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Book Author(s)
Robert Pied, Nicolas Deboeck
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
HMH Publications
MSRP
$32.00

This is the first book in a new detail series. The books are cover to cover gorgeous color photos of thirty of the thirty-nine flyable Mk IXs and XVIs around the globe. The book includes pictures of the various aircraft in flight, detail shots of the cockpits, fuselage, weapons and undergoing maintenance. These photographs are of the highest quality, showing intricate details. Many of these detail shots area accompanied by explanatory captions.

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Paduch
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$46.00

When most aviation enthusiasts and modelers think of heavy fighters, the image of larger, usually twin-engine aircraft such as the Bf-110, P-61 or Bristol Beaufighter come to mind. In Japan during WWII a heavy fighter designation meant an aircraft that were armed with large caliber machine guns and/or cannons. So, several small single engine fighters were considered to be “heavy fighters.”

Book Author(s)
Jack Holroyd
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$34.95

The book covers the first winter in Russia through the Canadian landing at Dieppe and is divided into 11 chapters covering the main events during the third year of the war. The sources of the photos are from England, Germany, Japan, USA, Russia and personal archives. As far as I know this is the first time that a compilation of all these photos has been made.

The photos are sharp and of very good quality and show good detail. The battles covered by the book include: Hitler's First Russian Winter, Rommel and the Fall of Tobruk, Tojo Attacks Pearl harbor, Japanese onslaught in Southeast Asia, Tokyo Attacked - The Doolittle Revenge Raid, Battle of Coral Sea and Battle of Midway, British Target St. Nazaire Dry Dock, Operation Biting-The Bruneval Raid, RAF starts Area Bombing: Target Civilians, Hitler Battles for the Caucasus Oil Fields and The Canadian Landing at Dieppe.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$26.99

ICM continues its unique line of World War 1 related figure sets, and this one has to be unique in this regard, as it depicts equipment that never actually saw combat. The set provides four figures wearing the infamous Brewster Body Shield, designed by Dr. Guy. Brewster, capable of withstanding a hail of bullets from the standard .303 round of the time. Unfortunately, it was otherwise virtually impractical, as it weighed 40 pounds and restricted both vision and movement severely. The user could not turn his head, could not drop to the ground (and hope to get back up again), could barely reach his ammo belt under the unit, and was completely unprotected from the rear. Although studied by the U.S. Army at the time, it was never adopted for actual combat operations, although it might have proven useful for sentries or other fix posts.

Review Author
Gil Vincent
Published on
Company
Bases by Bill
MSRP
$14.99

Bases by Bill produces display bases, display cases, and associated products. This particular item is part of their Painted Display Bases line. It is made of hardwood cut in a 10” diameter round shape with a thickness of ~¾”. The base is painted on the top and sides, with this particular one displaying the Messerschmitt logo in black and white. Quality is very good. The paint finish has a light satin coat. It looks durable. The bottom is sanded smooth and has a horizontal keyhole slot cut toward the upper side so that it can be hung on a wall.