Japanese Heavy Cruisers (Shipcraft Series)

Everything the ship modeller needs to know about building a famous warship Numerous detailed plans and colour illustrations Focuses on very popular modelling subjects which are represented by a wide selection of kits. 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, using scale plans to highlight differences between sister ships and changes in their appearance over their careers, 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, plans and relevant websites. This volume is devoted to the largest, fastest and most powerful heavy cruisers of their era. Japanese striving for superiority in individual ships produced designs whose unusual lines, massive superstructure and heavy armament have made them a challenge to modelmakers ever since. Combined with a fighting record stretching from the first to the very last days of the war, this makes them one of the most popular of all subjects for warship modelling. This book will show ship modellers how to turn their kits into something really special, but its unparalleled level of visual information will also appeal to the general warship enthusiast. Steve Backer is a lifelong ship modeller and editor of the Steel Navy website.