Aeronaut Books is a publisher of aviation history books for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. Aeronaut Books is to publish fun, exciting books about aviation in the Great War for our readers, and also to preserve the history. It is owned by Jack Herris, founder and former owner of Flying Machines Press (which was sold to another publisher in September 2000). Ten years later, Jack Herris jumped back in the publishing pool with Aeronaut Books in November 2010.

Alan E. Durkota has authored Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I (Flying Machine Press, 1995) and the first edition of Medal of Honor: Aviators of World War I (Flying Machine Press, 1998).

ICM’s new figure kit “USAAF Bomber Pilots and Ground Personnel (1944-1945)” includes three aircrew figures, two ground crew figures, and two flight bags. The colorful box lid (photo-1) is flimsy but covers a sturdy hinged cardboard inner box (photo-2). The packaging won’t get squashed if the box winds up underneath all the other kits you told yourself you wouldn’t buy until you finished something you already have. The included instruction sheet is printed in color with a parts map and paint list on one side (photo-3), and assembly and painting instructions on the other (photo-4). The paint list includes color recommendations for ICM, Revell, and Tamiya brand paints. The painting instructions are somewhat simplified and since I didn’t have the recommended brands of paint, I used the artwork on the box lid as my painting guide. All the parts are included on a single sprue of light gray plastic (photos-5 and 6).

Introduction

Late in WW1 the US determined that there was a problem with current tanks. The British designed rhomboid tanks were good at crossing the enemy trenches but were so heavy that most got stuck or broke down in no-mans-land. The French FT17 light tank usually made it across no-mans-land but couldn't always cross the enemy trenches. The US looked for a tank that could do both.

Pioneer Tractor Company tried to solve the problem by hollowing out the rhomboid. The tank used standard iron pipe and plumbing connectors as a frame with an armored engine/fighting compartment suspended in the frame. Pioneer completed a prototype in October 1918 and submitted it for testing. It was fast by WW1 standards and crossed the trenches well. However, its limited ability to carry armament doomed the project. The single prototype is preserved at Ft. Lee.