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The book describes the whole process of making miniature model ships. It comprises of chapters on: Tools and accessories, Materials, Research, Methods and Cases. The last chapter provides brief constructional details of 50'=1 models, which are: Stirling Castle, Queen Elizabeth, Golden Hind, Cutty Sark, Anglia and Cleopatra, Caronia, 12-gun brig, H.M.S. Prince, Thorina, 40-gun frigate, H.M.Y. Blue bottle, Lady Daphne, H.M.Y. Portsmouth and H.M.Y. Fubbs. Photographs of these models appear throughout the book.

If you were to ask people at rnadom in the street to name an important ship the chances are they'd say Titanic QE2 Victory Cutty Sark or even Great Britain. The liklihood of anyone saying Charlotte Dundas is pretty unlikely but should not be so.

An historical account is given of the development of iron and steel hulls from the iron hulls of the narrow boats built by Wilkinson from 1787 in rivited plates to the modern large light steel prefabricated sections welded together with longitudinal and transverse framing. Special mention is made of hull strengthening techniques the construction of Brunel's ships The Great Britain and the Great Eastern Scott Russell's longitudinal strengthening system for the Annette composite hulls with wood planking over an iron frame as used in the Cutty Sark steel hulls design improvements for hull strength and special application ships.

Covering historic ships of the world, the author describes each vessel as she was in her prime, relates the ship historically to her time and to other ship designs, tells how she came to be preserved, and in what port she now has her final anchorage. The history of each ship, and how she looks today, is illustrated with more than 120 photographs throughout.