Introduction

When it comes to reference titles aimed specifically at the modeller Kagero must rank among the top tiers of the genre. The titles in this series from Kagero specifically look at enabling the modeller to super detail a purchased model or for that matter to build a model from scratch. This title looks at the Japanese Destroyer Suzutsuki 1945.

Review

This offering from Kagero is authored by Mariusz Motyka. The offering is a soft backed book with 74 pages between the covers. The card for the cover has a very glossy finish and is of a reasonable thickness to protect the pages within. The paper inside is very smooth and a nice semi matte finish. This text in this book is in English only and covers the first four pages. The text provided covers the history in a very short manner that I found acceptable of a title aimed at the modeller for accuracy purposes rather than background information. The limited text also looks at specific areas of the ship covering the hull, super structure and weapons before finishing with a brief history of its service. The text is well written and reading the data provided gave me an acceptable background to the ship.

The book being listed as 3D does not mean you need to wear a pair of glasses with red and blue lenses to look at the images, it does mean the images are displayed at angles other than the normal front and sides. With that said the book begins with views of the sides and top of the vessel in sections that has allowed a very good level of detail to be covered and for this detail to be replicated or checked against a model you may have.

The book then moves onto the drawn images that give the 3D titles their name, the 3D drawings. These drawings are very well replicated and show various aspects in great detail. The captions are what I would describe as short and to the point but sufficient for the purpose. The drawings here also take parts of the ship such as weapons systems and look closely at the details on them. I was especially pleased to see the motor launch covered in detail and the weapons systems on this vessel are exceptionally well covered in this title; I am not a model ship modeller usually but I find myself being drawn in by these 3D titles from Kagero..

Also included with this title is a fold out sheet that displays the vessel from both sides, top, front and rear in 1/200th scale that will enable those with the needed skills to tackle a scratch build of the boat. On the rear side are specific aspects of the vessel in very nice scale drawings also in 1/200th scale. the head on view showing the girth of the vessel along its length and that correlates to a side view of the vessel makes me believe that even I could build a reasonable hull to an accurate level with this title.

Conclusion

Another excellent title joining the 3D range of titles covering ships generally and in this case the Suzutsuki specifically. The data will enable those modellers with the required skills to build a very accurate model of the Suzutsuki destroyer in any number of scales if they alter the provided drawings. If you need reference for this vessel or indeed wish to scratch the vessel this is the book to seek out for the task.