Spring 2013 News

Just published is THE GREAT ORDNANCE SURVEY OF 1698, A Facsimile. This is an exact copy of the original survey of all naval and coast defense cannon in the Royal Navy in 1698. Richard Endsor and Frank Fox have written an introduction and commentary on this historical work.

This is a very limited numbered edition  of 199 copies and is offered on a first come, first served basis until sold out. Please click on the jacket picture for more information.

We have another new title as of March first. The title is THE MANY ASPECTS OF SHIP MODELING by Don Dressel. This is a grand snapshot of the current state of the art and craft of ship modeling as displayed at the Western Ship Model Conference and Exhibition held in Newport Beach CA in 2011.

One hundred ninety one models are displayed in full color along with a brief write up on each one. Click on the picture to learn more.

Euryalus II is now available. Just click on the name to go to the Titles section and see pictures and ordering information.

Euryalus II is now shipping to all locations. Thanks for your patience.

Finally, for the first half of the year is a book by Ab Hoving. We are looking to a late June publication date. Ab recently retired from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam where he served for more than 20 years as model maker and senior restorer of the museum’s navy Collection. He is known worldwide for his research and modeling skills. He has put together a collection of his favorite models from the museum in a beautifully produced book in his native Dutch. We are in the process of having the book translated into English and we will present our version in the same four color format as the original

We knew, as soon as we saw the original version that this was a project we had to do. The color work is outstanding and we hope that our English version will become one of your favorites.

The second half of 2013 is still hidden under a fog bank so all we can say at this point is that we are working a number of projects and we will tell you more as the year progresses.

Introducing the Second Ship in The Frigates of the Royal Navy Series: THE NAIAD FRIGATE(38) 1797

The frigate NAIAD (38)1797 joins HMS EURYALUS in this SeaWatchBooks series.
Authored by Edward Tosti, this is volume one of two parts and it takes the reader/modeler
through all of the phases of building a beautiful plank on frame model. Ed’s work represents
the next evolution of the “keel up” style of building.

Introducing a new title, WARSHIPS FOR THE KING, Ann Wyatt (1658-1757) Her Life and Her Ships by Tobias Philbin and Richard Endsor.

Seven major ships were built in her yards from 1691 to 1698. This book is a history of her life and the ships she built as part of the 27 ship program. Ship models and contemporary art are used to illuminate the text, and Richard Endsor, author of THE RESTORATION NAVY has produced a set of plans of Cumberland (80) built by Ann. If you are interested in ship models, naval history and ships then this book is for you.

As you know, volume I of HMS Euryalus (36) 1803, is available. It covers the construction of the model up to the gun deck. This volume features 14 sheets of plans printed with four colors.

State Yacht UTRECHT update – Dr. Gib McArdle, author and builder of Sussex, has built a beautiful model of our little yacht using modified plans from the book. We have included these pictures to show what a great modeling subject Utrecht can be.

A lot of you have asked if this ship is authentic to the 18th century and the answer is yes it is! The plans date from a 1746 draft and every effort was made to build Utrecht as any states yacht would be built at that time. The plans in the book were drawn by Cor Emke who worked with the original draft that was discovered by Ab Hoving in museum archives.

The plans in the book will build a great plank on bulkhead model. Dr. McArdle’s plank on frame build with a completely modeled interior will be presented later this year.

The Statanjacht UTRECHT 1746 is now ready for shipping. This title takes you through the building of a reconstruction of the Dutch Statenjacht UTRECHT, 1746. The yacht was built in The Netherlands and is presently being sailed. It is a beautiful sight. This book traces the research, building and launching of her. The original Dutch text, edited by Ab Hoving, has been translated into English and is produced in full color. It will be accompanied by 13 sheets of plans by Cor Emke. Please go to the ordering page for more details.

NEW INFORMATION ON SHIPPING COSTS:
We are now using US Post Office international flat rate boxes for shipment of 3-4 books. Pay the normal shipping rates at checkout and you will be credited for the shipping cost of the third and fourth books within two business days.

For fans of HMS SUSSEX, we have posted an article written by Gib McArdle on building a solid hull of the model. The article is from the winter edition of The Nautical Research Guild, and it offers an alternative method of construction. Just follow Gib’s instructions and use the plans from the book. (Go to the SUSSEX page and feel free to download the article and order the book.)

Swan IV is here! Volume IV of the "Swan Series" is ready to be sent to you.

It is titled The Fully Framed Model, Rigging a Sixth Rate Sloop of War 1767-1780. Please go to The Swan Series page for details and ordering.

We are proud and happy to bring back what has been called an “instant classic”!

17th & 18th Century Ship Models from the Kriegstein Collection by Arnold and Henry Kriegstein. Its text and photos have been revised for accuracy and picture clarity.  It also has 5 new chapters about recent acquisitions to the collection. This book is being re-issued at its original price of $85.  See its title page for more information. 

Rob was commissioned by the U.S. Naval Academy Museum to recondition one of the finest models in the Rogers Collection, LEGACY OF A SHIP MODEL: HMS PRINCESS ROYAL, 1773.  Rob basically took the model apart and put it back together again, while recording his work in meticulous detail in words and film.  The book was previewed at the NRG Conference in Annapolis with great success.  It is now for sale.

Released in Spring of 2009 is Justin Camarada's WATERLINE DIORAMAS, A Modelers Art Form.

SALE - Reduced from $70 to $55.

This is a work on planning, designing and building model ship dioramas. Justin is a well known author of articles for various ship modeling magazines and journals as well as a gifted craftsman.

This book has received rave reviews from American and British modeling magazines, and if you ever want to learn how to place a model in a sea setting, you will want a copy. It is being called the BEST book on ship dioramas ever published.

We had a lot of fun putting this book together, and we know you are going to learn from Justin's work. There is a special color section showing the dioramas of some of the world's best ship model artists and craftsmen including McNarry, Reed, Hitchcock, McCaffery and others. See the order page for sale pricing and details.

We are glad to announce that Volume I, revised, second edition of THE FULLY FRAMED MODEL, HMN SWAN CLASS SLOOPS  1767-1780 is into its fourth printing.

There is more information in our SWAN section and on the ordering page.

The revised edition of Volume II of The Fully Framed Model, HMN SWAN CLASS SLOOPS 1767-1780 by David Antscherl is also available.. David has upgraded some of his drawings in this edition. The book sells for $70.

We have added a new section to our web site devoted to the "Swan Series."  We have put David's revisions for both Volumes I and II with ways to download revised pages for both books for those of you who have first edition copies. That way your copy will be up to date.

Our first book, published under the SeaWatchBooks banner, is by Rob Napier. The book was released in November 2008. Rob is a professional ship modeler and is in constant demand to maintain and recondition major museum and private ship model collections. He is considered a world expert in his field.

The title of his work is THE RECODITIONING OF A SHIP MODEL, VALKENISSE, 1717. It will take you through his work on a Dutch East Indiaman model built in 1717. The work on this model was commissioned by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

We believe this is the first book dedicated to the analysis, methodology, and actual practice of reconditioning and rebuilding of an existing model. The result is a beautiful and accurate model that can be viewed and studied once again. The book will be printed in full color. We are sure that every modeler will want to know how Rob tackled and completed his task.

Ships in Scale and Model Boats (England) have called Rob's book a "major work" that will still be relevant 100 years from now. VALKENISSE also just received an incredible full page review in the June edition of Wooden Boat by Tom Jackson, the magazine's senior editor. See our titles page.