PERSPECTIVES IN MINIATURE

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the words of Wilbur Smith "War is the game played by old men with the lives of the young". The pawn in this game is the combat soldier, represented by the miniature toy soldier; an insignificant being on the battlefield. Combat is the most intense moment of war, where life and death balances on a knife's edge. The results are terrifying and reveal the worst part of our human nature. Conversely, there are moments when it exudes the best of our human spirit. Most of the miniatures you see here are diligently researched from historical sources and handcrafted between scales of 1/35 to 1/16 (approx 50mm to 120mm). The intricate rendition of human expression and fine details not only demonstrates the level of craftsmanship but also serves as a reminder of the fragile nature of human life. I represent no political bias though my miniature creations. My aim is to portray humanity through the chronicles of military history and thus it is my pleasure that I present to you my weblog Perspectives in Miniature.

Calvin Tan

WWII GERMAN UNIFORMS - PERSONAL MIXES BY CALVIN TAN

In conjunction with AK Interactive, this exclusive Gen 3 acrylic paint set is specially composed with the essential colours that I use to render WWII German Uniforms. It contains 18 colours and a small pamphlet with my personal colour mixes. If you are keen to acquire all the colours on my palette to paint a field grey tunic, a splinter pattern zeltbahn, an oak-leaf pattern smock or the Kharkov anorak, look no further, this is the set for you to get started.

CALVIN TAN'S BASIC GUIDE TO FIGURE PAINTING

I developed this instructional DVD with Model Art magazine to help beginner armor and diorama modelers master the art of the 1/35 scale figure. In this video, I demonstrate easy-to-follow techniques for painting injection-molded plastics—from choosing the right brushes to the 'little tricks' I use for fine details. This is a complete showcase of my personal methods, and I’m confident it will help any modeler take their work to the next level. For your convenience, the DVD is available in both English and Japanese."

CALVIN TAN'S GUIDE TO CONVERTING AND PAINTING FIGURES

In this third instalment, I will share my techniques and materials to customize and detail an inexpensive stock plastic figure. Watch as I take you through the steps on how I modify a pose, model details such as hands, belts and webbing and insignias. Learn about working effectively with epoxy putty as well as plastic styrene and paper. As a continuation from my first two DVDs, I will demonstrate how to model and paint a simple groundwork as well as an alternate approach using a monochromatic underpainting to render both a field grey tunic and the World War 2 German Splinter Camouflage pattern on a helmet cover. If you have enjoyed and benefitted from those previous titles, this edition will be a welcome addition to your journey in scale figure modelling – regardless of your current skill level. It is my sincere hope that this could inspire you to embark on your own creative adventure in this fantastic hobby.

Thursday, 6 August 2026

Tamiya 1/35 scale U.S. Combat Group Set

Labels: Tamiya Posted by Calvin Tan at 23:15

Here is a long overdue update on this figure that was completed back in April.

Cheers,

Calvin

Thursday, 26 March 2026

Dynamo Models - SS-s Pz.Abt., 101 Normandy, 1944

Labels: Dynamo Models Posted by Calvin Tan at 22:20

After some unforeseen delay, I finally managed to complete the final figure from this set.

The set provides six additional heads to choose from, making it an excellent value for any modeller wishing to recreate this iconic subject. These are painted using AK 17526 Painting Skin Tones - Made Easy by Calvin Tan.

Cheers,

Calvin

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Tamiya - US Combat Group Set

Labels: Tamiya, US Combat Group Set Posted by Calvin Tan at 16:45

Old but Gold: This is a vintage Tamiya figure from 1975. Just for fun, I am painting this one straight from the box and directly on the sprue! To ensure the best adhesion on the vintage plastic, I’ve applied a flat varnish base followed by AK 3rd Gen and Quick Gen acrylics.

Cheers,

Calvin

Friday, 27 February 2026

红色娘子军 - 中国工农红军第二独立师女子军特务连

Posted by Calvin Tan at 22:14

One more evening spent deepening the shadows with AK Interactive's new Acrylic Washes. I'm seriously impressed—the flow is perfect for glazing straight from the bottle. No thinning, no fuss, just great results in record time before the Mrs. gets jealous. 😝

Cheers,

Calvin

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

红色娘子军 - 中国工农红军第二独立师女子军特务连

Posted by Calvin Tan at 21:29

Here’s something a little different for me: a 1/10 scale bust from MD Models. The subject represents the Women's Special Service Company of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (中国工农红军第二独立师女子军特务连) during the Sino-Japanese War.

The painting process was fairly simple. I achieved the smooth skin tones by brush, using AK Ultra Matt Varnish as a medium and 3Gen thinner for dilution. It took about three evenings from start to finish—a fun, easy exercise that I’d highly recommend.

Sunday, 22 February 2026

Brott Mit Uns - Tamiya German Soldiers at Rest

Labels: Tamiya, Tamiya - German Soldiers at Rest Posted by Calvin Tan at 11:40

This is my latest rendition of TAMIYA’s 1984 classic, German Soldiers at Rest (35129), finished using AK Interactive 3Gen and Quick Gen acrylics. This particular kit holds sentimental value; having been initiated by Mr Yuji Kurotaki, provided by Mr Tokunaga and passed to me by Mr Yoshihiko Tanaka. With the kit’s recent re-release, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this vintage gem. While I intended to keep the build strictly "out of the box", I couldn't resist adding a few refinements using stretched sprue. Completed in just four days, the kit’s enduring detail is a true testament to Tamiya’s timeless quality.