"This book reveals how the 1:1200 and its 1:250 metric equivalent came to be regarded as an international standard for miniature ships. It also charts the commercial rise and fall of companies, and the advancing technology that produces ever more detailed and accurate replicas. The author - himself a lifetime collector and builder of models - looks at the products of each manufacturer, past and present, rating their quality and explaining why some are regarded as more collectible than others." "But the book deals with more than off-the-shelf models, covering subsidiary issues like painting, modifying and diorama settings, and is illustrated throughout with many of the finest examples of the genre. The combination of background information with the visual presentation makes this book irresistible to any collector or enthusiast."--book jacket.