Adding a figure to a kit or a vignette can really bring it to life - yet building and painting figures continues to be a source of frustration to many modelers, with the results all too disappointing. However, help is at hand. The aim of this book is to equip the average modeller with techniques to successfully complete a figure from start to finish, and provides clear and easy to follow instructions on how to select, prepare, assemble, modify and paint realistic figures. Aimed particularly at the beginner and intermediate figure modelers, both those starting out in the hobby and those returning to it, it begins with a round-up of the range of figures available, a discussion of scale, and the tools and materials you need to get going. It then moves to exposing general construction and painting techniques, in clear, easy to master, step-by-step tutorials that will increase confidence and develop better technique. Then, using the four most popular historical periods as a framework (Medieval, Napoleonic, the American Civil War, and the modern era), it covers a wide range of individual techniques, such as showing how to paint clothing, body armor, camouflage patterns, flesh tones, weapons and equipment, and how to work in different scales - providing the reader with a veritable arsenal of artistic techniques, almost all of which can be applied to other periods and subjects. Special effects, such as weathering clothing, and adding key accessories and details are also covered in the step-by-step photographic tutorials. If you want to improve your figure modeling skills, it's a book you shouldn't be without, covering everything you need to help you model figures the right way.