30 Products

This comprehensive beginner’s guide explains how and where to measure the weather – from rainfall and air pressure to sunshine and humidity – using instruments as simple as rain gauges and barometers, as well as the more sophisticated automatic weather station, which can log and store observations wirelessly. There is advice on how to observe phenomena including the wind, visibility and clouds without instruments, how to interpret data meteorologically, and how to share results with meteorological organizations.

Uniforms were first sanctioned for officers in the Royal Navy in the 18th century, with the stripes on the cuff of captains' blue coats and lace adornment for admirals being the only insignia of rank. The uniform regulations of 1856 introduced a more complex system, with differences across rank and service distinguished by buttons, badges, epaulettes, cuff stripes, swords and styles of hat. This book catalogues all these variations with comprehensive illustrations and historical photographs of naval officers in uniform.

The Hawker Siddeley Group, makers of the Hurricane and Lancaster during the Second World War, absorbed other British manufacturers to become Europe's largest aviation company by 1960. This book examines the aircraft produced, including the Harrier and Nimrod, from this date up to nationalization in 1977, including collaborations with Airbus and McDonnell Douglas, and looks at the company's earlier history as well as tracing developments of their designs up to the present day.

This comprehensive guide to portrait painting begins with information on materials, painting and composition, followed by five chapters detailing the stages of painting a head from life, and finishes with self-portraits and portraiture. Illustrated with over 100 paintings, the author’s detailed advice draws on his personal experience and knowledge of art history, and includes practical tips and helpful suggestions on how to work with a sitter.

Alison Pocklington provides an expert, well-illustrated guide to basic handling, routine grooming, and more advanced practices and techniques for showing, eventing, dressage and hunting.

Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin, both taken from Germany to America after the First World War, were among the earliest animal movie stars and popularized German Shepherds internationally. The breed has since proved an excellent guard and scent-follower and is widely used as a working dog as well as kept as a pet. This comprehensive manual provides information on training, diet and exercise as well as guidance on showing, breeding and breed-specific ailments and diseases.

The alliance between Bristol Tramways' chassis-building operation and Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft (both part of the Tilling Group) began in the 1930s and produced a range of widely used buses, such as the innovative Lodekka. This illustrated history includes a review of models produced between 1936 and 1983 (when absorption into British Leyland brought production to an end) and includes details of chassis specifications, body styles and engines used.

The Severn Tunnel, opened in 1886, brought increased traffic to South Wales. Communications were further improved in the early 20th century with GWR's 'Badminton Line' providing a direct link to London. Telling the history of the line, including its upgrading for high-speed trains in the 1970s, this book explores the stations, junctions, signal boxes, tunnels and other features of the route as well as the duties of staff who have worked on the railway.

After an illustrated account of the development of sub-machine guns and their ammunition from the First World War to the present, the authors present a survey of weapons designed and used in 37 countries, arranged alphabetically from Argentina to Vietnam.

Anti-social behaviour in dogs can be the result of stress, health problems, a previously learned response or simply miscommunication or confusion of messages from its owner. This training manual sets out the many factors that may result in unwanted behaviour, demonstrates how to recognize when dogs are in a state of stress or confusion and outlines practical methods for correcting specific behaviours and training for obedience in general.

The challenge of botanical art is at once to create a painting that accurately reflects the appearance and colour of a plant, recording the correct number of petals, sexual parts and other features, while at the same time presenting a beautiful and artistically satisfying composition. This book places emphasis on meticulous observation through drawing to build the skills required and presents examples, exercises and colour studies of a variety of flowering plants and fruit.

Gouache is a forgiving medium for artists, and particularly useful for beginners. This guide shows how, although traditionally the medium of choice for illustrators, gouache has much to offer the fine artist. After chapters on composition and colour, there are numerous examples of both traditional and contemporary approaches to creating a still-life painting, with Scully’s own step-by-step demonstrations.

Beginning with Jack Ferry, who crossed the English Channel on a floating tricycle in 1883, and ending on a happy note with the remarkable Ann Green, who survived being hanged in Oxford in 1860 and even survived helpful bystanders’ attempts to finish her off, Foster’s collection of ‘oddities’ includes weird and wonderful people doing strange things, bizarre natural events (hedgehog living through a 40-degree washing machine cycle etc) and some spooky coincidences.

Described by Cook as 'the missing link of the Arts and Crafts Movement', Edward Prior (1852–1932) was an 'artist-builder' who worked in traditional and new materials and vernacular styles, often in a radical way, and who rejected the use of contractors and middlemen, engaging directly with craftsmen. This richly illustrated study is based primarily on research into Prior's surviving and demolished buildings and unbuilt projects to explore his design intentions, philosophy and architectural legacy.

Introduced in 1965, the Triumph 1300 was a good quality small saloon with modern Italian styling and innovative engineering. It was not until the Dolomite Sprint version of 1973 that the name by which the model would be remembered appeared and was subsequently applied to other cars in the range. This guide provides a model-by-model history, with technical specifications and more than 150 photographs, and includes an assessment of the Dolomite's predecessors and successors and its sporting record.

On 26 August 1914, as the British Expeditionary Force retreated in the aftermath of the Battle of Mons, the Second Corps, under Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, turned to fight the advancing German First Army. Though outnumbered three to one, they delivered such a crushing blow to the invaders that the BEF was able to continue its retreat unmolested. This meticulously researched book, supported by contemporary photographs and specially drawn maps, provides a gripping account of this dramatic engagement.

The nude has inspired artists for centuries, but capturing the beauty of form and the delicate colours of the figure in oils presents particular challenges. This book provides a historical study of the nude in painting, together with a wealth of practical advice. There are tips on working with a model, on lighting and on choosing a pose, and step-by-step examples to show the progress of many paintings. The author exhibits widely and her work is in collections throughout Europe.

Harris Mann's original design concept for the Austin Allegro was not what made it to the production line in 1973, and corporate problems, industrial unrest and poor quality control at British Leyland all contributed to the car earning a disastrous reputation. This book tells the story of how the Allegro was conceived and developed, until withdrawal in 1982, and reports on its resurgence in popularity in recent years as a cheap classic, with detailed advice on buying and restoring your own Allegro.

Although the British had adopted khaki uniforms by 1914, French troops still sported blue coats and red trousers at the outbreak of the First World War. By the time of the Second World War, all combatant nations issued battledress featuring camouflage patterning of some sort. This review of combat uniform design illustrates garments used across the world since 1940 and explains how the colours, patterns and other design features have been adapted to different climates, environments and operational requirements.

Electric cars were popular in America before Henry Ford's Model T revolutionized the industry, and there were even petrol-electric hybrids available as early as 1899. Today motor manufacturers are experimenting with a host of emissions-reducing technologies that explore every aspect of the car from its motive power to the construction and operation of every component. This book traces the history of green technology in the automotive industry and assesses and explains the latest developments.

The skill of growing fruit is to manage the shape and size of the tree or plant so that it can produce the best quality yield without becoming exhausted. Illustrated with colour photographs throughout, this gardener's guide provides tips on choosing the most appropriate fruits for your garden, instruction on how to train, support, prune and protect them, and detailed advice on individual fruits, from container-grown raspberries to apple, pear and plum trees.