The AIM-4D was the first operational guided missile in the USAF and entered service in 1956. Its limited maneuverability and non-proximity fuse made it ineffective against fast turning fighters and it saw limited duty due to those shortcomings. Eduard has released an excellent multimedia kit of these missiles in their Brassin line in 1/32^nd scale. Inside the package, there are parts for four complete missiles. There are four well cast missiles bodies, four seeker head covers, four clear lenses and a small fret of PE for detailing the engine section. There is also a nice set of markings for the one-color scheme.

I would like to thank Specialty Press for this review sample

This is a revised and expanded edition of Yefim Gordon’s original book on the Su-27 published in 2007. I thought the original publication was a large 544 pages. This book in comparison is 720 pages, which gives you an idea of how much additional material has been added. It is an impressively comprehensive tome on the Su-27 family and renders the other previous book obsolete.

The layout was in Moscow by Polygon Press; it was printed in Bulgaria by Multi-print; Published in England by Crecy; and Published in the U.S. by Specialty Press. In addition to being an international effort, this book is heavy! Imagine my surprise when I went to lift the box at my doorstep. A hard cover edition, printed on clay paper, and in all color, his book falls into the category of an unabridged Webster’s or Oxford English Dictionary. It really needs its own maple book stand on a carousel in your library.

Kev Darling is an aviation historian, writer, and publisher based in South Wales. He served in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer for nearly 30 years, from June 1973 to March 2003. He has written at least 30 books since 1987, working in the RAF Illustrated series, Crowood Aviation series, Crowood Combat Legend series, Specialty Press' WarbirdTech series, as well as Guideline's Warpaint series.