Learning about Scale Modeling

by Ora Lassila / So Many Aircraft

There are a number of good books and magazines with advice on how to build scale models. Here is my own list of really good books on general modeling techniques:

Scale model aircraft in plastic card (Woodman); Model & Allied Publications 1975
Advanced Aviation Modelling (McIllmurray); Crowood Press 2005
Building and Improving Vacuum-Formed Model Aircraft (Staszak); Kalmbach Books 1984
Basic and Advance Tips and Techniques for Styrene Modeling (Hayden); Evergreen 2000
The Complete Car Modeller (Wingrove); Crown Publishers 1978

In the late 1970s I learned everything about scale modeling from [1]. It is still an excellent guide if you can find it, and I would say a "must" if you want to do any scratch-building; if you cannot find it, [3, 4] are also good.

The International Plastic Modelers' Society is an organization that promotes the hobby of scale modeling. Originally started in the UK, the organization now operates in many countries (including the US). Joining a local chapter of the IPMS is a great way to meet other modelers and learn about modeling.