ADAM O BRIEN

ing or dusk, when contrasts are highest.

Sometimes a single photo will spark me to
AK. Hi Adam! I remember when I first saw build a model. I regularly try to challenge my-
your AFV models some 10-15 years ago I self with new subjects and techniques. I have
was impressed by the high level of their fin- a couple of kits in my stash of subjects I have
ish. When did it started, was your first model never tried…such as a WW1 aircraft.
a tank an airplane or something else??
Like many modelers, I started many years AK. What are the main challenges that you
ago…I was 7 or 8 years old when my father result. Aircraft require an extremely subtle face: technical issues, competitive market,
gave me my first plastic kit, it was an Airfix approach to their paintwork and weathering. piracy or something else?
1/72 Spitfire. I remember building it in our car I enjoy the challenge of different subjects and Technical challenges were and are always
with a stringy tube of Britfix glue…I built it the always try new approaches and techniques. present. It is OK. Sometimes they cheer me
moment I got it! up and make my think and find new solutions.
AK. What is your favorite genre/scale? Are Competitive market is a good thing and I think
AK. Unlike many modelers, me also, you going to challenge yourself with something that sculptors, makers and customers benefit
don’t focus on a single genre or scale, but new, e.g. ships? from that. As for piracy… everyone is aware
rather build tanks, planes, sci-fi and so on. My favorite subject is IDF armour. I prefer of this, the problem has been discussed a
Why so? Is it challenging for you to master 1/35, but occasionally dabble with 1/72. I million times and there’s nothing to add here.
yet another set of skills for each genre and find it extremely challenging to take a single
scale? colour subject and make it interesting. This AK. What is more important for you: building
I’m interested in many different subjects. Ill problem is compounded with IDF subjects or painting and weathering? How much do
attempt whatever appeals to me. Generally, as their sand grey base colours are general- you care about the right colors and artistic vs
I’m more interested in aesthetics over history, ly weathered with a sand grey environment. realistic stuff?
artistic impression over absolute accuracy. I I like to push IDF base colours darker than I enjoy the construction side of plastic mod-
find that different subjects require different they are in reality, purely to provide contrast elling, though painting and weathering, espe-
skills, AFV’s require multiple layers of weath- with the final desert-sand coloured weather- cially with today’s myriad of available prod-
ering, and the ability to understand the type ing. I take a lot of inspiration from reference ucts, most challenging and enjoyable. Artistic
of product required to achieve the intended photographs – particularly taken early morn- impression v realism is very important to me,
and underlines everything I try to achieve in extensively, as their long working time allows thusiasts and modelers. My part is to graph-
a model. It may be a contradiction, but I try to for change and flexibility in weathering. My ically lay out the books and edit the content.
instill both philosophies in my work. I’ll start advice to modelers trying to improve their fin- This allows me to choose the absolute best
the painting / weathering process with a bias ishes, is to use references closely. Ill take col- reference photos, and arrange them in a log-
toward realism, mostly through reference ours directly off reference photos over the kit ical order. I am not connected to the IDF in
photography. The final stages of finishing instructions or the commonly excepted col- any way, apart from admiration and respect.
is where I’ll add my own artistic impression, ours. I’ll normally take my reference photos
usually to exaggerate contrast and apply a into photoshop and create a colour palette to AK. How many modelers are there in Aus-
scale lighting effect. base my paint mixes on. Colours look com- tralia? Is it a popular hobby there, do you
pletely different under varied lighting condi- have many shops, events, masterclasses?
AK. Do you have any favorite techniques or tions. These are the effects I try to replicate We have many fantastic modelers in Austral-
products, like hairspray, pigments, acrylics, on my work. ia, and I believe the hobby is very popular.
oils etc? Are there any know-hows and ad- Due to our distance from Europe, not a large
vices that you would like to share with other AK. Tell us about your collaboration with Mi- number make it to the big European shows.
modelers? chael Mass within Desert Eagle publications. We do have a couple of large shows and
I don’t particularly have any favorite tech- What is your role there? Are you somehow competitions annually, though I rarely attend.
niques. I do attempt proficiency in most connected with IDF?
weathering procedures, and apply them Michael and I work together to produce the
in order to achieve the effects I see on my Desert Eagle books. I believe it to be an ideal
reference photos. I do believe that the hair- collaboration, as Michael is an expert in IDF Thank you for the interview, Adam!!
spray technique has revolutionized plastic armour, and extremely passionate in provid-
modelling. It’s possibilities are endless, and ing the best possible publications to IDF en-
is relatively easy to master. I also use oils
ADAM
O BRIEN