Question about a book

[SFC_Allen]

Does anyone have this book (below) and has it bought any value/experience to your modeling skills?

I've seen it on amazon but i don't want to purchase it if it's not that great a book.

Thanks in advance Earle

Building & Detailing Scale Model Trucks & Emergency Vehicles (Paperback)

by Terry Jessee

[Harry P.]

I've never read the book, but I do know that Terry Jessee is a heck of a good builder. I know that doesn't directly answer your question, but I can't imagine Terry having written a bad book.

[Dr. Cranky]

Isn't Terry part of this amazing group of builders on this forum? Perhaps he'll chime in . . . shortly . . .

[Danno]

I've owned a copy since it was new ...

Terry's a friend of mine, but I'll be objective regardless.

First of all, you need to keep foremost in mind that the book was written and published 13 years ago. Everything has changed in the interim: the kits and building supplies available, the tools and materials, the aftermarket products, the mode of photography (digital imaging, scanning, sophisticated copying and printing, computers, etc. were not on the playing field), the techniques and methods; everything. In fact, the 1:1 world of trucks and emergency vehicles has evolved so radically in the intervening years that much of the book's content is antiquated today.

HOWEVER, like any aged manuscript, Terry's book is a time capsule. It expertly and very nicely captures the state of the art circa 1999-2000. It very nicely portrays emergency vehicles of the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and their period-correct equippage and livery. It features a wealth of examples of the best emergency vehicle builds of the era.

And, Terry's book demonstrates very clearly the basic and intermediate methods of modeling emergency vehicles - again, using the kits, products, materials, supplies, and tools available back then. Things that are still available and still comprise the foundation of good modeling today.

The book is dated and the hobby has evolved, but it still has a wealth of value ... especially if you are not that familiar with emergency vehicles or you do not have access to the real things for modeling research. As long as you keep in mind that the book cannot help you with modern emergency vehicles (the past 13 years have brought quantuum leaps in everything from technology to graphics), it's well worth the investment if you can find it.

Besides, if nothing else, it is a collector's item for certain.

Just my 2-cents worth. Hope this helps.

PS: Terry didn't pay me for this ... in fact, long as I've known him, he still hasn't autographed any of his books for me! I just don't have the $5!

[Danno]

I've owned a copy since it was new ...

Terry's a friend of mine, but I'll be objective regardless.

First of all, you need to keep foremost in mind that the book was written and published 13 years ago. Everything has changed in the interim: the kits and building supplies available, the tools and materials, the aftermarket products, the mode of photography (digital imaging, scanning, sophisticated copying and printing, computers, etc. were not on the playing field), the techniques and methods; everything. In fact, the 1:1 world of trucks and emergency vehicles has evolved so radically in the intervening years that much of the book's content is antiquated today.

HOWEVER, like any aged manuscript, Terry's book is a time capsule. It expertly and very nicely captures the state of the art circa 1999-2000. It very nicely portrays emergency vehicles of the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and their period-correct equippage and livery. It features a wealth of examples of the best emergency vehicle builds of the era.

And, Terry's book demonstrates very clearly the basic and intermediate methods of modeling emergency vehicles - again, using the kits, products, materials, supplies, and tools available back then. Things that are still available and still comprise the foundation of good modeling today.

The book is dated and the hobby has evolved, but it still has a wealth of value ... especially if you are not that familiar with emergency vehicles or you do not have access to the real things for modeling research. As long as you keep in mind that the book cannot help you with modern emergency vehicles (the past 13 years have brought quantuum leaps in everything from technology to graphics), it's well worth the investment if you can find it.

Besides, if nothing else, it is a collector's item for certain.

Just my 2-cents worth. Hope this helps.

PS: Terry didn't pay me for this ... in fact, long as I've known him, he still hasn't autographed any of his books for me! I just don't have the $5!

[SFC_Allen]

Guys, thanks for the replies. Since I only build police cars looks like I'll be buying this one off amazon. VR Earle

[Terry Sumner]

Danno...they say the memory is the first thing to go...maybe hence the double post!

[Danno]

Danno...they say the memory is the first thing to go...maybe hence the double post!

Wow. I don't have any idea how that happened. I guess it was instinct ... a double tap! Musta thought I was at the range there for a minute.

Oh, well. Whenever I delivered training, I always told the sto'onts (that's cop talk for 'students,' you slackers!) that if they heard something twice it must be important!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Cheers, Terry.