Model Forum / General / Models / June 2007

W.W.I in Plastic was self-published by Brad Hansen in 1979 with ten
update pages ending in 1982. It was a very nice b/w publication with
many photos of box art, etc. covering virtually every model/kit
produced until that date. It remains the best book ever published on
the subject.

But be patient, grasshopper. MAI/ESM 72 has a book in the works
covering everything ever produced in 1/72 scale. To date there are
about 3,000 listings, actually much longer because things such as
figure sets include several subjects. We'll use as many color photos
as we can afford, have as many photos of box art as possible and we
are actively persuing photos of modeler's finished models.

This is a rapidly growing segment of modeling with several new kits
appearing every week. Those of you familiar with our first book,
Encyclopedia of 1/72 Scale Military Models, know that we can present a
book that both modelers and collectors will like.

Tom

The author was Brad Hansen.  It was basically a privately published
paper-back volume available mostly directly from the author although I
believe a few hobbyshops carried it as well. It was originally published
in 1979 and was re-printed in 1986 with a series of 12 new updates
covering the kits which had been issued (and reissued) between 1979 and
1986 as well as corrections and additions to the original listings.

The full and complete title was "W.W.I in Plastic, a Model Enthusiast's
Guide".  Because it was privately published, it has no ISBN.

Here's the only copy I could find online: http://tinyurl.com/ynmfqr

It is, of course, rather dated with no reference to the myriad of fine
Eduard and DML kits and the like which have been issued since the 1986
reprinting but it's quite good and comprehensive on the kits issued
before that. It's not only a listing of the early WWI kits but also a
series of mini kit reviews, short articles on the various box arts, and
short histories of WWI kits and their manufacturers.

All presented with Hansen's rather droll humor and entertaining writing
style. Well worth the $12 or so it cost me in 1986. Whether it's worth
the current $52.50 asking price is a different matter.  I suspect it is.

Cheers,

Measuring the kit in front of me:

Top wngspan is 3 1/4". Middle wing is 2 13/16" Bottom wing is 2 1/16".

So it is 1/87 or HO gauge. The parts layout is a perfect match to the
instructions as well.

Anybody interested?

Tom