Shipcraft 23: Rodney and Nelson, by Les Brown and Robert Brown, 64 pages, published by Seaforth Publishing

This monograph features 130 color and black-and-white illustrations and plans.  It is catalogued with ISBN 9781036150334.

Introduction

ShipCraft23, Rodney and Nelson by Les Brown and Robert Brown, with illustrations by George Richardson, is a revised new edition of the 2015 volume covering the British Battleships Rodney and Nelson. There is updated information concerning the latest Trumpeter models in 1/700, 1/350 and 1/200, and associated aftermarket accessories.  ShipCraft is a series from Seaforth Publishing.

Content

Rodney and Nelson will be familiar to most ship modelers and aficionados, with their distinctive silhouette, having the main armament clustered forward and tower superstructure just about amidships.

Similarly, the ShipCraft series is one that is most likely familiar to ship modelers.   The volumes combine a brief design and operational history of the ship or ships in the title, along with the evolution in armament and appearance over their careers, accompanied by scale drawings from representative time periods and color ( camouflage) schemes.  Further sections are devoted to a listing of model products by scale, first kits arranged in smaller to greater scale by manufacturer, then a similarly arranged list of aftermarket, like PE sheets, 3D printed and resin accessories and laser cut wood decks, all accompanied by brief descriptions of the product.

The middle, and largest section in terms of page numbers is called "modelers showcase" and  documents builds of the various kits described earlier in the book.  There are builds of the 1/700 Trumpeter and Tamiya kits, the 1/600 Airfix kit, the 1/350 Iron Shipwrights and the 1/200 Trumpeter kit included.  

The last few pages are devoted to a chronological list of alterations to each vessel, valuable to the modeler looking to build a model at a specific time period, and finally, a reference section for those looking to do more research on the two battleships.

Conclusion

At a list price of $28.95, the book is a bargain, just for the inclusion of seven full color camouflage schemes of the two ships.

Our thanks to Casemate Publishers for providing this product for review.  Please remember to mention to Casemate, Seaforth, and retailers that you saw this product here - on Model Shipwrights.