ShipCraft 32: British Aircraft Carriers: Hermes, Ark Royal and the Illustrious Class

The 'ShipCraft series' provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of popular warship types, including the evolution of Royal Navys fleet carriers. This book is a must-have for modelmakers, offering unparalleled visual information and insights into these challenging subjects.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2024
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The 'ShipCraft' series offers comprehensive insights into constructing and customizing model kits of renowned warship types. Each book is lavishly illustrated, providing a brief history of the subject, highlighting variations between ships and their visual transformations throughout their careers. This includes detailed discussions on paint schemes, camouflage, and color profiles, accompanied by highly accurate line drawings and scale plans. The modeling section examines the strengths and limitations of available kits, showcases commercial accessory sets for enhancing the subjects' super detailing, and offers helpful tips on modifying and improving the basic kit. This is followed by an extensive photographic gallery showcasing selected high-quality models across various scales. The book concludes with a comprehensive section on research references, encompassing books, monographs, large-scale plans, and relevant websites.

The focus of this volume is on the evolution of Royal Navy fleet carriers, particularly those designed from scratch for the role. While Hermes was the world's first purpose-built carrier, subsequent carriers were conversions from other types. It wasn't until the mid-1930s that another carrier was designed and built entirely from scratch, known as the iconic Ark Royal. Ark Royal was a significantly larger and more capable ship, but it was a one-off due to the Navy's shift in focus towards developing ships capable of surviving in the most challenging environments. This led to the development of the radically different armored carriers of the Illustrious class, which were considered the toughest aviation ships of World War II.

What sets this book apart is its unparalleled level of visual information. Paint schemes, models, line drawings, and photographs are meticulously presented, offering modelmakers a wealth of details and inspiration for building these intricate subjects. Whether you're a seasoned modeler or a newcomer to the world of warship modeling, 'ShipCraft: The Evolution of Royal Navy Fleet Carriers' is an essential reference guide. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the historical context, design characteristics, and modeling techniques associated with these remarkable ships, ensuring that your model captures the essence and detail of these iconic vessels.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 209 x 296 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399036269