Review by Felix Bustelo

The Profile Morskie series of soft bound books are noted for their excellent and highly detailed plans and drawings. For this reason, they are popular with modelers around the world in spite of one major barrier: all of the text is in Polish.

The 15th volume in this series covers the IJN Maya. The 47-page volume dedicates 24 pages to a collection of superbly detailed plans in both 1/400 and 1/700 scale. There is a 1/400 scale fold out plan showing a starboard profile and overhead view of the Maya as she appeared 1944 (although the title states 1943). In 1944, the third 203mm turret from the bow was removed and the plans show her in this fit. On the back side of the fold out are similar views in 1/700 scale. The pages before and after the fold-out dissect each exposed section, deck and gun from bow to stern in astounding detail. Again, these detail plans are in both 1/400 and 1/700 scale, with some of the smaller items like anti-aircraft guns, in 1/100 scale to show greater detail. Major sections, like the bridge superstructure, are further broken down, providing details that are obstructed by other deck housings, gun placements and other fittings. Most of these supporting drawings provide a 360 degree as well as overhead and underneath view of these sections. Even the ship's boats and launches get this treatment! In total, there are more than 100 plan drawings.

The inside front cover contains full color profiles of the Maya as she appeared in 1933 and 1943. The back cover has a color profile and overhead view of the ship in 1944. The overhead view shows the unique linoleum covering that some of the decks had.

The language barrier notwithstanding, this is an excellent modeler's reference which will help you in superdetailing any model of the Warspite. The book is relatively inexpensive ($14 US at Research In Scale) and the plans make it worth every penny. My thanks to Research in Scale for this review copy.