This health advice guide acknowledges that physical training is only part of getting in shape, advising on nutrition and lifestyle as well as demonstrating specific exercise routines to provide a complete programme for weight loss and fitness.

From starting the day with the aid of his Bed Launcher & Auto Dresser, to taking a stroll in Hover Wellies – handy for overcoming large puddles – Wallace has ingenious gadgets to ease him through a range of tasks. With descriptions of how they work, diagrams and photographs, the workings of 20 of his inventions are revealed here, including the Garden Exit System and Pronto Print device (patent pending). Age 9+

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The Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific, Tornado, was completed in 2008 and is the first steam locomotive built in Britain since 1960. This illustrated celebration of the achievement reveals how it was designed and constructed and is now run and maintained. Including a technical breakdown of the engine, the book was originally published in a larger format as the Tornado Owners’ Workshop Manual.

This concise guide explains the world of opera for those who want instant wisdom on the subject. Full of witty observations of plots, styles and composers, it covers the history of the genre, its most famous examples and explanations of the lingo. Off-mint.

Cricket can seem an impenetrable sport to novices, involving terminology like doosra, googly and silly mid-off. This brief, humorous guide helps to unravel its complexities and generate an appreciation of the game’s finer points.

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Whether renovating an old kitchen or installing a new one, many homeowners opt to cut costs by doing it themselves. Illustrated with step-by-step photographs throughout, this guide explains how to plan, budget for and design a kitchen, and safely dismantle an old one. Dedicated chapters cover cabinets, counters, splashbacks, floors, lighting and appliances, with the emphasis on affordable goods widely available from DIY stores.

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Modern calligraphy takes the structure and technique of traditional copperplate handwriting, with its regular curves and flourishes, and allows the artist to create more flexible and creative styles and letterforms. This introduction to the art explains the tools and techniques required and takes the novice through a series of exercises and practical projects from table decorations, menu cards and wedding stationery to decorative writing on paper, metal, glass, wood and other surfaces.

The San Diego-based Ryan company built the aircraft that Charles Lindbergh famously flew across the Atlantic in 1927, providing a clean airframe, optimized for long-range flight. In addition to a technical analysis of the original plane and a detailed exploration of a recent replica build project, this volume also recounts the triumphant flight and the pilot who became a national hero.

Zircon crystals found in Western Australia have been dated to 4.4 billion years ago, the oldest things found so far on Earth and remnants of the original formation of the planet. This highly illustrated manual explains the processes that have shaped our world from the Big Bang to the evolution of life-supporting conditions and the physics of our current environment. Hundreds of diagrams, illustrations and infographics explain the natural forces at work.

Written from a first person perspective and drawing on contemporary advertisements and photographs, this light-hearted study of the lifestyle of affluent Edwardian women offers insights into their complicated garments, their questionable, even dangerous, health and beauty regimes and their household management, shopping and entertainment habits.

After describing the instrument’s history and anatomy, two restoration experts introduce the tools and techniques of the violin repair shop. Their illustrated, step-by-step instructions guide violinists through maintenance routines at basic, intermediate and advanced level, from changing a string to re-gluing a whole plate.

The Cassini-Huygens mission was a remarkable 20-year journey to Saturn’s atmosphere, rings and moons. This illustrated Haynes manual explores the technology that made the space probe possible, as well as detailing plans for our future exploration of the outer solar system and beyond.

Developed from 1969, Skylab was launched in May 1973 and hosted three manned missions over the following year. With hundreds of diagrams and photographs, this analysis of the project gives a detailed breakdown of the design and construction of the space station as well as a report of the three periods of occupation, describing the challenges that the crews faced in repairing and maintaining Skylab and carrying out their research.

The Apollo 15 Commander David R Scott, who drove the Lunar Rover on the Moon, has written the foreword to this Haynes Owner’s Workshop Manual. The manual gives insights into the technology, history and development of NASA’s Lunar Roving Vehicle, with chapters on its structure, mobility, electrical and thermal control, navigation and communications, all illustrated with diagrams, cutaway views and photographs of the Rover on the Moon’s surface.

The Lotus 49 is a classic Formula One racing car, introduced in the 1967 season. Its Double Four Valve engine would become dominant in the sport and it was one of the first models to have aerodynamic wings. Jim Clark and Graham Hill were among the well-known F1 drivers who found success in the car. This illustrated manual tells its story and explores the engineering that went into its creation.

Beginning life as an ambulance conversion of a 1959 Cadillac Series 62, the 'Ectomobile' from Ghostbusters was one of the stars of the film. This tongue-in-cheek technical analysis also includes dissections of vehicles from the sequels and of some of the special spook-hunting gadgets.

A breakdown of the mechanicals of the car forms only a part of this celebration of one of the most famous models in automotive history. As well as the story of its success at Le Mans in the late 1920s and early 1930s, there are chapters exploring the experience of the drivers and mechanics of the period and an appraisal of owning, restoring and maintaining surviving examples today.

In common with all Haynes manuals, this illustrated, no-nonsense guide covers the history and science of barbequing. It offers advice on equipment selection and basic grilling techniques and also includes 100 recipes and a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect hog roast.

The Kübelwagen and the amphibious Schwimmwagen, the standard issue military utility vehicles used by the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS in the Second World War, were based on the Volkswagen, and originally designed by Ferdinand Porsche. This fully illustrated guide to their design, history, construction and operation includes detailed technical diagrams and contemporary photos.

From the design and construction of the first SE5s in 1916 to the maintenance of surviving examples today, this Owners’ Workshop Manual tells the story of the First World War ‘mount of aces’ designed by Henry Follard and built at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough. The manual is illustrated with nearly 300 design drawings and archive and new photographs.

The Rolls-Royce armoured car first saw action in the First World War in Gallipoli, on the Western Front and with Lawrence of Arabia in the north African deserts, and it ended its active service in Libya in 1941. As well as the history of the vehicle, this Owners’ Workshop Manual covers its design, construction, operation and maintenance, with diagrams, wartime photographs and new photographs of the Tank Museum’s surviving example.

When James Hunt drove an M23 to victory in the 1976 World Championship, the car was already a veteran of Formula 1, having been a championship winner for Emerson Fittipaldi. The racing history in this guide is accompanied by a technical breakdown of the car, including revisions and modifications over its long racing career, reminiscences of McLaren team members and drivers, and insights into owning and running examples today.

Challenging at Le Mans and other international endurance events in the early 1970s, the Ferrari 512 became one of the marque’s best-loved competition sports cars, despite never quite delivering on its promise in race wins. This guide provides a mechanical and design analysis, with detailed photographs and cut-away diagrams, as well as an account of the car’s racing years, personal views from drivers and engineers, and information about restored models today.

First manufactured at Hatfield Aerodrome in the 1940s, the Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner, and its successor, the Nimrod, saw decades of military action. This illustrated guide explores their construction and tells the story of their design, operation and active service.

The British Army’s main battle tank from 1966 to 1986, the Chieftain included revolutionary features in its design and was upgraded throughout its career. In this workshop manual, Dick Taylor, a former British Army Chieftain and Challenger tank commander, gives a ‘warts-and-all’ account of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of Britain’s heavyweight Cold War warrior, illustrated with diagrams and archive and new photographs.

This health advice guide acknowledges that physical training is only part of getting in shape, advising on nutrition and lifestyle as well as demonstrating specific exercise routines to provide a complete programme for weight loss and fitness.

Drawing on the author’s experience as a player and audio engineer, this manual explains how guitars work and how they can be kept in peak condition. Step-by-step instructions guide the guitarist through the process of stringing, adjusting and repairing acoustic instruments, as well as the installation of amplification. Thirteen case studies illustrate the features and maintenance of different varieties of guitar, with photographs showing both outer and inner details.

Exploring an ostensibly simple activity, this manual analyses every aspect of the sport from the mechanics of the running action and the body's energy systems to specific training programmes and exercise routines for sprinting, middle distance and endurance running.

The Royal Navy's first ironclad warship, the steam-powered HMS Warrior was a turning point in naval architecture and the most powerful vessel afloat in 1860. This analysis of the frigate employs many photographs of the restored ship to explore its design, its fitting out and the living conditions of its crew, as well as outlining Warrior's service history and describing its restoration in the 1970s.

Designed in the early 1930s, the Swordfish torpedo bomber was considered obsolete in 1939 but remained in service throughout the Second World War, proving itself versatile and durable. Focusing on the Royal Navy Historic Flight's preserved Swordfish Mark II, LS326, one of only two still flying, this guide explores the aircraft's construction and operation and tells the story of its design and active service.

The Douglas DC-3 Dakota revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and played a crucial role in the Second World War, transporting men and equipment in every major theatre. With technical diagrams, photographs and contributions from the pilot and engineer of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota, ZA947, the Haynes ‘Owners’ Workshop Manual’ gives an insight into owning, flying and maintaining this revolutionary aircraft.

All International Rescue's fantastical equipment is explored in this celebration of Gerry Anderson's puppet adventure series. With Haynes manual-style cutaway diagrams of the Thunderbirds themselves and the facilities of Tracy Island, there are also profiles of the characters and ancillary vehicles used, and a mission file of all the episodes in the series. Off-mint.

A technical rundown of Rocket forms only a part of this guide to the groundbreaking locomotive, presented in the Haynes workshop manual format. Further sections include the story of the Rainhill Trials and how the engine became the foundation of locomotive design thereafter, first-hand accounts of what it was like to operate and travel with Rocket, and an analysis of a series of working replicas that have been built since the 1880s, and what can be learned from them.

Practical, spacious and easy to maintain, the Austin FX4 was designed specifically for the London taxi market, establishing the classic form for a 'black cab' and becoming widely used well beyond the capital. This analysis includes details of the car's history and development, and examines its construction and mechanical systems, identifying different models and variations introduced over the years. There are also notes on buying, driving and maintaining classic vehicles.

The Short Empire flying boat was primarily intended to carry mail to the far corners of the British Empire but, with room for about 20 paying customers, it also pioneered international passenger aviation in the 1930s, flying regular routes to Egypt, South Africa, Australia and America. This Haynes Manual-style review of the aircraft examines its design and operation as well as the experiences of passengers and crew, and is illustrated with technical drawings, cutaway diagrams and archive photographs.

Drawing on Mirrorpix, the photographic archive of the Daily Mirror, Paul Joseph presents London and Londoners as they were between about 1900 and the 1970s. In nine chapters, these often informal and highly evocative black-and-white photographs explore various themes, from public buildings and spaces, through entertainment, youth culture and transport, to the drama of wartime, protest in peacetime and milestone events such as the 1908 Olympics and the 1951 Festival of Britain. Slightly off-mint.

Since the end of the Second World War, the cartoon gardener Mr Digwell has been dispensing horticultural advice to Daily Mirror readers, and he remains as popular as ever. This collection offers a comprehensive, month-by-month guide to a gardener’s tasks, from winter pruning through spring seed sowing and planting out to autumn lawn care. Clear, simple strip cartoons present up-to-date information on growing flowers, shrubs and vegetables in a reassuringly traditional manner.

The final phase of the Second World War began on 6 June 1944 but it had been years in the planning and preparation. This collection of archive reports, photographs and facsimile pages from the Daily Mirror captures the drama as it unfolded, from the growing political clamour for a Western front and the trial attack on Dieppe in 1943 to the preparation and execution of D-Day and the subsequent advance across Europe to Berlin.

How do the Techno Trousers work? How did Wallace rebuild Preston the Cyber Dog? All is revealed in this two-volumes-in-one manual, with descriptions of how each of Wallace and Gromit's fantastic inventions works, cutaway diagrams and photographs of the machines in action. There are details of 40 contraptions, from the Bed Launcher to Wallace's A35 van, plus cutaways of his house and Invention cellar. Age 9+