Osprey is a publishing house in the United Kingdom that should be a household name to the swarms of us. Osprey continues to expand their Duel series with the 83^rd book in this installment. The Duel Series examine the relative strengths and weaknesses of two adversaries across a particular conflict. This particular volume turns its attention to the US Navy Battleships versus the IJN Battleships.

For the Duel series, the chapters are organized as follows:

Avantgarde Model Kits (AMK) of Macau has been manufacturing some wonderfully detailed and unique aircraft models since 2003. The level of detail and finesse in their moldings is on par with those of Hasegawa and WingNut Wings kits. They have released several 1/48th scale aircraft models including the MiG-31, the Fouga CM 170 Magister, and a IAI Kfir C2/C7. One of their recent offerings, and subject of this missive, is a 1/72nd scale version of the IAI Kfir C2/C7.

The IAI Kfir is an is an Israeli-built all-weather, multirole combat aircraft based on a modified French Dassault Mirage 5 airframe, with Israeli avionics and an Israeli-built version of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine. The Kfir has been deployed by the IAI, Ecuadorian, and Columbian governments.

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International – Winter 2017 Vol 48/4 , features a postcard by G. Hautot showing the Michelin Man, waving a laurel victory wreath at an aerial armada, with the caption, “Our future is in the air.” The postcard was a promotion for the concept of strategic bombing, a “cause” advocated by the Michelin brothers, Andre and Edouard. The year was 1912 and the Michelins organized a series of aviation competitions which included the accurate dropping of bombs. An interesting point to note is that the in the Journal notes about the cover, the Michelin Man is named, that name being, “Bibendum”, a fact of which I nave been unaware since early childhood. Five other postcards in the same series as the that found on the cover of the Journal, appear on the back cover.