Military Model Scene

Title: The Destroyer USS Kidd
Author: Stefan Draminski
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-2741-8

A new addition to the Anatomy of a Ship series from Osprey. A large, 336-page hard-cover book covering this particular example of the classic Fletcher Class destroyer of WW2.
I am sitting here to write a review and wondering quite how to start, and the one word that is in my head is Wow! The book is split across 3 main sections and with the drawings in section 3 there are 8 sub-sections.. Section 1 is mainly text, though still with plenty of images spread within it, and this is the text section which follows the introduction with a detailed description of every element of the ship, including the many changes that took place over the course of her service life. It also includes a history of this particular destroyer, presented in a chronological sequence of key events. This first element of the book occupies the first 47 pages, before we get to the major elements of sections 2 and 3, which hold some 600 scale drawings and 400 full colour 3D views. A mix of line drawings and the 3D colour artwork. The scales used are clearly given where appropriate and they vary accordingly. Plans of the full ship are in 1/250 but details of parts such as searchlights, weapons etc are in larger scales, so we get the best detail we could want, fitted to the page. The marvellous colour views are invaluable for modellers. Section 2 gives as the Primary Views, showing the whole ship, and presented in a series that show it as it changed at different times in its' career.
Speaking primarily as a modeller, this is a real gem, with such great references if you are building the 1/350 Tamiya Fletcher Class kit, or it you want to take on the challenge of building a large scale model for fitting remote control to sail it on your local boating lake. While I well remember the old 3D cutaway plans of equipment that we saw in publications prior to the 1980s but the development of computers have changed what is possible out of all recognition these days, and the work displayed in here, and presented so well, is simply fantastic. There has clearly been a huge amount of work for the author to create all these detailed drawings, and assembled into this new book so well. If all this wasn't enough, I should also point out the the USS Kidd is preserved as a museum ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she has gradually been restored to her external appearance and equipment fit as she was in late 1945. Work on the interior is ongoing apparently. For me, the book also encourages me to want to make the trip to the USA to visit the USS Kidd for myself, armed with my cameras. A marvellous new book all round, for modellers, veterans and anyone with an interest in naval history.
Thanks to Osprey for the review sample.

Robin