Military Model Scene

Title: Landing Craft & Amphibians
Author: Ben Skipper
Publisher: Pen & Sword
ISBN: 978-1-39909-213-5

LandCraft 10 has perhaps the most fitting of titles, as author Ben Skipper has a close look at Landing Craft & Amphibians. A 64-page soft-cover book in the usual style for this series, so a great mix of both historical information and inspiration for modellers.
After a brief Introduction, this dives in to the Design & Development. moving on from the early Lighters, as used at Gallipoli, to more flat bottomed craft. starting with Allied craft, both large and small. It goes on to include those used by the Axis powers, including Germany, Italy and Japan. It moves on to deal with Amphibians, especially those vehicles designed to get cargo (men, machines and general cargo) from ship to shore, as well as tanks. This section carries on to include post-war equipment as well as WW2. Next are two smaller sections on Landing Craft Variants and In Detail. We move on to see examples of them In Service & In Action which feeds into 7 pages of artwork and captions on Camouflage & Markings. Page 43 through to the end of the book starts with a Modelling Showcase, featuring 4 particular builds, leading on into a more general guide to the many different kits and manufacturers who produce them in a wife mix of scales. All the sections are well illustrated throughout the book.
As a modeller for so many years, one of the things I like most is to see the actual background stories of the real thing behind the models we enjoy making and Ben does this in a neat package. I think it must have been difficult to get such a wide subject within the constraints of the series, so while there are some omissions there is still a lot in here to keep modellers and those interested in the history of Landing Craft in particular occupied for some time. Recommended without any hesitation.
Thanks to Pen & Sword for the review copy.

Robin