History

The Petlyakov Pe-2 (nicknamed Peshka – “Pawn”) began life in 1939 as a high altitude fighter project, designated VI-100. It was designed under very unusual circumstances, as the design team which included both Vladimir Petlyakov and A.N. Tupolev had been swept up in one of Stalin’s paranoidal purges, and both were imprisoned as “threats to the state.” However, they managed to begin design work during 1939, producing a high altitude fighter prototype by the end of that year. Later, when the Russians discovered that Germany didn’t have any high altitude bombers, the fighter project was canceled.

This is Model Art Magazine’s special quarterly issue that focuses on naval subjects. As with the regular Model Art Magazine, this is printed in Japanese with some English subtitles. This special ship model edition focuses on the "Chitose Japanese Navy seaplane carrier type".

This issue starts off with detail drawings of the IJN seaplane carrier Mizuho. They cover such items as the anchor, vents, cleats, portholes and the trim over them, armament, linoleum decks and how they were secured, and armament – very valuable information for modelers. Next is a one-page article on new items that are coming out.

Those of us of a certain age remember April 13, 1970, as a “worst nightmare come to reality” day. On that day the crew of Apollo 13 radioed those famous words, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” The mission ended with the successful and safe return of the astronauts, and gave the world an iconic moment revealing just how dangerous space flight can be.

The author of Apollo 13 Owner’s Workshop Manual is Dr. David Baker, who worked for NASA during the Gemini, Apollo, and Shuttle programs. Dr. Baker was part of the team within Houston Mission Control throughout the Apollo 13 mission and, therefore, speaks with a considerable authority. He has written more than 80 books on spaceflight technology, and this is his fourth Haynes manual, following the NASA Mars Rover Manual, International Space Station Manual and NASA Space Shuttle Manual.