German Naval Camouflage: Vol 1: 1939-1941 Hardcover – March 15, 2013

This is an absolute must have for the modeler or the miniature wargamer looking to get their ships painted accurately or anyone interested in this subject. There are many drawings in color that are invaluble to get a historical representation for your models and includes all of the major warships as well as a wide verity of smaller ones. This work (and the companion second volume) fill in many of the gaps in knowledge for anyone who has tried to research this subject. The author is also careful to indicate when he is uncertain and does not claim that everything is to be taken as final fact, an honesty that lends even more credence to the work as a whole. If you are at all serious about getting this stuff as right as you can get it, buy it and the second volume as well. (Same review for the second volume.)

This is the most complete coverage of the subject of German naval camouflage that I have seen. The two volumes together cover every known scheme of every German warship of WWII. This is an excellent reference for model builders.

This is the best publication on Kriegsmarine painting and camouflage patterns to date. It covers capital ships, cruisers (including the "pocket battleships") through 1941. It does not cover auxiliaries, the old battleships and cruisers held over from WWI, or smaller craft such as torpedo boats, escorts, S-boats, etc. Each ship is covered from commissioning thru the end of 1941, and extensively illustrated with color plan and profile views of each scheme worn. The profiles are supplemented by black and white (and some color) photos. There is extensive coverage of aerial recognition markings for turret tops and decks, coats-of-arms, and battle honors. An appendix covers painting and markings of embarked aircraft. The authors discuss their methods of photo interpretation, and explain ambiguities where necessary. Highly reccomended if you are a ship modeler, or just interested in Kriegsmarine ships. I hope the authors will be able to continue this series.

I’m a modeler and bought this book to be able to paint my models accurately. Great reference source!

These books are outstanding color references for a complex subject. I have both volumes and after 1 German model ship, I've already referenced them numerous times. Very informative, but my only complaint is I wish there were more reference photos. Highly recommend this to those who are interested in this subject.

THIS is a book whose time has come! Well-done, great images, and some very rare shots...for example the higher shot of the mighty Bismarck in its last days with the proof of one of the arguments of its paint scheme. If you are a detail-person, and can come to grips with this far-ranging compilation of just how many/ and how differently the Germans used the paint-brush on the small fleet she wielded ! A good combination of written information you can use, and the images... good stuff. Volume 2 is on my want-list! WmRD

excellent book on a subject that until its publication was filled with many guesses. my only draw back on the book is that the profiles altho excellent are to small making the distinction between the various grays difficult.

Detailed color drawings give a complete catalog of color schemes carried by Kriegsmarine battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers and destroyers in the first half of the 2nd World War. Each major ship is followed through each successive change in scheme, but I think only a sample, albeit a generous one, of destroyer schemes is given. Auxiliaries, torpedo boats and other light craft are not covered. For a modeller looking for details of the paint scheme of a given ship on a given date, this is a priceless resource. I can hardly wait for volume 2!

The information and photos and drawings will be a major help in modelling these ships, plus the history lesson is really interesting. Why did Naval leaders and Political leaders make the decisions they did? Very informative.

Dieses Werk ist für alle an der Kriegsmarine Interessierten empfehlenswert.Allerdings richtet es sich schwerpunktmäßig wohl eher an den Modellbauer, welcher hier nützliche Hinweise und Ergänzungen findet.Im Wesentlichen bezieht sich die Autoren auf zeitgenössische Bildquellen sowie auf recht bekannte Literaturquellen (Koop / Schmolke, Jung/Abendroth/Kelling).Aus diesen Quellen erarbeitet das Team die verschiedenen gezeigten Schemata.Nach einer kurzen erläuternden Einleitung bezüglich der Thematik Tarnschemata, Farben und ihrer Wirkung sowie deren Umsetzung am Modell wird auf die einzelnen Klassen und Schiffe eingegangen.Begonnen wird mit den Schlachtschiffen der Bismarck-Klasse, fortgesetzt über die Scharnhorst-Klasse, die Panzerschiffe, schweren Kreuzer, leichten Kreuzer bis hin zu den Zerstörern.Jeder Abschnitt zu der entsprechenden Einheit beginnt mit einem kurzen einleitenden Text gefolgt von den verschiedenen Illustrationen zur Darstellung der jeweiligen Schemata. Diese Darstellungen werden mit kurzen Texten ergänzt und erläutert. Wo die Darstellung auf einer fundierten Annahme basiert wird dies löblicherweise auch im Text kenntlich gemacht um so eventuell auftretenden Problemen zuvorzukommen.Auch findet man so manches Foto, welches nicht unbedingt so bekannt ist.Leider fehlen in der Aufstellung die damals noch aktiven Linienschiffe.Es werden nicht nur die verschiedenen Anstriche erfasst und dargstellt, auch verschiedene Rüstzustände der betreffenden Einheiten werden mit umgesetzt und berücksichtigt. Grade bei älteren Einheiten umfasst dies zum Beispiel auch die Einsätze während des spanischen Bürgerkrieges.auf die Heraldik der Einheiten wird ebenfalls noch ausführlich eingegangen.Von den Bugwappen, über Ehrentafeln, Turm- & Batterienamen bis hin zur Heckzier.Alles in allem ist dieses Werk in meinen Augen für jeden Interessierten eine gute Ergänzung der Bibliothek.Für Neueinsteiger zu dieser Thematik ist dieses Buch nicht unbedingt zu empfehlen, grade aufgrund des Preises.Womit auch der Wermutstropfen dieses Buches erwähnt sei.Eben jener Preis.Ob das Buch die ~60€ letztendlich wert ist, muss jeder für sich entschieden.Mir war es das Geld allerdings wert.