Books

Book Reviews.gif (7045 bytes)

Eaglewall's Table Top Navy, By Donald Hood - All and more that you ever wanted to know about the iconic line of Eagle model ships is provided in Eaglewall’s Table Top Navy by Donald Hood. The volume is a pure delight.

Ship Models from Kits, By David Griffith - How do you begin a book review? When it comes to Ship Models from Kits by David Griffith, I think we can look at the question. "I wondered what you guys thought about this book." and the subsequent answers to that question.

US Battleships 1941-1963, An Illustrated Technical Reference, By Wayne Scarpaci - US Battleships 1941-1963 An Illustrated Technical Reference by Wayne Scarpaci provides a lot of information and an amazing amount of graphics in 134 pages. For me the color artwork alone makes it a valuable addition to my library.

USS North Carolina Technical Reference 1, By Randall S. Shoker - USS North Carolina, Technical Reference 1 2nd Edition by Randall S. Shoker, is an outstanding reference for the ship, which provides the exact type of coverage essential to the modeler. All Showboaters should have this volume in their library.

The Camouflage of Ships at Sea, T.S.D. 1502/43 May 1943 - White Ensign Models has just published an interesting booklet on Royal Navy camouflage. It is a reproduction of "The Camouflage of Ships at Sea", originally published by the Royal Navy Camouflage Section in 1943. WEM reproduced the original but in a larger format.

North Carolina Class Battleships, Classic Warship Pictorial 29 - Classic Warship Pictorial 29, North Carolina Class Battleships, presents an excellent source of photographs of both ships of the class. Beautiful color plates and line drawings further enrich the volume. This volume provides an inexpensive source for any modeler wishing to add further detail to any model of North Carolina or Washington.

Modelarstwo Okretowe, Polish Ship Model Magazine Nr 1 - Modelarstwo Okretowe is a fairly new Polish magazine devoted to ship models. The coverage includes commercially available models, historical pieces, extensive CAD diagrams of ordnance, modeling tip articles and of course ship model reviews. Each issue includes a bonus insert. Usually this is a set of plans but at least one special issue came with a bonus card model of a destroyer. That leads to another significant feature of this magazine. There is an approximate even division between reviews of card models and reviews of resin and plastic models.

Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers, Warship Pictorial #24, By Kurt Greiner - If you are building a model of an Arleigh Burke destroyer or wish to add a superb reference on the class to your library, then Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers published by Classic Warship Publishing and written by Kurt Greiner is a must.

Colorado Class Battleships, Famous Warships Monographs 2, By Jaroslaw Palasek - If you like the design of the Colorado class, and very few modelers don’t love this clipper bowed design, then the Colorado Class Battleships, Famous Warships Monographs 2 is an almost essential reference in your library. In one source you will have an English language volume that has the design history, modifications and operational history of each ship in the class.

USS Massachusetts, Technical Reference 2, by Randall S. Shoker - Many of you may be familiar with the first technical reference written by Randall S. Shoker on the USS North Carolina. Oxford Museum Press has just published the second technical reference by Mr. Shoker. This one is on the USS Massachusetts of the South Dakota Class. Through text, photographs, drawings and maps, this title takes you through the operational history of the ship and looks at the systems, superstructure and fittings of the Massachusetts. An added bonus comes in the form of a full 1:350 scale plan and profile.

Union River Ironclad 1861-65 by Angus Konstam, Osprey New Vanguard 56 - The USS Monitor and her successors grabbed the headlines for the Union during the American Civil War but they were dilettantes compared to the true northern naval war winners, the Union riverine ironclads of the Mississippi. Union River Ironclad 1861-65 written by Angus Konstam and illustrated by Tony Bryan has been published by Osprey as volume 56 in their New Vanguard series. In this volume is found gorgeous color plates commissioned specifically for the title plus period photographs, engravings and lithographs. Coverage is of all of Union river ironclads from the famous Eads City Class to a series of bizarre grotesqueries of the oddest appearance.

Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy, by Diana Preston - On May 7, 1915 the German U-Boat U-20 sank the RMS Lusitania off of the southern coast of Ireland. This was a pivotal event in World War One because it definitely moved the United States to a pro-allied position. The event also caused the German government to stop its unrestricted submarine warfare campaign against Great Britain. When the campaign was resumed, the United States entered the war. David LaPell reviews the 532 page Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy written by Diana Preston.

Leipzig, German Light Cruiser 1939, Profile Morskie #58 - The Leipzig was the third light cruiser design of the German Navy between the World Wars. Although the design was better than the preceding K Class, it still suffered hull weakness that would plague it in its career. Active at the start of World War Two, her operational career was almost totally curtailed after receiving two torpedoes in December 1939, which destroyed her forward engine rooms. Profile Morskie #58 is on the light cruiser Leipzig. With text in English and Polish, with plenty of photographs and with 14 pages of detailed line drawings, the title has almost everything the modeler will need to know on this cruiser. The title also comes with three separate three-page inserts. One is a full color plate of Leipzig in 1:400 scale and the other two features four plates of profile, plans and detail in 1:400 and 1:200 scale of Leipzig in December 1939. Review by Steve Backer.

Scharnhorst Class Battleships, Warships of the World #13 - The Polish publishing company of Okrety Wojenne has published a volume on the Scharnhorst Class in their Warships of the World (Okrety Swiata) series. It is number 13 in the series and its Polish title is Niemieckie pancerniki typu "SCHARNHORST", German Battleship Type Scharnhorst. Written by Przemyslaw Federowicz, the title features a wealth of information for the modeler on Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Review by Steve Backer.

Oyodo, Japanese Light Cruiser 1943, Profile Morskie #60 - The latest title in the extensive line of warship monographs from Profile Morskie is on the Japanese light cruiser Oyodo. Displacing 11,433 tons full load, this large cruiser was lightly armed with only six 6.1-inch guns. However she was not designed for surface action. She was designed to be the flagship of a submarine squadron. The aft half of the ship had a hangar and facilities for operating six floatplanes. These floatplanes were to serve as reconnaissance for the submarines. Targets would be found by the floatplanes and the submarines would be vectored to intercept. However, the theory did not pan out in operations. Review by Steve Backer.

Ise Class Imperial Japanese Battleships, Gakken Pacific War Series #26 - Gakken publishes an extensive line of books aimed at modelers on the warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War Two. Each volume features extensive drawings, photographs and charts. However, the major feature is the inclusion of a great number of photographs of a very large scale model of the subject. Text is Japanese. Tom Kristiansen looks at one of these volumes, Ise Class Battleships, volume 26 in the series.

CARRIER AIR WAR IN ORIGINAL COLOR by Lawson & Tillman - This book published by Motorbooks International was printed in 1996. With Carrier Air War in Original Color the author's provide many color photographs of the USN carriers at different points in the war. No question about it, there are Blue Carriers. Carrier Air War in Original Color is reviewed by Dave Miller.

Sea Bag of Memories: Images, Poems, Thoughts & Crafts of the Small Ship Sailors of World War II - Join the Donald Duck Navy. The small vessels of the USN in World War Two were called the Donald Duck Navy, a term for which those small vessel sailors took pride. William J. Veigele wrote this book that captures the life and thoughts of the enlisted men of the Patrol Craft (PC), Submarine Chasers (SC), Fleet Minesweepers (AM), Yard Minesweepers (YMS), Motor Gunboats (PGM) and USCG cutters of the Donald Duck Navy. Reviewed by Steve Backer.

The Russian Battleships: Sevastopol Class - Started in 1909 the four battleships of the Sevastopol Class were to be the first step of Imperial Russia in making good the losses of the Russo-Japanese War. Built for the Baltic Fleet, the class as a whole fought in both world wars. This volume is the first of a series entitled Famous Warships Monographs written in English from the Polish Publisher, Okrety Wojenne. The volume is 88 pages in length and comes with three back printed 1:400 scale plans and profiles, showing six designs in the evolution of the class. Reviewed by Steve Backer.

Click here for a listing of books useful to modelers of 20th century Royal Navy ships

Click here for an American Civil War Naval bibliography

Navires & Histoire Magazine, June 2002, Issue #12, reviewed by Steve Backer. The centerpiece article is on the operations of the French nuclear carrier Charles De Gaulle in the Indian Ocean in "Operation Heracles". Among other articles on WW2 topics is the first installment on the German battlecruiser Gneisenau.

Navires & Histoire Magazine, February 2003, Issue #16, reviewed by Steve Backer. The centerpiece article is on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, von Spee's armored cruisers from World War One. As usual topics cover a wide range of naval history.

Brytyjskie Krazowniki Liniowe Typu "REPULSE" (British Battle Cruiser Type Repulse) - Written by Maciej S. Sobanski, this is the 12th volume in the Okrety Swiata/Warships of the World series. The title has photographs, color plates and two back-printed Plans and Profiles.

Japonskie Krazowniki Ciezkie Typu "MYOKO" (Japanese Heavy Cruiser Type Myoko) - This title from Polish publisher, Wydawca, is written by Grzegorz Bukata. Although written in Polish, the title has photos, drawings, color plates and five separate 1:400 scale Plans & Profiles.

Classic Warships Book #17: IJN Myoko Class CAs John Sheridan reviews one of the latest books from Classic Warships Publishing

Classic Warships Book #21: KM Prinz Eugen Heavy Cruiser John Sheridan reviews one of the latest books from Classic Warships Publishing

WR Press Flush Deck Destroyers of WWII John Sheridan reviews one of the latest books from WR Press

WR Press Essex Class Aircraft Carriers of WWII John Sheridan reviews one of the latest books from WR Press

Modelist-Korabel - This 16 page journal is published quarterly in Tver, Russia. Each issue provides various scale plans for different subjects. Issues #7, #10, and #15 are examined.

Les Torpilleurs d'Escadre du Type Le Hardi, 1938-1943 - This volume written by Charles Salou and printed by Lela Press covers the design and history of Le Hardi class French destroyers, the most modern class of destroyers coming into service with the Marine Nationale at the start of World War Two.

Warship, 2001-2002, Conway Maritime Press, This issue celebrates the 25th anniversary of this classic publication. Edited by Antony Preston. Reviewed by Steve Backer.

Classic Warship Book #16 USS New Jersey

Classic Warship Book #15 KM Schnellbootes

Gli Incrociatori Italiani, Gene Katz reviews this volume on the Cruisers of the Regia Marina during World War Two.

Warship, 2000-2001, Conway Maritime Press, This is the 24th annual issue of this classic publication. Edited by Anthony Preston. Reviewed by Steve Backer.

Navi E Marinai Italiani nella Grande Guerra, Italian Ships and Navy during the Great War. Written by Erminio Bagnasco & Achille Rastelli. Reviewed by Steve Backer.

Navires & Histoire Magazine, February 2002, Issue #10, reviewed by Steve Backer. The focus, as with Issue #9, continues on the naval forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. Many other articles are found on such diverse topics as the Yamatos, the Battle of Santiago and the birth of the Soviet Navy.

Navires & Histoire Magazine, December 2001, Issue #9, reviewed by Steve Backer. The centerpiece article is on the naval forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Navi E Marinai Italiani nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale Italian Ships and Navy in World War Two Written by Elio Ando & Erminio Bagnasco. Reviewed by Steve Backer.

Review of Les Cuirasses Dunkerque-Strasbourg, Richelieu, & Jean Bart by Steve Backer

Review of USS Enterprise CD ROM Photodisk by Rusty White

Warship Perspectives Royal Navy Camouflage Volume III 1943 by John Sheridan

Classic Warships Book #12 USN Benson / Gleaves Class DDs by John Sheridan

Classic Warships Book #14 USS Wichita CA-45 by John Sheridan

BARCOS RC, Spanish RC Modeling Magazine, by Steve Backer

NAVIRES & HISTOIRE Le Magazine d’Histoire Maritime by Steve Backer

Classic Warships Book #11 USN Lexington Class CVs by John Sheridan

Classic Warships Book #13 IJN Kongo Class BBs by John Sheridan

Warship Perspectives Royal Navy Camouflage Volume I 1939-1941 by John Sheridan

Warship Perspectives Royal Navy Camouflage Volume II 1942 by John Sheridan

Morskaya Kollektsia Series from Russia

USS North Carolina: Technical Reference #1 by Randall Shoker

Flower Class Corvettes in World War Two by John Lambert

Warship Pictorial #4: USS Texas BB-35 from Classic Warships Publishing

PC Patrol Craft of World War II by Wm. J. Veigele