This book presents a unique selection of the most rare and collectible toy cars made in Japan and Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s. Three particular groups of toys are covered: the magnificent large-scale tinplate cars made for the American market; the smaller but equally sought-after Japanese diecasts by Model Pet, Micro Pet, and Cherryca Phenix; and plastic friction-drive cars made in Hong Kong. Some of the toys pictured are so scarce that they are believed to be among a mere handful that survive in mint condition with their original boxes. This book provides many fascinating new insights to the history of the companies that made and distributed the toys, using long-forgotten trade journals, rare catalogs, and interview with people who worked in the toy business at that time.

Menhaden steamers were double framed, heavily built offshore fishing boats in use during much of the 20th century. As the name implies, they were used to catch menhaden, a member of the herring family used for bait, oil, and fertilizer. Powered by diesel or steam hundreds of these boats fished the waters of the eastern United States, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. It was a huge industry employing thousands of people working. During the World Wars many menhaden steamers were pressed into service for the U.S. Navy, searching for submarines among other duties. Today these boats are gone, the plants mostly closed or torn down, and the men retired, but this new book, by boat modeler Steve Rogers, captures the memory of the boat, and allows the reader to recreate it in 1/2-inch scale, resulting in a 56-inch model. With clear drawings, plans, and step-by-step illustrated instructions, the reader moves from carving the hull master, through the authentic steps of construction, to the final painting and rigging of the boat. The result is a model that commemorates a bygone period of maritime history and reflects traditional craftmanship by the proud builder.

Enjoy these 40 expertly crafted micro-RPGs that are fast, fun, easy to learn, and come in a variety of genres-from space exploration to jungle dungeon crawlers-everything you need to pick up and play today. Get gaming fast with The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book including brand-new micro-RPGs created by experts across the gaming world. From space exploration to jungle dungeon crawlers this book has everything you need to pick up and play today. With these quick-start games, you can create your own adventures, alone or with friends, without any prep, and with minimal set up and pieces. Whether you're new to RPGs or working towards your level 20 mage, this collection is a great way to try out different games and systems, and test your roleplay skills on different character types and situations.

A beautiful little guide to one of life's simple pleasures - pebble spotting. Where science meets mindfulness. Learn to appreciate their beauty, discover the amazing journey that brought them to you, search for the rare ones. Leave no stone unturned. Turn a day on the beach or a seaside holiday stroll into a treasure hunt with this lovely little guide to identifying pebbles. Pebble spotting is one of life's simple joys. There's nothing quite like searching the rocks on a beach until that special one catches your eye - a perfect shape, a gorgeous colour, an intriguing pattern. But what is it? Use this beautifully illustrated little guide to find out, and to discover your pebble's fascinating life story and secrets. It could be even more special than you thought... Geologist and passionate pebble spotter Clive Mitchell has created a charming and wonderfully browsable book that is a perfect companion to a day out or holiday, or an idle moment at home. This book contains entries on 40 different types of pebble, complete with detailed facts about the composite rock's structure and where to find them, with examples including: Flint Feldspar veins Spotted slates Serpentinite Granite ovoids The rare rhomb porphyry - the holy grail of pebble hunting The book includes a space to ruminate on your own findings, taking note of the treasures that you pick up along the way and discovering the secrets of the stones beneath your feet. The Pebble Spotter's Guide is the perfect introduction to everything you didn't know there was to know about the mindful pleasure of pebble spotting and the wonder of pebbles. Simply sit on a beach or next to a stream for 10 minutes and find amazing treasures at your feet; there is much to discover.

Still the most popular subject for dioramas at any military modelling show, WWII gives the modeller the opportunity to try out his repertoire from burnt out buildings to weathered machines and men. This book explores the many facets of the subject and shows how composition is all.

Acclaimed modeler Chris Mrosko explains how to build dioramas that showcase models and create dramatic scenes, as well as offering expert modeling tips. Focusing on a step-by-step, how-to approach, modelers will learn the fundamentals of construction and design, airbrushing and finishing tips, how to cast pieces out of resin, and more.

Some years ago the author, Jim Forrest, a professional engineer and model engineer of many years' experience, needed a purpose-built and relatively inexpensive workshop for his hobby. After discussing this need with Peter Jennings, a professional architect familiar with system build construction, a three-metre wide design was developed which proved to be very easy to build and easily the match for far more expensive types of building. This book was written as a complete work on the construction methods used. It not only contains the details required to build the floor assembly, walls and roof, but also covers all of the peripheral areas including layout, planning regulations, tools, materials, fitting out, security and insurance. The design is easily adaptable and most variants are covered including several floor types, lean-to construction etc., and illustrative drawings are used extensively to show precisely how the building is detailed.

Everything you need to know about making beaded jewelry. There's nothing quite like having the perfect piece of jewelry to complete an outfit. Now, imagine what it would feel like if you had the skills to create your own (because, let's face it, everyone loves jewelry)! Beaded Jewelry Made Easy shows you exactly what tools and materials are easy and fun to work with, and how you can hone your jewelry making skills to create beautiful, frustration-free accessories in your spare time. This beginner's guide provides a comprehensive explanation of tools, materials, basic techniques, and definitions of commonly used jewelry making terms along with more than forty design ideas that are sure to inspire you to keep your bead bins full and pliers close at hand. Step-by-step instructions paired with full-color photographs show you how to create unique designs that will draw the attention of friends and strangers alike, including: Simple drop earrings Multi-strand necklaces Memory wire bracelets And so much more Start making beautifully beaded jewelry today with Beaded Jewelry Made Easy.

Beginning scale modelers need a basic set of skills that they can build on as they continue through the hobby. Essential Skills for Scale Modelers, written by FineScale Modeler's Aaron Skinner, lays the foundation needed to build, paint, weather, and display all types of models. This technique-driven how-to book contains a variety of projects that allow modelers to put their new found skills to use.

Mice make wonderful carving subjects. Their high-speed antics and busy, scampering ways always attract attention and are the stuff of countless stories. The carving project presented here features an industrious mouse who, having gathered up a plump strawberry for dinner, has paused to enjoy the cooling shade of a strawberry leaf before heading home. The mouse, strawberry, and strawberry leaf are carved separately from unseasoned (or green) white pine. Over 230 color photographs and clear, concise instructions guide the reader through each and every step, making the process both enjoyable and rewarding. Techniques for soldering brass, placing glass eyes, and applying color stains to the finished mouse accompany the wood carving instructions. Twenty-one patterns and a color gallery of additional storybook mice caught in the midst of their busy lives are provided to fire the imagination. Carvers with basic skills will enjoy the challenges and advanced carvers will find David's detail work fascinating.

Join Stuart Hillard as he expands his expertise from quilt-making to bag-making. Not just a sewing book, Bags for Life teaches you the diversity of bags that you can create once you have learnt the basics. With projects for all levels of crafter, you can work your way up from the simpler tote bag to various, more complicated, projects - such as a toiletry bag or overnight bag With 21 stylish projects for every occasion Stuart provides achievable patterns, fast makes for all abilities and professional looking results. Delving into the anatomy of the bag, take a visual tour of the various parts of different bags, before moving onto the specific details of pockets, zips, piping, binding, straps and handles and even metalwork. Divided into 5 chapters, there is much to choose from - whether you want to make re-usable shopping bags or a crafters bag that holds your yarn, there is something for every crafter out there. Chapters include: A Trip to the Market: trolley bags to shop and go; simple drawstring produce bags; expanding market tote; and a wallet. A Day at the Beach: Convertible tote 'n' towel; splash proof sling and book bag; and multi-purpose hobo perfect for carrying food, blankets and even baby essentials. A Picnic by the Lake: Picnic bag with insulated interior; bottle carrier; and drawstring games and play mat. A Meeting in the City: The ultimate workbag with room for a laptop or tables; the overnight attache; and a don't shoot the messenger bag, an everyday essential. A Weekend in the Country: The ultimate weekend bag with plenty of pockets; an absolute essentials roll-up pouch; and a multi-pocketed zippered toiletry bag. A Great Afternoon In (for every crafter!): Knitting bag to store your current project in style; a sewing machine bag; a project pouch; and a drawstring project bag. With 2 pattern sheets, step-by-step illustrations and lifestyle photography, there really is nothing stopping you from creating a whole host of homemade bags in a fun and sustainable way.

Menhaden steamers were double framed, heavily built offshore fishing boats in use during much of the 20th century. As the name implies, they were used to catch menhaden, a member of the herring family used for bait, oil, and fertilizer. Powered by diesel or steam hundreds of these boats fished the waters of the eastern United States, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. It was a huge industry employing thousands of people working. During the World Wars many menhaden steamers were pressed into service for the U.S. Navy, searching for submarines among other duties. Today these boats are gone, the plants mostly closed or torn down, and the men retired, but this new book, by boat modeler Steve Rogers, captures the memory of the boat, and allows the reader to recreate it in 1/2-inch scale, resulting in a 56-inch model. With clear drawings, plans, and step-by-step illustrated instructions, the reader moves from carving the hull master, through the authentic steps of construction, to the final painting and rigging of the boat. The result is a model that commemorates a bygone period of maritime history and reflects traditional craftmanship by the proud builder.

Although many modelers can master the basic techniques of construction, it is with the painting and finishing of their kits that many begin to struggle. It is this skill that gives the model its distinctive look and feel and separates the good model form the truly great one. This title will present a detailed, step-by-step approach to addressing the difficulties involved in creating realistic, colorful finishes to armor and aviation models using a variety of different media and techniques. The book swill be aimed at both the beginner and the intermediate modeler looking to improve their skills and, through clear text and photography will give a chapter-by chapter guide to the subject. Each stage will deal with a particular element of the painting and finishing process, whether it be creating camouflage schemes or dealing with markings and decals, to build into a comprehensive study of the subject. Relevant tools and materials will be included in sidebars, whilst a Gallery feature will highlight the range of color schemes and finishes available throughout the world of military and aviation modeling.

Here is the most comprehensive collection of toy and model buses ever presented in one book. Experience the evolution of bus transportation as you explore a worldwide showcase of buses from the 1920s to the present. This book provides a unique resource for discovering an extensive variety of buses and over 150 toy companies who made them. These models feature coaches of most major manufacturers of buses; American, European and Asian coaches are shown in the actual liveries (trim) of scores of bus companies. Also featured are school buses, trolley buses and others. With over 500 color photographs of over 1100 buses, here is the missing link in the transportation toy library, the book that bus lovers have been waiting for!

Staying at home doesn't mean that you have be stuck in front of the TV. This is the ultimate companion to help you beat boredom and to embrace your time indoors. Organized by mood, this book is packed with ideas on how to energize yourself, find your purpose, relax and reflect, get creative and connect with the world around you. Whether it's for a rainy day or a weekend indoors, there are over 80 ideas to keep busy and to challenge your mind. Staying at home can be a challenge and this clever book will offer ways to keep you happy and healthy, from putting together a homemade exercise routine using everyday household items to creating your own home silent disco as well as ideas to help you discover a new hobby, such as learning a language or upcycling furniture. There are also tasks to keep you feeling engaged and proactive, with tips on lowering your plastic pollution and ways you can volunteer from the comfort of your home, as well as practical ways to help you stay connected with nature, from making your own bird feeder to star gazing from your window, and creative activities to help reduce stress and worry, such as journaling, colouring and crafting. Staying in is the new going out, and it's so much more fun when you have ideas to keep you busy and entertained. These simple activities are full of tips and tricks to make your time at home as enjoyable as possible. You'll never wonder what you can do with your spare time ever again!

Make: High-Power Rockets is for all the science geeks who look at the moon and try to figure out where Neil Armstrong walked, watch in awe as rockets lift off, and want to fly their own model rockets. Starting with an overview of mid- and high-power rocketry, readers will start out making rockets with F and G engines, and move on up to H engines.

Whether you intend to add flair to your office presentation or charm to your model train set, this book will give you professional insight into designing and producing architectural models--with truly spectacular results. This book is a primer for the design, construction, and presentation of the three-dimensional model from conceptual drawings. Ideal for use inside or outside the classroom, the process begins with the construction of a cube and tetrahedron, and moves on to encompass manufactured modules, a commercial building, a single-story house, and a city rowhouse. Landscaping and presentation details are also provided to make your creations look their absolute best. Beautiful photography illustrates the step-by-step instructions for the beginning projects, as well as a colorful gallery of more complex designs that will excite and inspire you. These projects are a wonderful combination of the precision of model-building and the limitlessness of your creativity.

Connect with all of the joys in your life in The Book of Things That Make Me Happy, full of journal space and fun prompts to help you appreciate the good stuff.

In the spirit of Cornelius Ryan's epic A Bridge Too Far an American author retells the story of the ill-fated Allied operation code named "Operation Market Garden." The audacious, yet multi-faceted Allied plan in September 1944 included an airborne carpet of 35,000 troops, dropped along a sixty four mile corridor reinforced by the entire British 2nd Army with the intent of seizing the Ruhr Industrial Valley and end the war before Christmas! The author uniquely combines the best works available into a superbly researched and illustrated text, suffused with a masterful articulation of the entire Allied tragedy in combination with 20mm scale miniature portraiture. The "visual seams" of oral military history are filled through the author's interpreting of the battle in miniature. Horsa gliders are once again seen dropping "flaps down" onto the Spandau raked fields of Ginkel Heide. Captain Viktor Graebner's 9th SS Recce fatefully charges towards Colonel Frost's battalion holding the northern ramp of the Arnhem Bridge. Major Julian Cooks leads the heroic "Hail Mary Full of Grace" 82nd Airborne river assault across the Waal. Brigadier Lathbury's First Parachute Brigade conduct their final charge beyond St. Elizabeths Hospital and the Hartenstein Pocket steadfastly holds against enemy attempt to liquidate them.

A highly illustrated step-by-step guide to designing and making contemporary tableware in clay, featuring inspirational pieces by leading designers. The tableware we use is very important in our everyday lives, whether plates, bowls, mugs, cups or teapots. This stylishly illustrated guide helps budding and established ceramicists alike to create practical and attractive ranges, starting with design principles, working through appropriate construction techniques, and leading on to decoration and finishes. Leading designers Sue Pryke and Linda Bloomfield explain the importance of inspiration and consistency in design, providing step-by-step guides to the main making methods, which include hand building, pinching, coiling, throwing and slipcasting. They also offer advice on using various clay materials - such as recycled and reused clay bodies - and the combination of clay with other materials including wood, metal, textiles and synthetics. Tips are provided on glaze fit, dishwasher- and microwave-safe glazes, firing and finishing. Featuring beautiful photographs of the work of such prominent tableware makers as Sasha Wardell, James and Tilla Waters, Reiko Kaneko and Nico Conti, there are many sources of inspiration for those wishing to further their tableware ambitions.

Award-winning minaturist shares his panzer modeling approach in this lavishly illustrated volume featuring rare and unusual armor subjects of the Third Reich. Each 1/35 scale "exotic panzer" is presented in its own project essay, complete with in-progress photographs. Advanced assembly, conversion, and finishing techniques are covered, with emphasis on creating life-like dioramas and vignettes that incorporate figures and landscaping. This new title, unprecedented for its wealth of both informative and inspirational material, represents a fresh take on panzer modeling that will appeal to armor model enthusiasts of all experience levels.

Have you always wondered how to do a cryptic crossword? Solving one maybe easier than you think thanks to this book. The Telegraph's Puzzle Editor, Chris Lancaster, shows how to crack cryptic crosswords in an easy-to-follow way. This simple-to-use guide will help you solve any cryptic crossword, whether you're a complete beginner or a puzzler seeking to expand your knowledge. This book features: - Explanations of the common clue devices, including double definitions, hidden clues, charades, subtractions, homophones and container-and-contents clues - Work-throughs of practice crosswords - Tips for spotting each variety of clue - The top 10 solving tips you need to know - Advice on reference materials and taking your puzzling to the next level - Chris's top-12 solving tips - Appendices of useful lists including single-letter abbreviations and a glossary of common 'crosswordese' Whether you're a novice or an inveterate puzzle lover, this is the perfect crossword solving guide for all.

Promotional cars and trucks are miniature vehicles used by car and truck dealerships and manufacturers to promote the sale of their vehicles. Each example was produced for one year, then discontinued when the new models came out. For this reason, and their appeal to the car lover in general, promotionals have a popularity enjoyed by comparatively few collectibles. This new book presents a complete list of promotional cars and trucks, including manufacturer and current value, in a model-by-model chart. The charts are heavily illustrated with over 500 beautiful color photos, showing the full range of vehicles available. This comprehensive book will appeal to promotional vehicle collectors, toy collectors, and automobile and truck buffs alike!

Love Space? Love LEGO? If the answer is yes, you'll love this book! 'Brick by Brick Space' will teach you how to build amazing space projects, giving step by step instructions - simple and easy. And all you need for it to work are LEGO bricks! If you want to bring to make amazing space craft, our planets, the galaxy and more, this book will help you do it - and all in the middle of your living room! Not only will you learn how to build amazing space projects; you'll also learn a bit more about them, through the information scattered throughout the book. This book teaches you how to make incredible space projects, and to understand them a bit better - a must-have for space lovers!