As I sit writing this review, the invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for approaching seven months, and the Ukrainian forces are currently making gains in their eastern territory against their invaders. This recent and timely release from the folks at CMK was kindly provided to the IPMS USA at the Nationals this year in Omaha, Nebraska. Consisting of polyurethane and 3D printed parts, along with a small decal sheet, this is a relatively easy build that nearly any modeler can enjoy. If you are looking for a symbolic kit of a current conflict, I would highly recommend this offering.
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it’s a good time for fans of reference books. Since the collapse of the Iron Curtain, many former Soviet Pact countries are flooding the market with detailed new sources aimed right at the modeling community. This volume focuses on the Mig 15 in service with the Polish Air Force. Each of the seven variants, which are defined by foreign or domestic manufacture, are covered. The first two sections cover the Soviet manufactured Migs, the Mig 15 and Mig 15bis (improved). In between the end of the Soviet built examples and the Polish built series were the S102s manufactured in Czechoslovakia. The Migs built in Poland were part of the Lim series which translated meant “License Fighter”. In all, four Lim series were built.
In the spring of 1999, NATO intervened in a conflict in Serbia. This effort called Operation Allied Force (OAF) was undertaken to stop what the NATO nations said was systemic ethnic cleaning by Serbian forces of the Albanian population in Kosovo directed by Serbian President, Slobodan Milosevic. Several books have been written about this intervention, but they tend to favor the NATO side of the story. This volume is an attempt to tell both sides of the story. It written by two Serbians, one a historian with high level government experience and the other commanded a missile defense unit for Serbia during OAF. Make no mistake, OAF was a remarkable military achievement. Fought solely from the air, NATO air forces with the United States in the lead, forced the eventually surrender of Milosevic. NATO suffered no combat deaths even though some NATO aircraft including an F-117 were brought down.
Helion & Company publishing produces specialized military history books. Part of the “Middle East at War” series, Lebanese Civil War, volume 2 (second of a four part series) book covers the period of 1978 to 1981 known as the “Quiet before the Storm”. The publication is 70 pages of full color, black & white photographs, diagrams as well as artist illustrations.
Key publishing specializes in books covering aviation, transport history and sport. This book is a fairly compact, paperback full color book. There are two primary sections, U.S. Customs and Border protection in the first section and U.S Coast Guard in part two. In each section are two chapters further breaking down into further sub groups.
Most of the aircraft featured are currently use with each organization but a few notable aircraft that have been retired are covered. With each aircraft covered, detailed information on the aircraft, capabilities and missions performed are discussed. Locations for each group is also covered along with a thorough description of each air station. I did not realize how large of a variety of aircraft the Dept of Homeland security operated and the unique marking on some of the aircraft. Aircraft from UAV’s, small fixed wing aircraft (Cessna 206) up to the C-130 is all covered.