Seaforth Publishing

Ship Models from Kits Basic and Advanced Techniques for Small Scales

by  Dr. David Griffith

Reviewed By  Ken Williams, IPMS# 45861

MSRP: $42.95 ISBN: 9781848320246 Website: www.seaforthpublishing.com Seaforth Publishing, Shipcraft Series, An Imprint of Pen & Sword Books Limited., 2009, S Yorkshire. England S70 2AS, Hardcover, July 1, 2009. Using 200 beautifully photographed ship models, Griffith thoroughly leads the reader on a step-by-step journey of building ships in the scales 1/700 and 1/350. The writing style is engaging and it leaves little doubt that the author is British. As you read about the HMS Tiger sailing down the Thames, one could certainly expect to find a Welsh Corgi or two under the author's workbench. Dr. Griffith takes his readers on a grand tour of the market from plastic to resin. Along the way, he introduces the wealth of aftermarket materials that are available. He also presents an exhaustive study of the current references covering the hobby. Along with the book list, you will find an exhaustive list of helpful Internet sites. The author does an excellent job covering adhesives and putty fillers along with the tools with which to apply them. Along with basic modeling techniques, Griffith does a extremely good job of covering the more advanced photoetch techniques and he even explains soldering and casting. From basic hand tools to punches to airbrush techniques, the author covers it all. In his section on basic modeling skills, Griffith includes many techniques not found in lesser books. I especially found his explanation on plaiting scale anchor cable and of handcrafting splinter shields to be of great value and interest. Many times in building ships, we encounter situations where the level of detail is lacking. Showing his incredible fabrication skills, Griffith explains how to build custom parts such as bridges and gun mounts. Nowhere is this skill more apparent than is his fabrication of cranes and launches. In the section, "Bringing It All Together," the author describes in great detail how to merge all the various parts into a harmonious work of art including tug boats and ancillary craft. In reading books of our craft, I have never encountered a more complete explanation of painting-including the art of applying scale color. Finally, Griffith shows us how to create nautical dioramas and exacting rigging. And, he artfully explains the craft of building bases onto which we will display our ships. I found the book to be well worth the price. The author is to be congratulated for producing a work of such detail. It easily compares with Mike Ashley's books on ship building and even Edwin Leaf's Ship Modeling from Scratch. My thanks to Seaforth Publishing for this excellent reference - recommended.