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Reviewed by Sean Hert November, 2013 |
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This book is a companion to the earlier ShipCraft 11, which covered the inter-war destroyers A-I and Tribal classes, and also authored by Les Brown. If you are familiar with any of the other volumes in this series, this book is no different, with a similar layout, photos and contents.
Book Contents
- Design, Construction and Modificiations
- Model Products
- Modelmakers's Showcase
- Colour Schemes
- Camouflage
- Wartime Operations
- Plans
- Selected References
This book does not waste time with a lengthy introduction, but plunges almost immediately into the subject matter. One thing which all the destroyers of these types had in common was a small form and single funnel, and the author briefly discusses the necessities of wartime which lead to this requirement- which affect the next 21 destroyer class and sub-classes.
After the brief discussion of each
destroyer type, there is a legend with each classes particulars,
followed by the section on what model products are available, with
short reviews of each.
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| Scans are reduced quality. | ||
As usual, there is a selection of greyscale images of many different sample destroyers to illustrate not only the many various types, but also camouflage and wartime modifications. There is also a good selection of line drawings for
This volume has a good selection of color plates, showing The Modeler's Showcase and color camouflage drawings.
One thing to keep in mind with the Shipcraft series, is there are not trying to be either a comprehesive monograph of the subject matter, nor a "how-to" on model building or conversions. If you are already knowledgable about British Destroyers, it is unlikely this book has much to offer you. However, if you are looking for an introductory work on the subject, one with a few neat pictures and some basics of design and history- this book would be a great place to start!
British Destroyers: J-C and Battle Classes is available from Seaforth Publishing (an imprint of Pen and Sword books) or from one of their resellers. Prices vary. Thanks to Seaforth for this review sample.
