This is the first of Squadron’s “Combat Chronicles” series I have had a chance to read and review. The format is a little different than most other publications from this publisher, in that it is focused specifically on the combat operations of a particular unit operating the title aircraft.

This volume focuses on the training and combat operations of the 40^th Bomb Group/58^th Bomb Wing operating the B-29 during WW2. The author is a veteran of this unit, and narrates his experiences starting with early Stateside training. He then progresses through early combat operations flying from India, over “The Hump”, to stage out of forward bases in China. Next, he describes the Group’s relocation to the Marianas and the final phases of the bombing campaign against Japan. Ultimately, he discusses some of the efforts to air drop supplies to POWs immediately following the Japanese surrender.

The Imperial Japanese Navy Cruiser Submarine I-16 was constructed at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding in Kobe, and was then towed to Kure Navy Yard for completion, as well as commissioning in 1940. She was the lead boat for a class of five submarines that included the I-18, I-20, I-22, and I-24, which were Type C1 boats. The design of this class was based on the Junsen-type, and they were developed from the type KD6. These boats were designed to carry either the Ko-hoteki midget submarine or Kaiten suicide torpedo.

Quickboost has added an aftermarket detail set that seems to me to be a questionable choice on their part. It is a set of resin exhaust ports for the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 SB2U Vindicator kits. As can be seen in the photos below, the Quickboost parts (pictured between the kit parts on the sprue) are virtual duplicates of the kit parts with only a small improvement in the sidewall thickness…Something that most model builders of average skills should be able to duplicate by using a number 11 Xacto blade or a pin vice with a suitable drill bit to increase the opening in the kit parts. The Quickboost parts are nicely cast and can be separated easily from the casting block and attached with super glue if the modeler chooses.