History

The Spitfire is probably one of the most-modeled kits in 1/72 or any other scale, for that matter. It was used in many different modifications and variations, and a few are still flying today. It combined the classic beauty of a thoroughbred with the performance of a champion, and remained in production well after the end of World War II even though the original prototype first flew in 1936.

Zenith Press has just put out a book on the F-117 stealth fighter. It is written by Lt. Col. William B. O’Connor and is about a year in the life of an F-117 pilot. It starts out with the author’s flying career and then gets into the development of the F-117 and eventually the air war over Kosovo.

I really enjoyed reading this book because I like the first person, I-was-there type of book. The author does a great job of explaining how stealth technology came about and how it works, in a language that is easy for a non-pilot to understand. You almost feel like you are flying on a mission with him. I also liked how he talked about the flying community and their rituals when they finally get qualified in a particular aircraft. You also get a little taste of the politics on how promotions work in the Air Force. All in all, a very enjoyable read.

Thanks to Zenith Press and IPMS USA for allowing me to review this book.

Packed in a sturdy, well illustrated box, the kit consists of 28 sprues of dark grey plastic, 1 clear sprue, and 2 photo-etched frets, one of which consists of the weld seam inserts for the spare jerry cans. Also included are 5 each of three slightly different back packs, a covered and folded windshield, one folded-down top, and one full closed top with a clear rear window. Decals include pre-made and make-your-own registration plates, instrument faces, stencils, and division and army group markings. Paint call-outs for detail and overall colors refer to Mr. Hobby, Hobby Color, Humbrol and Tamiya brands.

The glossy instruction booklet is broken down into 25 assembly steps, with some options for early and later versions. I found it prudent to deviate from the published sequence, but each builder may feel differently.