I am not a modeler. But I appreciate a good model, particularly when the maker goes beyond the scope of a kit and adds unique touches of his or her own design -- a stormy seascape with waves breaking over the bow, a little weathering or battle damage, or some other historical detail that wasn't part of the original package.

In fact, I have spent many hours over the years enjoying the models on display at BlueJacket Shipcrafters, a highly regarded modeling store in Searsport, Maine. Some of the models on display there were truly remarkable, masterpieces of the craft.

With that in mind, I opted to review a book from Seaforth's (an imprint of Pen & Sword) ShipCraft series of modeling books. The title, British Sloops & Frigates of the Second World War, makes the subject matter pretty obvious.

Speaking as a non-modeler, the book is very interesting. The text provides a concise but thorough history of the types of ships in question, their development and variations, as well as their uses and tactics in the war. There are plenty of historical photos, too, which are interesting all on their own but also provide modelers with visual reference points.

The book also includes an exhaustive list of kits available for these types of ships, a discussion of camouflage patterns, a collection of ship's plans (shown in overhead and profile views) and a showcase of spectacular models that have been adapted from existing kits or made from scratch.

Obviously, the target audience for this book (and others in the series) is the serious modelmaker. But as a naval enthusiast, I also enjoyed reading the information provided -- and the showcase, with several closeup views of each model, is simply astonishing to see.