Having recently acquired one of the Kinetic 1/48 Grumman S-2 Tracker kits, I was intrigued when I saw this book and the corresponding decal sheet offered for review. I was previously unaware that the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service, or Marineluchtvaartdienst (MLD), had used the Stoof. This excellent 52-page publication combines dozens of photographs along with text in both Dutch and English to tell the history of the S-2 in the MLD.

I have seen Master Models gun barrels and pitot tubes reviewed in magazines and other websites before, but this is the first time I have seen them in person. To say that I’m amazed and blown away is an understatement. I do not know if they are turned or cast, but these .303 Browning barrels are exact in scale and detail. You get four finely reproduced barrels that can be used in British gun turrets, or as nose armament for Mosquitos. See the pictures below and be amazed. I plan on using mine on an upcoming Mosquito project.

Thanks to Master Model and to IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this sample.

USMC Aviators is the 3rd book written by Gregory Pons, and was released on May 22, 2012. The previous two books were 8th Air Force, American Heavy Bomber Groups in England, 1942-1945 and 9th Air Force, American Tactical Aviation, 1942-1945.

This hardback book of 191 pages contains both color and black & white images. Originally written in French, the English language version of the book was translated by the author and David A. Reid. All of the images and documents contained in the book come from reliable sources, including the author’s collection, photo albums of veterans, and U.S. Government archives.