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Book Author(s)
Robbie M. Robinson
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Editions Minimonde 76

Born from the great North American F-86A, the F-86D/K all weather interceptor had a long and widespread career. It served the USA both home and abroad and as this book covers with 7 NATO air forces as well as US forces in Europe. The F-86D/K served NATO until the final ones were retired from the Italian Air Force in 1973.

The book has 5 total sections with the first section a brief overview of its development and production. Section Two covers the USAF in Europe. Section 3 is the largest section comprising 50 pages with coverage of the type’s service in Royal Danish, French, West German, Royal Hellenic, Italian, Royal Netherland and Royal Norwegian Air Force. Section Four has a look inside with manual pages and detail pictures reproduced throughout. The book ends with the squadron badge of every unit in Europe both US and European to operate the F-86D/K.

Book Author(s)
Stanislaw Powala-Niedzwiecki; Illustrated by Maciej Noszczak & Arkadiusz Wrobel
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

This publication is one in a series of books in the TopDrawings series. It is a 20 page, paperback, printed in 8.3x11.7 format. The publication date was Dec 19, 2018.

Other publications in this series are:

  • #54 Ju-87B
  • #59 Ju-88
  • #52 F4U Corsair
  • #49 He-219 and others.

This is a Kagero publication which is marketed in North America by Casemate.

As mentioned in this review, the text and captions throughout the publication are translated by Stanislaw Powala-Niedzwiecki. The color profiles were created by Arkadiusz Wrobel. The scale drawings were created by Maciej Noszczak.

Book Author(s)
Maciej Noszczak
Review Author
Jason Holt
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

The Messerschmitt Bf-110 is another iconic mainstay of Luftwaffe aviation that is most recognizable to almost any aviation enthusiast. Originally designed in the 1930’s, the 110 was one of the Luftwaffe’s heavy-fighter/bomber mainstays. Originally it was anticipated to be replaced in the early 1940’s by the Me-210, but due to the 210’s poor performance issues the 110 was given a second chance.

Due to the cancelation of the Me-210, the Luftwaffe had decided it needed to continue to utilize the 110 airframe. In order to do so the 110 needed to overcome its shortfalls in order to keep up with the ever changing and rapid developments in aviation during World War Two. Through the procurement of more powerful engines for the 110 airframe it was able to prolong the use of the aircraft well to the end of the war.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$10.47

The Vehicle

In December of 1941 the US Government put all manufacturing on a wartime footing. Many of the factories which had been producing civilian cars went over to producing Jeeps, pickups, cargo trucks, ammo carriers, tanks, guns, and other wartime necessities. There were still a few assembly lines which continued to produce a few cars, and most of these were sold to the Army or Navy for use as “staff cars”. Because it wouldn’t do for someone as important as an Admiral or General to ride around in a canvas topped jeep. It might seem that it was tough on civilians to not be able to get a new car, but with gas rationing they couldn’t drive much of anywhere anyway.

The Kit

You get two resin staff cars in the kit. There is a photoetch fret, an instruction sheet, and a small decal sheet with license plates and white stars for two cars.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.39

If you are looking for a rather unique kit to add to your late-WWII collection of 1/72 scale Axis aircraft, Brengun has come through with a trainer variant of the Ohka rocket plane. The relatively small parts count makes this a quick build, but some experience with small photoetched parts will be beneficial. Modelers with some experience with small parts and working with plastic to improve the fit of parts will enjoy this build.

Built by Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho, 45 of the K1 version of the Ohka (Cherry Blossom) were built to train the future Kamikaze pilots of the rocket-powered plane. A forward tank was loaded with water to simulate the warhead weight on the combat aircraft, which was then dumped before landing. Requiring a speed of 130 mph to land the trainer, it was a difficult plane to land for the inexperienced pilots.