The Messerschmitt Me-309 was envisioned as a replacement for the Me-109 in late 1940. The aircraft was to feature a pressurized cockpit, a fully retractable, tricycle undercarriage and a variable geometry radiator. The Me-309 was never to become much of a priority for the powers that be owing to the success of adapting the Me-109 to larger engines and heavier armament and the Focke Wolf 190 coming into service. Four prototypes (V1-V4) were constructed with flight testing continuing into the last quarter of 1943.

“Pacific Profiles” is a series of books that covers various military aircraft serving in the Pacific during WWII. This book is volume four, Allied fighters: Vought F4U Corsair Series, Solomons Theatre 1943-1944. The book size is paperback and about 7 inches by 10 inches in color and black & white.

The book starts out with technical information, color schemes and markings as well as maps of the Solomon airfields. There are a few charts showing USN/USMC and RNZAF corsair units and their timeline when they were in service. At the end of this section are full color images of Corsair squadron and service insignia/patches featured in this book along with a glossary of terms.

The Do-217N is a unique version of the venerable Do-217. Designed as a night fighter it was really just too slow to catch the bombers. It wasn’t useless but it did have its share of problems.

ICM released their kit of this airplane in 2020. It was a nice kit, but it was not without a few mistakes, as all models are. One of those mistakes was slightly undersized wheels. Also the wheels did not have a bulge or flat spot to indicate weight being on the landing gear. Another area that could use improvement was the tail wheel fork which is slightly anemic and mishappened. Well Aires has a solution.