If you are familiar with Air Modeller, then you have a set of expectations regarding the content. You know that the images are stunning, the layout of the content is excellent, and that the coverage of the “build” projects (usually six aircraft models in various scales featuring kits from different manufacturers) is consistent from issue to issue.

In this issue you will be treated to some excellent images of projects featuring:

In this new offering from Osprey Publishing, author Jon Guttman writes about the pilots who flew with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), as well as those who flew against them. As a former carrier sailor, my interest in naval aviation quickly drew my interest for this review. The pilots who flew during the “Great War” also hold a special fascination for me, as this new technology was being introduced with few realizing how it would eventually change the world, and how wars would be fought in the future.

History

The Supermarine Spitfire series has often been described as the most aesthetically pleasing aircraft ever flown. During the course of its service life, the basic Spitfire design was progressively altered with heavier armament, camera installations and no armament, more powerful engines, canopy revisions, fixed and retracting tail wheel, larger vertical stabilizers and rudders, clipped wings and extended wingtips, propeller revisions, as well as several radiator revisions. In addition, the Spitfire was also modified for naval operations and was known as the “Seafire” with the fuselage reinforced and a tail hook added.

During its service life, about 22,750 Spitfires and Seafires were manufactured. Weight increased from 5,800 to over 11,000 lbs, with engine horsepower increasing from 1020 to 2050 HP, and speeds increasing from 364 to 452 MPH.