Japanese Heavy Cruiser Tone Book Review
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | March 2012 | Title | Japanese Heavy Cruiser Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Waldemar Goralski and Grzegorz Nowak | Publisher | Kagero |
| Published | 2012 | ISBN | 978-83-62878-07-9 |
| Format | 82 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $27.99 (approximate) |
Review
Kagero is a prolific publisher of great military historical references, especially in World War II military aviation. This latest release is one of their new 3D titles and I didn't know quite what to expect when I first saw this title. This is a distinctive monograph on the Imperial Japanese Navy's heavy cruiser Tone.
This title is number 13 in their naval coverage and I am really amazed at how detailed these digital models are that illustrate these titles. Coverage starts with the first 15 pages providing background and an operational summary of the Tone from her initial requirements in the early 1920s through her decommissioning after World War 2. The authors have packed much information and statistical tables with the vital statistics of this ship.
Next comes the 3D section and here is where I really get impressed. The artist has clearly spend time with some serious engineering drawings and period photos as there is now a very detailed three-dimensional model of this ship that is second only to the Tone herself in its level of detail. If digital modeling is going to be a new medium, Kagero has already set the bar very high indeed. No, you won't need glasses but the images are so vivid that they almost do pop out of the pages. The renderings start with a look at the ship from a variety of angles, and locations around her exposed decks. These pages of these images are very well done and any (plastic) modeler will be able to see up-close and in color what some of these kit parts are supposed to represent in those smaller scales.
Take a look at the two examples above illustrating the catapult support equipment and the embarked E-13A floatplane. The images are large and clear and are from the perspective of actually standing aboard the ship in those various locations. These illustrations span 65 pages and provide the reader (and modeler) with a reference that will be invaluable to understanding the layout of the Tone as well as replicating all of those details in your next model of the subject.
My sincere thanks to Kagero for this review sample!