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Rating: 
Summary: A Guide For Ship Modellers Making Commercial Kits
Review: The aim of this book is to show the average modeler how to build a high class model from a commercial kit.It is well written in clear and concise language, and is to be highly recommended if you intend making any of the kits detailed below. Alternatively, if you are looking for a kit to make, and want to browse and get an idea or feel for the model, then again consider getting a copy. The author starts the book off with three short chapters. The first is a sensible discussion on the basic tools required, the second provides advice on choosing a kit, while the third gives some hints on making a start. A final chapter is also included that provides a summary of useful techniques - many of which will prove invaluable, especially to the beginner. The main body of the book consists of Chapters each dealing with a specific kit. They are well illustrated with numerous photos and line drawings, and cover the various stages of construction in full detail. Additionally, numerous hints and tips are provided, as well as advice in relation to the trickier operations. All of this is practical in nature, as the author has built each kit - the photos illustrate the processes involved, as well specific details of the vessels. The author also provides numerous suggestions, as well as mentioning any specific pitfalls that builders may face. Finally, because of the nature of the book, readers may want to know what manufacturer's kits are covered in the book. So, the ships covered are the Euro Model First Rate Royal William; Billing's Thames Barge Will Everard and their Faeroes Yawl FD10; Corel's Frigate Berlin; Panart's Square Sterned Whaleboat; Amati's New Bedford Whaleboat; and lastly all by Artesania Latina - the American Raider Hannah, the French Goelette La Toulonnaise, the Man-of-War San Juan Nepomuceno, the U.S.S. Constitution, and the Whaling Ship Charles W Morgan.
Rating: 
Summary: Wooden model ship kits built straight from the box.
Review: This book should have been entitled "Wooden model ship kits built straight from the box (imagination not included)." This is Julier's third installment of his "Period Ship Handbooks." These "handbooks" do not deal with the historic "period" ships, nor are they general handbooks for model ship builders. Rather, they are simply photo-diaries of how he built particular commercially available wooden model ship kits. This time we get to watch over his shoulder as he constructs nine kits, straight out-of-the-box, with little research or imagination. The kits covered are Corel's 74-gun "H.M.S. Bellona," the 24-gun frigate "H.M.S. Unicorn" of unstated manufacture, Mamoli's brig "Portsmouth," Constructo's Baltic coasting vessel "Elbe," Panart's 104-gun Spanish "San Felipe," Artesania Latina's "H.M.S. Bounty's" jolly boat, Corel's "H.M.S. Victory" cross section, Model Shipway's "Pride of Baltimore II," and Euro Model's "Bounty." The construction of each subject is covered by an average of 16 pages and 23 large, nicely reproduced b/w photographs, and 1 small color photo of the completed model. Julier constructs his models with only the parts and instructions in the kit box, a few hand tools, and very little initiative. Decent kits (e.g. "Bellona," "Pride of Baltimore") come out pretty well. The construction of other kits is pure fiction. Particularly galling are the head construction of the "Portsmouth," "Unicorn," and "San Felipe," and the planking job on the "San Felipe" and "Bounty." Coppered hulls are simulated with painted tiles. Brass work is left bright. With a little more effort (and research) much better models can be produced from these kits. There are some horrendous editing failures here, too. How can a full 22 page chapter on the construction of the "Unicorn" fail to mention the kit manufacturer? It's interesting that Julier finishes his book with a chapter on scratch-building the whaler "Viola." This shows some initiative and gumption, going from plans and raw materials to a finished product. This chapter provides a reasonable transition from the mind-numbing sameness of a mass-produced kit to the unique product of the craftsmanship of the self-reliant scratch- builder. It also demonstrates that Julier has a long way to go in the craft of model ship building. If you've never built a wooden model ship before, and perhaps received for Christmas a ship kit of European manufacture (with their abysmal multilingual instructions), and can't make heads nor tails of what to do, these large format soft cover books are for you. If, on the other hand, you've built a model previously, have some confidence in your craftsmanship, or are building a kit with a decent set of instructions (e.g. a Model Shipways kit), don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Wooden model ship kits built straight from the box.
Review: This book should have been entitled "Wooden model ship kits built straight from the box (imagination not included)." This is Julier's third installment of his "Period Ship Handbooks." These "handbooks" do not deal with the historic "period" ships, nor are they general handbooks for model ship builders. Rather, they are simply photo-diaries of how he built particular commercially available wooden model ship kits. This time we get to watch over his shoulder as he constructs nine kits, straight out-of-the-box, with little research or imagination. The kits covered are Corel's 74-gun "H.M.S. Bellona," the 24-gun frigate "H.M.S. Unicorn" of unstated manufacture, Mamoli's brig "Portsmouth," Constructo's Baltic coasting vessel "Elbe," Panart's 104-gun Spanish "San Felipe," Artesania Latina's "H.M.S. Bounty's" jolly boat, Corel's "H.M.S. Victory" cross section, Model Shipway's "Pride of Baltimore II," and Euro Model's "Bounty." The construction of each subject is covered by an average of 16 pages and 23 large, nicely reproduced b/w photographs, and 1 small color photo of the completed model. Julier constructs his models with only the parts and instructions in the kit box, a few hand tools, and very little initiative. Decent kits (e.g. "Bellona," "Pride of Baltimore") come out pretty well. The construction of other kits is pure fiction. Particularly galling are the head construction of the "Portsmouth," "Unicorn," and "San Felipe," and the planking job on the "San Felipe" and "Bounty." Coppered hulls are simulated with painted tiles. Brass work is left bright. With a little more effort (and research) much better models can be produced from these kits. There are some horrendous editing failures here, too. How can a full 22 page chapter on the construction of the "Unicorn" fail to mention the kit manufacturer? It's interesting that Julier finishes his book with a chapter on scratch-building the whaler "Viola." This shows some initiative and gumption, going from plans and raw materials to a finished product. This chapter provides a reasonable transition from the mind-numbing sameness of a mass-produced kit to the unique product of the craftsmanship of the self-reliant scratch- builder. It also demonstrates that Julier has a long way to go in the craft of model ship building. If you've never built a wooden model ship before, and perhaps received for Christmas a ship kit of European manufacture (with their abysmal multilingual instructions), and can't make heads nor tails of what to do, these large format soft cover books are for you. If, on the other hand, you've built a model previously, have some confidence in your craftsmanship, or are building a kit with a decent set of instructions (e.g. a Model Shipways kit), don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: The Period Ship Series
Review: When starting to build the San Felipe, I cast around for any books or manuals that included that ship. I found the Period Ship Handbook-3 and was delighted. I purchased it and several other lesser handbooks that I thought might be handy. The Period Ship book was of no particular value in the process of building the model. The book is very visual and has some great pictures, but they essentially provided me with an image of what my ship would look like tomorrow! The miscellaneous handbooks at much lower cost were far more valuable. As nice as the series looks, I honestly believe that they are more like coffee table books than working manuals.
Rating:
Summary: The Period Ship Series
Review: When starting to build the San Felipe, I cast around for any books or manuals that included that ship. I found the Period Ship Handbook-3 and was delighted. I purchased it and several other lesser handbooks that I thought might be handy. The Period Ship book was of no particular value in the process of building the model. The book is very visual and has some great pictures, but they essentially provided me with an image of what my ship would look like tomorrow! The miscellaneous handbooks at much lower cost were far more valuable. As nice as the series looks, I honestly believe that they are more like coffee table books than working manuals.
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