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Introduction: The primary organization of the IPMS/USA Review website is by IPMS/USA National Contest Class. Within each Class there are sub-menus by kits, decals, books, etc. The Miscellaneous Class is for items that are not class specific or that cross two or more classes.

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Book Author(s)
Tony Harwood
Review Author
Dan Brown
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$22.95

This new book is the second in a series for Wargaming terrain published by Pen & Sword. This book specifically focuses on buildings and terrain for Africa and the Middle East.

The structure of this book is based on an introduction to the author’s techniques for building terrain for war-gaming. The book starts with an overview of important tools that a modeler will need to complete builds for their games. This is followed by sections that focus on the paints and materials that are used in the individual builds.

After the introduction, the bulk of this book is taken up by a series of builds that are intended to show off a range of techniques for building buildings. There are four main sections, each section focuses on a specific type of building or terrain and attempts to display a basic structure that can be improved in subsequent builds. Each subsection is designed to build on the skills displayed in the last subsection.

Book Author(s)
Wojtek Matusiak
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$22.48

History

In 1939, after the defeat of the Polish Air force by the Germans and the Russians, a substantial number of trained and experienced Polish pilots and ground crews managed to escape to France and England. Eventually, they were formed into fighter squadrons attached to, but not specifically a part of, the British Royal Air Force. Most of the pilots were originally assigned to units flying the Hawker Hurricane, but in 1941, these units were re-equipped with Spitfire Mk. V fighters, the current version of this famous fighter. From 1942 until early 1945, these units used Mk. V Spitfires against the Luftwaffe, until they were eventually replaced by the Spitfire Mk. IX and American Mustangs. In total, about 800 Spitfire Mk. V’s were used by various Polish units, and they inflicted considerable losses against the Luftwaffe.

Review Author
Dan Brown
Published on
Company
Kitty Hawk
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.99

The Aerospatiale SA. 365 Dauphin II is a twin engined helicopter produced in France for the French Navy and for export depending on the version. This airframe has been adapted for number of rolls, serving everything from law enforcement and air ambulance services to corporate transport. The first release of this kit from Kitty Hawk was in 2013 and this new release covers a number of different versions, all in a search and rescue roll from around the world.

Book Author(s)
Lechoslaw Musialkowski
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$25.00

History: The TU-2 Bomber

This book gives a very detailed history of three Russian designed aircraft that were used in quantity by the Polish Air Force, mostly after the end of World War II. The first aircraft, the Tupolev TU-2, was used in quantity by Poland, mainly for medium bombing, and later as a reconnaissance type, trainer, and target tug. The author goes into considerable detail giving an account of the design origins of the type and its service with the Russians before the Polish Air Force acquired them after the war. An interesting fact is that Tupolev began the design of the TU-2 before the outbreak of the war, and apparently he had run afoul of the Communist Party ideology. His design team was forced to work in a Soviet prison camp from 1939 until 1941, when they were finally rewarded for their success by early release from prison.

Book Author(s)
Tom Cockle
Review Author
James Kelley
Published on
Company
Peko Publishing
MSRP
$27.95

This new photo book series presents various selections of rare wartime photographs. They are selected based on numerous subjects. Each volume introduces photographs from battles, operations, vehicles, or complete photo albums from soldiers who fought in World War Two.

This volume is divided into two separate subjects. The first part presents a number of new photographs from the personal photo album of Oberleutnant d.R Peter Prien who began his army career with Pz.Nachr.Abt.37 with 1.Panzer-Division in January 1941 and finished the war as Führer of the Stabskompanie of Pz.Rgt.3 of 2.Panzer-Division. His album contains mostly photos of his time with 2.Panzer-Division around the time of the Kursk battles. The second part presents a series of photographs of the 8.8cm Flak 18 mounted on the chassis of the Sd.Kfz.8 half-track officially known as the 8.8cm Flak 18 Sfl. auf schwere Zugkraftwagen 12 t (Sd.Kfz.8) als Fahrgestell. Most are new and previously unpublished.