Zenith Press

How to Draw and Paint Aircraft like a Pro

by  Andrew Whyte, artist Text by Charlie and Ann Cooper

Reviewed By  Fred Horky, IPMS# 6390

MSRP: $24.99 ISBN: 0760333912 Website: www.zenithpress.com At first glance, the review of an art book on a modelers’ website might seem a bit odd. But really, isn’t a modeler really an artist working in three dimensions instead of two? Haven’t most modelers at least dabbled in drawing airplanes, starting in the margins of his grade school books? At least he/she has to have had thought about it! I must confess to have experimented just a little since, as I write this review, a few examples of my own art (admittedly poor, but they’re mine!) from many years ago still hang nearby in one corner of the requisite "I love me" wall of pictures, plaques, certificates, etc in my den. While they’re not much, each illustrates a moment of my own aviation experience: for example flying the T-28 in south Georgia during pilot training over fifty years ago, dropping paratroopers on Ft Bragg from a "dollar-nineteen" (C-119), etc. If I’d owned this book then, I might have been encouraged to keep at it and gotten better …who knows? So, most of us have at least experimented a LITTLE with art, or have at least had thoughts of trying it. If that describes you, you should consider this book because it will help your modeling by better understanding the three-dimensional art you call models. Like any modeler, an aviation artist must have some understanding of airplanes to make effective images, so the book starts out at that level. It also gets into the technical side of art (shadow, vanishing points, perspective, and all the rest) as well as the materials of art (mediums, tools, and more). It can’t all be compressed into this review, but take my word for it, it is all there. As might be expected, the lessons of the book are heavily illustrated by the excellent art of its author, Andrew C Whyte. Mr. Whyte has quite impressive credentials that go far beyond a typical artist education and have made him quite an accomplished aviation artist. He began as a Navy combat aircrew member during WWII in SBDs, PBYs, PBMs, etc. Then, post-war engineering education lead to a long career in design and marketing at Sikorsky. Since that time, his art has been recognized by the American Society of Aviation Artists Now that you’ve recognized your appreciation of art and/or want to improve your models, why don’t you buy the book? Or better yet, drop some thunderous hints that you might really like this book for your birthday, or even next Christmas. Your better half will appreciate an idea for something that’s not an expensive kit from China! My thanks to Zenith Press for the review sample