Customer Reviews

Shipcraft Special: Flower Class Corvettes

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Flower Class Corvettes is an expanded edition of the Shipcraft series, aimed at ship modelers. The Shipcraft books cover the history and appearance of warships, available model kits, and examples of completed models in a variety of scales. The usual volumes in this series have an abbreviated feel about them, as they try to accomplish a lot in the 64 pages allocated. This book has 128 pages, and makes good use of the extra space. All sections are expanded, and many more details are included. Additionally, the work benefits from a hard cover and sewn pages in lieu of the usual perfect binding, so it feels better in the hand and is easier to use on the workbench.

No matter the quality of the binding or the quantity of pages, what really matters is the content. Modeler and RN expert Les Brown has paired up with John Lambert, a well known author and draftsman in the naval field. Together they have produced a book which, by itself, contains all a modeler would need to produce a nice model of a Flower Class Corvette. There are a number of well reproduced photographs that covers the ships from a variety of angles, supplemented by detailed photography. An extensive series of plans are included with the pages, including body lines and shell expansion so that the hull is fully documented. Cross sections, 3-d perspectives, weapon and fitting drawings round out the very comprehensive coverage, and there is a section devoted to color camouflage renderings that are particularly useful for a class of ships that had many different schemes during the war

One of the features of the Shipcraft series is a survey of available model resources for a each ship. For the Flower class, this ranges from tiny wargaming models in scales smaller than 1/2000, to kits and semi kits up to 1/48. There are photos of 1/1250 through 1/72 scale kits and finished models, as well as 1/48 scale fittings and decals. The relative strengths of the kits are discussed as well, which helps the potential modeler to decide which best meets his needs.

The third standard aspect of the series is a section featuring finished ship models. Again, the larger format allows an expanded color gallery that shows off some fine examples of the ship modeler's art. Models shown span the scale from a 1/700 scale ship on a tiny keel block stand, to a 1/72 scale radio controlled model in the water.

At the back of the book is a two-page reference section that gives suggestions for further reading, as well as sources for models and plans. The only thing lacking is an index, but for this type of book it is a minor omission.

This expanded version truly shows the potential of the Shipcraft series, and I hope the publisher produces more of them, as they are an excellent value for the price.

If you would like even more information on these ships, a good supplement would be FLOWER CLASS CORVETTE AGASSIZ: New Edition (Anatomy of the Ship), which is also an excellent reference. Both are highly recommended to the ship modeler.

Mr. Lambert and Mr. Brown have created a well balanced book on the design and history of the Flower Class Corvette. For years I have bought many things that Mr Lmaber has producted and I wasnt let down. The drawings and text are perfect. Any naval model maker or history buff will enjoy this book.