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Book Author(s)
Squadron Leader Jerry Pook MBE DFC
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$24.95

Prior to this book, very little had been written in detail describing the RAF Harrier GR3 operations during the 1982 Falklands War. This book fills that void very well, providing a wealth of detail in describing the lead up, deployment and day-to-day combat operations of the small contingent of Royal Air Force attack Harriers. It makes a fitting companion to Sharkey Ward’s earlier narrative Sea Harrier over the Falklands.

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$70.00

History Brief

As the Second World War progressed, the Soviets were fielding better tanks. The Finnish Army, on the other hand, had to make due with a large number of old obsolete captured tanks, which were for the most part lightly armored and armed.

The Finns redesign the BT-7 model 1937 tank. They constructed a new turret and armed it with British-made 114.3 mm howitzers that had been supplied by the British during the Winter War (Q.F. 4,5 inch howitzer Mark II, also known as 114 Psv.H/18 in Finland). The Finns constructed 18 BT-42s and these were pressed into service in 1943.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Platz
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$17.85

Every once in a while something nice happens to you. This little photo-etch set is just the sort of thing I’m referring to. I’ve had the major parts of a Hasegawa Ki 48 Lily kit clipped off the sprues for some time in the hope that eventually I would locate enough reference material to guide me in adding cockpit detail when I continue with the build. The opportunity to review this new Platz photo-etch detail set for the Ki 48 was just what I needed to move me from a state of static inertia to critical mass. The kit box was located among the ‘in-progress’ stack, reopened, contents examined, the workbench was cleared and my Optivisor was back in place.

Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$36.95

This kit is a representation of the 17-pdr Anti-Tank gun used by the British Army during WWII. This variant was rushed into service when the Germans introduced the Tiger Tank into North Africa. Due to the expedited production of the gun, the correct carriage was not ready; therefore the British mounted the gun on the 25-pdr carriage. This combination as designated the 17/25-pdr and has a security code name of “Pheasant” The weapon was effective and the only criticism by the troops was its tall profile.

Sprues:

Book Author(s)
Terry C. Treadwell
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Amberley Publishing
MSRP
$27.95

The Story

This book represents a novel approach to aviation history, and instead of the usual treatment of aircraft types, famous pilots, or even significant designers, the author identifies what he considers to be the significant aircraft producers of the World War I era, and goes through the development of the companies and the actions of their founders and CEO’s, explaining how their aircraft were developed and used. After producing a list of 92 significant producers, the authors selected 27 to discuss in detail, and he does an excellent job of presenting the startup of the firms, the personnel involved, and the airplanes, both successful and unsuccessful. He alludes to the postwar period a number of times, as many of these aircraft, such as the DH-4, Curtiss JN-4, and other types were used long after the end of hostilities, in both military and civilian roles.