There are very few books about modellers and model engineers. Those
that are available tend to feature individuals that are famous for
something else but happen to be interested in modelling. This book
is different because it reviews the story of the modeller and his
models. Ough is considered by many to be the greatest modeller of
the Twentieth Century. This is a very interesting story and includes
a selection of the finest drawings and photographs, much recommended.
NAME: The Life and Ship Models of Norman Ough FILE: R2398 AUTHOR: Alistair Roach PUBLISHER: Pen & Sword, Seaforth BINDING: hard back PAGES: 168 PRICE: £25.00 GENRE: Non Fiction SUBJECT: Models, model-making, model engineering, research, technical drawing, ship models, warships, battleships, submarines, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, RN Service Boats, frigates, minesweepers, plans, drawings, model collections, model competitions ISBN: 9781-4738-7947-8 IMAGE: B2398.jpg BUYNOW: http://tinyurl.com/jj9kd2l LINKS: Current Discount Offers http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/sale DESCRIPTION: There are very few books about modellers and model engineers. Those that are available tend to feature individuals that are famous for something else but happen to be interested in modelling. This book is different because it reviews the story of the modeller and his models. Ough is considered by many to be the greatest modeller of the Twentieth Century. This is a very interesting story and includes a selection of the finest drawings and photographs, much recommended. Modelling is frequently an anonymous activity. There have been a number of accomplished modellers who are public figures because of some other skill, attribute or activity. This may be the result of much misunderstanding of the range of activities that result in the completion of models of ships, aircraft, vehicles, trains and buildings. Many children build models and the line between toy and detailed facsimile can be fine. However, children learn so much from building models. They learn skills of patience, dexterity, attention to detail and observation. Many of these young modellers will produce models of a quality that should be exhibited and entered into competitions. Sadly very few fine models are exhibited or competed. Within modelling clubs, there is competition and exhibition, but the results are rarely seen outside the modeller's home or the model club. A very small number of young modellers grow their hobby into a life work and a method of income generation. Those who do are still usually anonymous. Architectural models are a very important part of the marketing of new developments and refurbishment or restoration of important buildings. Many thousands of models in this category are constructed every year around the world, but very rarely do they include a credit to the builder. Commercial models of aircraft, ships, and vehicles are constructed in very large numbers. They also play an important marketing role because the real object is too large to conveniently display in offices and at public conferences and exhibitions. As with architectural models, the builder, or team of builders, are very rarely credited for their very detailed and accurate work. For hundreds of years, ship models have been made for shipbuilding yards. Again, they are important marketing aids and will also be used as a reference during construction of the full-size vessel. The models are often presented to the customer and exhibited in marine offices and military bases. The detail and accuracy of the model is of prime importance and can occupy many hours of highly skilled work. Norman Ough was commissioned by Earl Mountbatten to model all of the ships on which the Earl had served. Although many of Ough's models were built for static display, he was retained by film production companies to build large working models for special effects. The author, himself an accomplished modeller, has made a good job of presenting the life and achievements of Norman Ough. The detailed and readable text flows around a very fine selection of images and the total information is extensive. Photographs are of good quality and there are some excellent pin-sharp full colour photographs. The drawings are excellent and include some highly detailed technical drawings. The publisher has worked hard to produce a book that can be offered at an affordable price, inevitably resulting in small font sizes and compressed illustrations. It would have been nice for the book to be published in a large format, but this would have increased the cover price three fold and reduced the number of readers who could stretch to the price, so the actual size is a very small and acceptable price to pay for making it available to a large readership.