Book Author(s)
Thomas J. Kowalski
Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
November 12, 2010
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$27.99

I am tempted to re-title this book "Albatros D.I - D.Va: Legendary Polish Fighter" because it really takes a more Eastern European perspective on this iconic family of aircraft. This is refreshing because too often books on WWI German aircraft present a Western Front perspective. The Eastern Front was a different theater with differing imperatives, challenges and solutions. Complicating the war effort was the polyglot force that made up the Austrian-Hungarian military forces, of which Poland was a part.

The book takes a narrative approach to the subject, being more about the stories than technical specifications while still including the latter. It covers all of the Albatros fighters including: D.1, D.II, D.III, D.III Oeffag, D.V, D.Va, Dr.II and W.4. But the emphasis really is on the most successful aircraft - the D.III (including the Oeffag built version) and the D.V. The chapter organization is as follows:

Book Author(s)
Mark Stille, Illustrated by Howard Gerrard
Review Author
Ken Williams
Published on
November 10, 2010
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$19.95

Contents

  • Origins of the campaign
  • Chronology
  • Opposing commanders
  • Opposing fleets
  • Opposing plans
  • The battle of Midway
  • The aftermath
  • Further reading
  • Index

Mark Stille has written a masterful work in this latest of Osprey’s offerings on the famous battle of Midway. The original book, now available in paperback, was written by Mark Healy. Published in 1994, the original was titled the same as Stille’s work. However, it cannot match this latest version in the areas of concise analysis and excellent illustrations.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
November 9, 2010
Company
Polar Lights
Scale
1/87
MSRP
$27.99

For fans of the “Psycho” movies that starred Anthony Hopkins as “Norman Bates”, this kit will bring back some fond or not so fond memories. This kit arrived just as my favorite time of year started, as I decorate for Halloween like no other holiday. I was also fortunate enough to have one of the movie channels recently run “Psycho”, “Psycho II”, and “Psycho III”, which provided good references for how to paint the house. When first released, this was a new kit made by Polar Lights, and it does a nice job of capturing the look and feel of the Bates mansion of the original “Psycho” movies (the remake with Vince Vaughn has a completely different house).

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
November 9, 2010
Company
Pegasus Hobbies
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$27.95

For fans of the older “War of the Worlds” movie and/or the television show from 1953, this little piece of nostalgia will bring a big smile to your face. After conducting some research during my construction of this kit, I found that this “Martian” represents one from the 1953 television show. It is actually a Mor Taxan, a creature from the planet Mor Tax. Looking at the photographs that I could find on line, this creature is an excellent representation of the characters from that particular show.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
November 9, 2010
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

First Impressions

This review product arrived in the mail wrapped in cardboard and amply reinforced duct tape. Upon opening the mailing package I found a heavy-duty, injection-molded black plastic, 11 ¾” by 15 5/8” long, enclosed in a clear plastic bag wrapper. A small sprue of clear plastic parts was also enclosed. The aircraft carrier deck is molded as an inverted tray, and is quite sturdy.

The engraving for the deck planks and elevator were clean and crisp, but might be considered too pronounced for an airplane model. For the bean counters, there are 190 tie downs. The welded seams are almost too finely rendered, with only a small portion that appears to have “faded”. There are four rectangular depressions that I assume receive the clear parts. On the underside of the tray was a date: 2001.