Vargas Scale Models has historically occupied a niche specializing in unusual, 3-D printed, limited-run armor models, mostly pre- and between World Wars. So far this has been a winning strategy for this prolific company, fleshing out all those subjects ignored by others. Lately, however, Vargas has been entering more well-trodden areas, as well as experimenting in other scales. such as 1/72nd, and even the odd 1/16th aftermarket item. One such release (in 1/35th) is a late-WWII-era German Nebelwerfer 41 towed rocket launcher; the subject of this review.

The Nebelwerfer (roughly translated as ‘smoke thrower’) was a German multiple rocket launcher that served with German Chemical Corps units, which had the responsibility for poison gas and smoke weapons that were also used to deliver high-explosives during the war.

Historical Background

World War II is probably the most covered subject of publishers of material intended for modelers and historians, and this book fills a gap that has been left unfilled for a long time. Most publications seem to be of purely military aircraft, but this one is unusual in that it provides the development and combat history of an airplane that was originally designed as a long range airliner, but was later converted to various military roles, including reconnaissance, bombing, torpedo attacks, and military transport roles.

This is book #59 of the Middle East at War series and Volume 9 of The Air Power and the Arab World, 1909-1955 series. The book covers only the years between 1946 through 1948. The book contains 10 sections/chapters, as well as an Introduction, a Bibliography and small bio of the two authors.

The first four chapters are dedicated to the air forces of Egypt, Syria, Iran as well several other small air forces from smaller Arab countries. The other chapters deal with the Palestine situation, the Arab Militaries of 1947, the situation of the Arab World during 1947-1948, and Egypt's mobilization, the Iranian preparations, Syria's heroes/Volunteers, the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF), and extends from the end of WWII through 1946. The chapter touches on the problems and challenges of the emerging Air Force. In addition, the chapter provides a roster of the aircrafts used by the REAF.