steve “CultTVman” Iverson told me I was a bit unusual,
in that regard. He and I seem to believe the average buyer of Dave’s
DVD’s in this series are as interested in the subject matter being
modeled, as they are in “sitting at the feet of a master,”
while he demonstrates how to do all sorts of nifty (and practical) stuff,
while Building Models.
Yes, Dave’s reputation is that he’s a bit abrasive, at times.
(Online-and-unedited, anyway.) Personally, that rarely if ever bothers
me … but for the record, there’s not much of that at all,
on either of these two discs. What attitude there is, is mostly at the
end, in a rather amusing “Bloopers” section. Steve “CultTVman”
Iverson cut together a bunch of Dave’s “I’m the finest
model builder you will ever meet” video brags, with things not working
out quite as planned. So, folks wishing that someone would cut David down
a notch or ten should love the second disc, at least. (He says with a
smile, knowing that Dave shot and submitted all of that “oops”
footage, himself: on the grounds that folks learn a lot more from other’s
mistakes, than from some sort of “that never happened” version.)
Anyway, here’s the summary, right from CultTVman’s web
site: “All new and spectacular video! David Merriman details a 57"
Seaview from Deboers Hulls. This two dvd set runs about three hours. Dave
demonstrates various modeling techniques such as fabricating patterns,
making RTV rubber molds, pressure casting resin, spin casting metal, detailing
and weathering, and much much more.”
Put strong emphasis on that “much much more” part …
just the ten-minute or so mini-segment where David demonstrates how to
vacu-form was worth the full $18, to me. You see, I had read a bunch of
articles on the subject; and even a couple of full-on books … but
it wasn’t until I saw Dave do the process, “live” –
breaking a few rules as he did so -- that I actually pushed my fears aside,
and gave it a try. The result? Elsewhere in this issue you’ll find
an article where I thought laterally, and came up with a way for all of
you to make your own cheap, simple, and even portable vacu-forming machines.
Very highly recommended! Well worth every penny, and then some!
Thanks to my wallet for the review sample
|
|
