Miniature Books

Beginning with historical perspective and a broad survey of the modeling world, the authors divide the hobby into major historical periods of interest, then proceed quickly to the tips and techniques of construction, with practical advice on the needed tools and supplies. Special attention is given to such tricky subjects as horses, vehicles, and human faces, always with an eye to maximum realism. The effects that can be achieved are very impressive indeed.
The illustrations are generous and nicely reproduced, and the instruction first rate. Some American insignia is oddly jumbled and mislabeled, sources for the supplies mentioned and a bibliography would not have gone amiss, and the index is unfortunately stingy, but the work will stand as a useful basic introduction to an interesting hobby.(The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

This book appears to be a reprint of a book released in 1981. It covers a wde variety of useful subjects. However, the examples shown and many of the techniques and materials described in the book are dated. Modeling techniques and standards have advanced well beyond this book. Best to leave this one for the used book aisle.

I thought that the encyclopedia of Military Modeling was Great it was really helpful to me. I think any modeler beginnner or advanced should have it.

With excellent quality of contents, paper, printing and photos, this is a valuable book for the millitary modeler.

It starts talking about major modelling periods, from ancient up to modern days. Here shows what could be the major flaw of the book, namely, that it is relatively old (1981), so you will find no references to latest conflicts (Malvinas/Falklands, Lebanon War, Gulf War, etc).

Then it talks about: How to start, figure modelling, weapons and equipment, soft skin and armoured vehicles, artillery and dioramas.

Most chapters are very good, with pictures and sample projects. Maybe the exception is the diorama chapter, rather short and raw for an issue as important as this for military modeling.

Given that the book tries to cover all the history of warfare, if you are oriented to, say, tank modeling, maybe you will feel that much of the book is not relevant for you (same could be said for figure modelers). But if you want a global review of the hobby and some insights, this book is for you.

Very good book excellent ideas, could be a bit more detailed, but overall very good. Not always very accurate eg the ladder for the fishermans cottage should have 10 not 9 steps according to the measurments, but things like that are easily adapted

Following the authors instructions may have you pulling your hair out. There are quite a few mistakes and vague instruction in this book.

I would not recomend this book to the inexperienced for it's plans, as it may prove to be quite frustrating and perhaps discouraging. It is however, a great book for inspiration.

If you are fairly experienced or really like a good challenge, then you will enjoy creating these designs. (Hopefully you will spot the errors 'before' making them!)

I would give this book 5 stars if it were not for the errors. A web site from the author and/or publisher for errata would be very useful.

All that aside, I did manage to buid 2 of the projects so far. (More like 10 if you count the times I did parts of them over and over and ...)

There are only 5 designs for this book. I am happy to learn that there is a second book available. I want to see more. The victorian store and thatched cottage are very nice. The fisherman's cottage is excellent and really tempted me to buy this book (got this out at the library) I liked the goergian house as well but it lacked a second staircase so there was no entrance into the attic rooms.
There are detailed instructions spanning many pages but I can see how some readers might find them a bit daunting. Also the photos are too dark.The tudor example given was an unusual design however there is no furnishings in the interior so it was not as inspiring.

Pretty good book overall. I would recommend looking it over at the bookstore or in the library before you buy.

I checked out this book from the library and used it for my FIRST EVER miniature project - the Georgian dollhouse. The narrative instructions are a little hard to follow, (perhaps because the authors are British and I am not), and there are only a few basic diagrams. But after a few months of mild to moderate frustration, I had a beautiful product! I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who hasn't done any woodcraft or miniature projects, but for someone with a little experience, the end results can be worth the effort.

A very good book for anyone thinking of engineering a minature engine. This book helps you to understand that it is not a difficult task and gives you the confidence to undertake such a project. Lots of colour photos and plenty of diagrams. This book is well written and I am glad I bought it.

Miniature Internal Combustion Engines is as good as I expected. The author combines basic information about ICE engines that would make the book useful for a newcomer (maybe a young adult with an interest in engines) with clear descriptions and instructions for constructing them. That is, it is useful for someone who is a fair way down the track in model engineering. It assumes a reasonable knowledge of workshop practice, but that's fair enough for its target market. It deals with an old fashioned hobby, but doesn't ignore the possubility of using new technology (CAD design and CNC milling). Altogether a great little book that I have found hard to put down.

I have many books on Internal Combustion engines and various other heat engines. I've built a few model sized engines and was surprised by how much easier it was than I thought it would be. After all, the big engine makers have huge teams of designers, engineers, machinists and metallurgists. It had to be hard or at least a very lengthy process or so I and many others thought.
This book does exactly what I and (I know) many of my colleagues needed. It dispels the mythology, it provides plenty of examples, tells you what tools & materials can be used and how to substitute if you don't have a particular thing. I pre-ordered and waited impatiently for it to come. I am so pleased with it.

Yes, there have been a couple of publishing problems which the publishers acknowledge but they do not harm the clear integrity and concise descriptions provided by the author. It is my prediction that if you have not built or designed an Internal Combustion engine, you will rush out and do both once you have this book.

Buy other books by all means, because you will need them for complex or larger engines, however even those are dealt with here.

My hope is that model engine designers & constructors, with the help of this book, readily available computers and model sized machining equipment will produce many new variations on the worlds existing designs.

Go, buy it, add to your collection and start a design now!!! This book will convince you that you can do it and show you how easy it really is.

Like all books on construction subjects, you wish there were even more examples and more details and you wish you could touch the example models. This is a long awaited book. I hope there will be a sequel and very soon.

The book covers most (if not all) of the MICE you will come across if you are trying to make one in home workshop.

Pros:
1) It will give you the knowledge you will needed as a model engineer not a engineer. i.e. it won't bore you and you don't have to come across any thermal dynamic theory / calculation.
2) It states which component is critical, what material is preferred and, a briefing on the procedure in making them if you don't have a CNC.
3) Some options / suggestions on `hard to machine' parts, that help you to decide whether to machine it from single piece of stock metal or using build-up technique.
4) Easy to understand, no (minimum) difficult technical terms.

Cons:
(Not really Cons, but may be out of your expectation)
1) No drawing provided, even the one designed by the author. But it is not hard to search Google.
2) That means, the book is not a "from start to finish" approach. You will be on your own for your first attempt in building one.
3) No illustration on the processes in making the critical components, the author uses only `a series of' description. It may hard to figure out what is happening if you do not have that component on hand.

Bottom line:
A must have if you want to build a MICE using your mini-lathe & mill, there isn't much option. After all, it save you a lot of time browsing through newsgroups.

I've read several books by Pipes. It's my impression that most of what he says is rather tame and cautious. And that most of what he says is not very controversial. He often has something illuminating in his essays, but much of this is relatively apolitical.

At least in this book, I was able to figure out which political party he favored!

Now, it is true that Pipes has often said that militant Islamic attacks on Americans were a form of war as opposed to individual criminal acts. He's said that our government ought to take seriously the ideology that has been motivating such attacks, and that we ought to make policy changes in order to win this war and destroy the effectiveness of any enemy forces. Well, our administration has regarded the 9/11 attacks as war. It has tried to destroy the enemy forces. As near as I can tell, what Pipes has advocated here has been fair and reasonable.

Pipes feels that the battle is not against Islam but against militant Islamists, a group that can be marginalized and defeated with the help of moderate Muslims. Again, this does not sound all that radical an idea.

Pipes is indeed bothered by Islamic militants who manage to pass themselves off as moderates. If they get away with it, Pipes' recommendations will be misimplemented and doomed.

I liked the essays and found them informative. Maybe you will as well. But if you were looking for something wild and maybe, um, raging and fuming, you won't find it here.

For several years, Daniel Pipes has pondered subjects like terrorism, radical Islam, anti-Semitism, the collusion of the Left and Islamists and chances for a realistic peace in the Mideast. He is a regular contributor to Jewish World Review (subscribe - it's free!) and startles the reader with clarity and the ability to see beyond the headlines and sound bites. Here, he takes yet another look at the future with regard to radical and moderate Islam.

Pipe journeys from the past to the present. He suggests ways of breaking the stalemate but falters when discussing "moderate" Muslims and their ability to change the status quo. One should remember that all Muslims are fundamentalists in that they interpret the Q'ran literally and view it as a guide for modern living. There is no liberal branch of Islam like Reform Judaism or Unitarianism. Another seemingly tabboo subject is tribalism which is at the core of many problems. The failure of modern Muslim states is directly due to the primary allegiance given to Islam and the tribe. Objections or protests are seen as disloyal at best, heretical at worst. When reality is viewed through a rigid religious or ideological prism only cosmetic changes are possible.

Compare the Holy Roman Empire and the Renaissance Europe that blossomed once the hold of the Church over every aspect of society declined. The society questioned itself and found a new pathway. This internal questioning has yet to occur in Islamic societies that continue to seatch the past for guidance in the future. Pipes (and most of us) envisions a future world in which tolerance is the norm. I fear that vision is ephemeral at best.

If you have been following the essays and articles that Pipes has written in numerous newspapers and magazines, you may find this book a bit redundant. However, it is one-stop-purchase if you want a concise overview of the author's social and political views. A must read for all those concerned about the war on terror and its roots. Against the tide, Pipes has spoken out eloquently and urgently. Miniatures is no exception. Highly recommend.

Saw this in the bookshop, and was not at all surprised at the raging, fuming, one-sided ill-informed content of Mr Pipes' new book. He has not said anything new for the last five years. It is still the dangerous war-mongering diatribe dressed up in a false academic garb that it always has been. Mr Pipes seems to have a small and loyal following. However, judging by his pomposity he obviously believes that the majority of the book-reading public are as blinkered as he is. Buy this book if you want fuel for the fires of your own bigotted ignorance. For truth and wisdom look elsewhere.

When I first got this book, I was extremely excited to learn about the "king of toys", but once I started reading it, I began to quickly lose interest in it. Why?

Well, for starters, this book contained very little about the breed itself, save the standard. Most of the information was for people who had never before owned a dog in their life. Since I own four dogs already and I am a dog groomer, I was expecting more from this book.

Frankly, I would only recommend this book to absolute novices who know nothing about feeding, exercise, or basic grooming. For anyone who has been in contact with a dog for 24 consecutive hours, I'd say skip this book and try one of the books in the Kennel Club or Terra Nova series.

I was very happy with the how quickly I was sent the book. I was needing the information asap and the seller really impressed me. I have ordered other books from other sellers and have waited 4 weeks only to be told that they no longer have that book. I was impressed with the information and details in the book. It is very user friendly and one can quickly find the specific section needed with the great table of contents. I ordered the book for the training information and was happy with that as well. I would definitely recommend this book to other Min Pin owners.

It's a pretty good breed specific book. The book does include a valuable amount of information and most of the pictures are pretty attractive. I found the health section to be of particular use. Still, the presentation could have been a little better.

Being a first time owner of a Min Pin I wanted to learn more about the breed. I bought several books about Min Pins and found "Miniature Pinschers" by Jacqueline O'Neil to contain all of the information I wanted at a very good price. The book contains information on the history of Min Pins, characteristics and standards, selecting a puppy, housebreaking and other training, feeding, Health and dental care, behavior, and caring for a Min Pin. It is more concise than another book that I bought but it contained the same information. It is full of beautiful colorful pictures. I highly recommend this book.

I received a phone call letting me know of my new arrival.....a Mini Pot-Bellied Pig! I knew NOTHING about the care and keeping of my newfound pet and ordered this book for starters. I received this book from one of Amazon's great used book sellers and immediately began to read. This book is of quality binding with great pictures to illustrate the unique colors and sizes (as well as the different environments in which they can be kept). The pages are thick and high-gloss as well. The cover is sturdy, high-gloss and compact (great to throw in a purse for sharing). The typeface is large and bold for ease of reading. The content is perfect for an overview of EXACTLY what I needed - brief, thorough and to the point. I was able to sit down and absorb the information given in about an hour and a half. I am sure there are many other books which give are more indepth, but this one served it's function - a fast course in the keeping, care, history, Laws, Resources, Products and the choosing of a quality pet pig! For the price, it is a MUST for the beginner!

The strengths this book offers different from the other pig books is, a lot of registry information, also many varied photos, and the best boarding tips I've seen. The author has a knowledge of pigs from their US arrival in the 80's. Weaknesses are: the annoying print, the very small training section, and that some conformation ideas have changed, and also having the same girls repeatedly in the photos. Overall it added to my pigly knowledge though, which is what I'm after.

This book will provide some basic info for potential potbellied pig owners but is very general in most topics. Print style is annoying to the point that one would think the author needed to fill up more pages by enlarging the font.

The printing is a bit of a disappointment, with a free use of bold underlined caps for no obvious reason. Looking beyond those, however, the book is chock ful of the most adorable pictures of miniature pigs (called by the pros 'Potbellied Pigs', and you can see why). Anybody on the look-out for a cuddly, intelligent pet need look no further! Puppy, eat your heart out - these micro swines will send you all rushing to the nearest pet shop. The text includes many sensible facts about keeping them (apeasing neighbours and municipalities, among other things), feeding them (preferably at the family table, it seems), and even breeding them. To be pigheaded here is a compliment, they appear to be at least as bright as dogs, and can do all sorts of tricks (when they care to). In all, the book is a bargain at the price.

Thank you for the prompt service on this book. It's highly informative, well written, and will prove invaluable to us in the near future.

I have been looking for a good book about Pot Bellied Pigs for a long time, and I belive this book to be excellent. It is packed full of useful information and has the cutest pictures you will ever see. I recommend this book to any PBP owner if they are new to this wonderful pet or if they have had one for years. I don't believe that you will be disappointed.

Having just acquired our first piglet, we were looking for all types of information about these animals. We found this book answers just about all of the questions we have had to this point. In fact, this is probably all the 'pig book' we will need for a long time. We highly recommend this book to anyone just starting out. Lots of information in great detail for beginning pig owners.

This book is so not what its title suggests. I was looking for some basic information on pot-bellies in general- what it's like to live with them, how to choose one, care for one etc., in order to determine whether or not a pig would fit into my life.

Unfortunately the book told me next to nothing about any of this. It reads like the author was just trying to fill up the pages with no regard for the usefulness of the information. There is a section on pig illnesses for example that is just ridiculously long, listing every possible pig infection, rash, hoof problem, disease, etc. but without telling the reader how to handle the problem, what the symptoms are, or whether a vet should be called or not. I also learned nothing about how to choose a pig, about different pig personalities or about general pig behavior.

The photos in the book are cute (because how can a pig not be cute?) but the clothing the people are wearing looks like it is from the 1970's, which further confirms my suspicion that the books itself it just a quick throwing together of old information from other pig books, rather than a well-thought out, well-written, up-to-date book on pot-bellies.

If you're looking for information on pot-bellies, there have to be better books out there. Don't waste your money on this one.

This book is easy to follow and Jane Harrop has made the detail easy to understand, even for the beginner. The templates are all true to size and that makes for easy assembly, and the follow up for each project gives you a chance to make sure you have put it together correctly, although I can't say that mine look as professional as Janes.
I didn't move to the UK until the 1970's for eight years, but found that quite a few of the items were still being used even then. Those years made quite an impression on a lot of people and I think there are more and more miniaturists looking to that era.

Like all Jane Harrop's books, this one gives clear, easy-to-follow directions for the mini maker who wants to do more modern minis than the usual Tudor, Victorian and Edwardian ones on offer. Though most definitely British, it's easy for Yanks to follow and the pix and projects are charming and come out well.

I enjoyed this book because I've yet to seen one including much information on miniature decorating styles of the 1930's and 40's. Admittedly there are more wood crafts than I had hoped for, but the flavor of the book, the fun layout, and period details give one inspiration for creating their own unique projects.

There are many projects in this book, but they're mostly for furniture, and in plain wood. More accessories would have been welcome.

And it's better suited for beginners. More experienced miniaturists might be disappointed.

This book does have a large selection of puppet plays that takes very little in the way of stage props and puppets. It has some good ideas for beginners on making puppets and props. Most of the skits are high on entertainment, but many I found encouraged playing tricks on one another for fun and sarcastic humor. As a puppeteer and a script writer I found most of them disappointing because they have little or no character building or moral lessons to offer. Even the references to reading and utilizing the library were weak.

I was looking for a book with easy puppet plays that I could do for my own preschoolers and for young audiences of a weekly preschool. I needed something simple to prepare, for one person, and entertaining. I read the 2 existing reviews before deciding to purchase it. The first reviewer didn't think much of the puppet show choices. The second thought it was really helpful. I completely agree with the second, positive review. It was just the book I was looking for. So far I've done a handful of the shows with minimal practice and minimal props. I'm a begginer and this book provides excellent material to get me started. There are several Brer Rabbit type stories, several stories that involve 2 puppets that can be any two from your collection, there are several educational puppet shows on safety, learning about the library , taking care of books, and there are adaptions of traditional tales sucha as the three pigs, Moon Rock Soup (Stone Soup). Theres a real good mix of educational and just for fun stories. I'm real pleased!!!

The title of Dee Anderson's book should be changed from Amazingly Easy to Amazingly Awesome!! I've done childrens' programming for years and this is one of the best resources for puppet plays that I have ever come across. The plays are simple enough for one person yet quite adaptable for two to use even more effectively. The multitude of scripts is tremendous and having used this book extensively with pre-school as well as school aged children, I know that the audience response is also tremendous. All the puppet plays that I have performed from this book have been a resounding success!!! Anyone who does childrens' programming, whether they are seasoned veterans or beginners, from schools to libraries should consider this book a must have resource!!

This probably isn't a bad book for someone just starting in ATCs, but for someone who's dabbled a bit, the techniques aren't breaking any new ground. I wasn't terribly impressed with the designs themselves. Nothing in this book inspired me to create.

In short, it's a good book to look at if you are brand new to ATCs, but not very helpful once you've seen and made a few.

This is a nice little ATC book, especially for a beginner like me. I was happy with the variety included. Not just a lot of clip art and collage sheet images, many other possibilities are included instead.

I like the concept of explaining a particular technique, then showing how the same technique was used to make several different ATCs. Instructions are clear and artwork examples are beautiful and inspiring. Some materials may be difficult for some readers to purchase, however.