Book Review - Landscape Creation

Copyright 2020 Nicholas Kalis

Book Review

Landscape Creation

Editor Masakatsu Jindoh

Softcover, 64 pages
Publisher Dainippon Kaiga Co., Ltd.
Tokyo, Japan
www.modelkasten.com

ISBN 978-4-499-23102-2

So why buy a copy of Landscape Creation? Let's be frank, you are not going to find this book at your local library or hobby shop, so it will take a bit effort to get it (but Amazon will surely come to the rescue). But back to our reasons for purchasing this tome. For one, inspiration; its color photographs are superb. Two, you can learn about weathering techniques within these 64 pages. Three, Landscape Creation is a diorama book that avoids military subjects - as a model railroader, military scenes are probably a bit esoteric for you. 

Four, if you are a large-scale modeler, this softcover book will introduce you (pages 39 - 41)  to the step-by-step assembly, painting, and weathering of the 1/24 scale Doozy! Modelworks line of accessories - sold by AK Interactive and available from many online retailers. Don't forget to check out www.doozymodelworks.com.

Finally, if you are into super-detailing a scene, you will learn much from Jindoh's wonderfully detailed examples.

Be forewarned, this book is written mostly in Japanese. Editor Masakatsu Jindoh makes a valiant attempt at bilingualism but largely fails.

I found my copy on Amazon. Its book flap seemed to show that this book is one of a series on diorama building. I would encourage anyone interested in upping their game in terms of scenery to buy this book. I also hope this review encourages others to pick up other foreign language diorama books - there is much to learn. 

Diorama books are not just for diorama builders - in many respects, a well designed model railroad can be thought of as a string of dioramas through which trains travel.

Revised November 26 2020