As a regular at IPMS shows, I’ve often seen Kagero’s Super Drawings in 3D series on display, and I’m kicking myself for not picking up a copy sooner. After diving into Takao, the latest installment in this impressive series, I can confidently say that it was well worth the wait.

This softbound book boasts excellent print quality, with full-color gloss A4 pages that bring every detail to life. The vintage photographs have been colorized, offering a fresh perspective on the Takao, and there’s even a few images of a stunningly detailed scale model of the ship.

The P-3 Orion entered US Navy service in the mid-1960’s and is now being slowly replaced by the P-8A Poseidon. I find it interesting both were based on civilian airliners: the Lockheed Electra II and the Boeing B737-800 respectively.

A top-opening box that has an attractively painted P-3 on the cover is chock full of plastic parts. Eight runners hold 158 parts molded in medium gray plastic and another for the clear parts. Surface detail is recessed and very impressive for this scale. There are five decal marking options: two US Navy, one each for the Australian AF, Netherlands Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Finally, there is a set of masks for the clear parts and wheels and a full-color instruction booklet which includes a parts map, decal guide for each scheme, and a color guide for Mr Hobby, Tamiya, ICM, and Hataka paints.

TopDrawings18 is a magnum opus of research and detail. Oddly, but luckily, this older Top Drawings from Kagero Publishing from 2013 was up for review. No complaints, and had to bring out the drool cup again. Kagero's Topdrawings softbacks are legendary for scale modelers. For ship modelers, they are an ultimate reference of appearance at a particular time, or sometimes several timepoints. Glossy color plates from covers and inserts are welcome, but color renditions of more views are found in the hefty companion 3D Drawings books of the same subjects. TopDrawings are specifically handy for scale modeler workbenches. Scale line drawings can be easily resized to fit whatever scale the modeler is building by modern copiers, a boon for scratchbuilding or replacing inaccurate parts.

This TopDrawing of HMS Warspite from WWI to WWII is larger than most, perhaps because of the illustrious career Warspite enjoyed. Even the history is two pages instead of one.