Product Description

The `ShipCraft' series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated, each book takes the modeller through a brief history of the subject class, then moves to an extensive photographic survey of either a high-quality model or a surviving example of the ship. Hints on building the model, and on modifying and improving the basic kit, are followed by a section on paint schemes and camouflage, featuring numerous colour profiles and highly-detailed line drawings. The strengths and weaknesses of available kits of the ships are reviewed, and the book concludes with a section on research references - books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites.

This new volume deals with the classes which represent the whole inter-war development of British destroyers, from the prototypes Amazon and Ambuscade of 1926 - the first new post World War I design - to the powerful and radically different `Tribal' class a decade later. These ships formed the backbone of Royal Navy destroyer flotillas in the Second World War.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #181988 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Customer Reviews

Aimed directly at the serious model maker.
My work as a shipwreck historian involves research into a wide variety of different craft and is usually based on either my having visited a particular wreck or a proposed visit. Having made models of a small number of ships of interest to me, I am currently trying to get leading manufacturers to consider providing kits of some of the more well known "diveable" shipwrecks. Though not one of the greatest, (she was far too badly damaged when lost), the remains of WW2 Tribal class destroyer HMS Maori in Malta is a very popular dive. This ship has a great history and I have longed to make an accurate model of her. Whilst I was aware of the availability of kits based on sister ships, I was equally aware there was far more to making any precise representation than simply opting for a similar vessel and changing the Pennant Numbers.

Throughout WW2, all destroyers underwent various changes associated with conversion to different roles, new equipment and weapons, altered flotilla markings and varying paint schemes. This book does not, therefore, provide all the differing variables for each ship - let alone each class of ship. It does, however, provide that central plank of information the serious modeller will require for whatever project is in mind.

Covering the inter-war years from the prototype RN destroyers Amazon and Ambuscade through 9 improved classes to that powerful old warhorse the Tribal class of 1936, these are the ships which were the spinal column of the British and Canadian fleets of the time with a number also serving elsewhere. Here are some of the most famous names in British Destroyer history.

Author Les Brown provides the serious modeller with a first rate product containing details of each class of ship, the technical characteristics of specific vessels plus line drawings and camouflage schemes for several. There is also a very useful bibliography for those intent on pursuing a particular course for any specific ship. More importantly, as far as modellers are concerned, several pages are given over to those kits which are (in some cases "were") available - with each product being afforded a most useful review of its plusses and minuses. There are also a number of featured models produced by very competent modellers with full descriptions of all aspects of their work. This element alone demonstrates to novice and expert alike, exactly what can be achieved.

Suddenly, my own model of HMS Maori is a great deal closer.

NM