This is a new, hardbound publication that is comprised of the contents of four previously-released volumes in the “Duel” series from Osprey. This compendium is edited by Tony Holmes, and includes:

• Part 1 (by Tony Holmes), Channel Clashes: Spitfire II/V vs Bf 109E (Duel 67)
• Part II (by Edward M. Young), Hell in the Pacific: F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-sen (Duel 54)
• Part III (by Dmitriy Khazanov & Aleksander Medved), Air War in the East: La-5/7 vs Fw 190 (Duel 39)
• Part IV (by Edward M. Young), Ill-Fated Defense of the Home Islands: F4U Corsair vs Ki-84 ‘Frank’ (Duel 73)

This book has been produced to very high standards, and it was a joy to hold and read through. The hard binding is extremely sturdy, and all pages have a nice semi-gloss finish that just looks and feels first-rate. Color paintings and profiles are done to a high standard as well, and photos are clearly printed.

Kagero’s The Russian Battleship Marat is one of the latest in their Super Drawings in 3D series. This edition is in their standard 8.25” x 11.75” format softbound publication that is 68 pages (excluding covers). This volume starts off with seven and a half pages of historical text followed by 61 pages of color 3D illustrations. There is also a Centerfold full of line drawings (~26.6” x 19.0”) that starts with profiles at 1/350^th scale and goes up to 1/50^th scale for the details. I counted 117 color 3D illustrations along with one table. There are no current nor period photographs.

Contents Description

This PE set includes a small PE fret with all of the pilot's instrument panel and side panels along with the rear cockpit (radar operator's position) many panel faces. A pair of rudder pedals is also included. A three-page set of instructions is included that locate each panel face and indicate where the raised detail included on the kit parts must be removed. The PE parts do not include adhesive on the backside, and therefore the modeler must carefully glue each part in place.

I took the plastic kit parts as indicated on the instructions and removed the raised details with a micro-chisel and sanded the rough surfaces with a medium grit sanding pad. Once the surfaces were smoothed, I washed the parts in warm water and a mild detergent, scrubbing the surfaces and nooks and crannies with an old toothbrush. After rinsing the parts I allowed them to thoroughly dry.