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The Battleship HMS Warspite
Published on
Review Author(s)
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Book Author(s)
Witold Koszela
ISBN
978-83-62878-92-5
E-Book ISBN
N/A
Other Publication Information
Paperback, 32 Pages and color front/rear covers, A4 landscape format, one B&W photo, 29 pages of detailed B&W line drawings of full length (1:800 scale), major sections (bridge, main turrets, superstructures (1:250 scale and one page of 1:300 scales)), exterior fittings (1:250 & 1:125 scales).
Two free-standing fold-out inserts, (19 X 37 inches, approximately). One side is glossy full color (Side D), one glossy B&W (Sheet C), and the other insert is B&W line drawings (Sheets A & B).
MSRP
$23.00
Product / Stock #
N/A
Company: Kagero Publishing - Website: Visit Site
Provided by: Kagero Publishing - Website: Visit Site
Publications
Ships

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.

Color profiles in Sheet D show starboard and overhead profiles from 1915, 1931, and the two camouflage periods 1942 and 1943, along with a Walrus amphibian flying boat in 1:120 scale. Large B&W overhead profiles in Sheet C detail armament locations from 1915 to 1937, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944. B&W Sheets A & B show 1:450 scale port, starboard and overhead profiles in 1918 and 1941 (Sheet A) and side profiles of 1915, 1918 (interior) and 1937 (profile and interiors). Interiors are not usually found in TopDrawings books.

As usual, line drawings of superstructures, guns, and all sorts of fittings are in scales as mentioned above (1:800, 1:300, 1:250 and 1:125).

Anyone wanting to build any of the increasing number of HMS Warspite kits needs this TopDrawings18. It's that simple.

Figures

  • Figure 1: Front cover of The British Battleship Warspite
  • Figure 2: Rear cover of The British Battleship Warspite
  • Figure 3: Color plate of starboard forward half of Warspite in 1942 camouflage
  • Figure 4: B&W Line drawing of starboard tower bridge view in 1942. Notice the different shape of scuttles (portholes)
HMS Warspite Book

Reviewer Bio

Luke R. Bucci, PhD

Luke built all kinds of models starting in the early '60s, but school, wife Naniece, and work (PhD Clinical Nutritionist) caused the usual absence from building. Picked up modeling to decompress from grad school, joined IPMSUSA in 1994 and focused on solely 1/700 warships (waterline!) and still do. I like to upgrade and kitbash the old kits and semi-accurize them, and even scratchbuild a few. Joined the Reviewer Corps to expand my horizon, especially the books nobody wants to review - have learned a lot that way. Shout out to Salt Lake and Reno IPMSUSA clubs - they're both fine, fun groups and better modelers than I, which is another way to learn. Other hobbies are: yes, dear; playing electric bass and playing with the canine kids.