Steve Wiper of Classic Warships did it again!

  Warship Pictorial Number 19, Kriegsmarine Battleship Bismarck addresses,  after Titanic, one of the most recognizable ship names in history.
 
 For an admitted non-Deutsches Kriegsmarine enthusiast to get this pumped  up on a DKM book, it has to be something special. This book is.
 
 Here's a given: Bismarck has a "vibe" all out of proportion to its  historical significance, again, like Titanic. That said: From a naval  architect's point of view, the Bismarck class was rather  mediocre for its  day. For the reborn German Navy, it was the wrong ship at the wrong time,  an enormous misuse of talent and resources. The ship did not accomplish  anything relating to its primary mission, that of destroying and  disrupting trade. Bismarck's actual action career lasted a mere nine days  and resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 of Britain's and Germany's finest  sons.
 
 There are already a great gob of books which sing the  worthy-of-a-Wagnerian-operatic saga of the pride of Hitler's navy (and  sadly, so few on many other important ships, but that is another subject),  so why should you consider purchasing this tome?
 
 One. The on-board crew and detail photos are incredible in their clarity.  The pictures are of a live ship and its crew of real human beings, in its  prime, micro-slices of history. "They built cameras good in Germany, eh,  Heinie?" Get a quality magnifying glass and take your time with the  photos. This book is a time-travel experience!
 
 Two. ANY modeler considering doing Bismarck should purchase this book,  it's virtually ALL details.
 
 Three. The Thomas Schmid computer illustrations are magnificent in their  detail and quality.
 
 Four. A special treat awaits inside the inside back cover, THE DENSEST set  of specifications on everything from radar FU-numbers to dimensions to  ammunition stowage. There is also a DENSE, MINUTE-SPECIFIC two-page  condensed history. Good stuff!
 
 Five. It's a bargain! Less than 25 cents per page, a dime per photo or  illustration...you can not go wrong!
 
 Six. These books go away fast. Once the print run is gone, it's pretty  much extinct, "bookus unobtanium."
 
 Good 'nuff?
 
 As usual, Steve's published photos are delightfully crisp, reproduced on  quality paper.
 
 Piles and piles of juicy informational tidbits await the reader in Warship  Pictorial #19, Kriegsmarine Battleship Bismarck. This 72-page softbound  book represents excellent bargain for its $17.95 retail. (Review copy  courtesy of reviewer's chequebook)

For Scott Van Aken's Modeling Madness review of James Hood's novel,
 Adventure--Into The Neverland, go to:  http://users3.ev1.net/~bjmonkeyandcj/James_Hood.htm

January 2005

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