Monday 7 October 2024

Digging Deeper


Now that is a lot of book!

Prompted by the need to really crack on with the ironclad models for DTPIW I spent a lot of time over the weekend poring through the pages of the above two tomes - and a very enjoyable experience is was as well!

I think I have the order of battle for both the Turks and the Royal Navy pretty much dialled in although the inevitable ‘project creep’ has manifested itself.

No surprise there then!

The action I am planning will feature sixteen vessels and I am allowing for building around twenty or so. These will all be masted but I have the building technique for these worked out so they will not be a problem and in fact, I can start building them now. 

The plans for the bespoke pieces from Warbases are close to being completed and will be with Martin Murray later this week. Allowing for a four to six week turnaround I should be working in the models properly from mid November. Assembling the hulls etc is really quick and easy to do - it is the masts that take the time. The aim is to have all the models built and ready for action by the end of the year. In the meantime I shall be honing the text and getting a few more pictures organised - all being well Q1 next year will see it being published.

Fingers crossed!

10 comments:

Robert (Bob) Cordery said...

David,

The Oscar Parkes book is one of the best books about British battleships that I ever bought. I only wish that it wasn’t quite so heavy!

All the best,

Bob

David Crook said...

Hello Bob,

It is a wonderful resource for sure - especially for the scratchbuilder! I wonder if there is a digital version available? That would be really handy - and a whole lighter to carry…. :-)

All the best,

DC

Steve J. said...

Parke's book does sound like a brilliant resource:).

joppy said...

Excellent references. The Conway "All The World Warships" trilogy (?) are also very helpful for foreign navies.

David Crook said...

Hi Steve J,

It most certainly is! The level of detail is really good but for all that it is actually quite readable - which is surprising given the technical content.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Joppy,

I have the three Conway titles along with Jane98, 05 and 14. I seem to recall a book you mentioned some time ago that would be useful but for the life of me I can’t recall what the title is!

All the best,

DC

joppy said...

Could it be this one ?. The Warships and Navies of the World, 1880 - by J.W.King (chief of the bureau of engineering U.S.Navy), my copy is a 1982 reprint by Conways.

David Crook said...

Hi Joppy,

That is the one! Last timeI checked it out the secondhand prices were ridiculous - this time though, a quick check through eBay and I hav found a copy for a much more reasonable £15!

Thanks for the reminder!

All the best,

DC

joppy said...

Pleased to be of service. My copy was £35 but that was in the old days of contacting booksellers by post on the offchance. Much more fun in my opinion.

David Crook said...

Hi Joppy,

I make a point of always dropping in on a bookseller if I pass one but these days they seem to be fewer and fewer. Buying online is fine but no substitute for the sheer enjoyment of tracking down a copy of a wanted title and investing in it!

My copy should be with me next week - really excited to see it!

Many thanks once again,

DC