The rigging of period ship models is arguably the most complex task that any modeller has to accomplish; the intricacies can be daunting and visual references limited. The author's first book, Rigging Period Ship Models, was a triumph of clarity for those wishing to decipher the complexites of square rig. This new book does the same for fore-and-aft rigs and describes and depicts the rigging of three typical 18th century vessels - an American schooner, an English cutter and a three-masted French lugger. The author has, after studying in detail numerous contemporary models in museums, drawn some 200 diagrams which show clearly how each separate item of rigging is fitted to the masts, yards and sails. Each drawing deals with only one particular aspect so allowing the reader to see it in isolation. Clear headings and concise captions add to the ease with which the book can be used. Whether a modelmaker needs to rig a whole ship or just requires information on one aspect, it is all here. The remarkable visual immediacy and clarity of this work will delight modelers and enthusiasts alike and no modeller of period ships will wish to be without it.
