Coastal Kits was founded in 2011 and is based in Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. It is a family-run business that originally retailed model kits and their associated supplies. Coastal Kits began marketing their own range of display bases at the end of 2012 after their bases were well received at Telford’s Scale Model World. The Business soon decided to concentrate solely on their display base product line. The range currently exceeds 220 bases in multiple scales and subjects. They also provide custom bases upon request.

The display bases are manufactured from 3mm Foamex board which is a rigid, waterproof plastic. Laminated matte vinyl is used to print the subject with the latest odorless latex ink providing a permanent and waterproof finish. The benefit over alternatives like paper-based products is that the display will not fade, lift, or bubble.

This book tells the story of the Canadian Corps during 1917 when it battled against the distinguished Royal Bavarian Army. These battles started at Vimy Ridge through to Passchendaele.

The book is very nicely illustrated with great photos and many illustrations commissioned for the book. The details of the combat action, preparations, and the outcomes are very well written and help you understand the period and hardships of these battles. The book contains many extracts from personal diaries and reports from the time by commanders and foot soldier’s alike. I learned a lot from this book and look forward to more from this series from Osprey.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in WWI. It has some wonderful pictures that are great for modeler’s as well for some dioramas.

Thanks go to Osprey Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the iconic fighters of World War Two. Entering service at the beginning of the conflict, it was continually upgraded and improved throughout the war. As Japanese Navy air attacks on Darwin demonstrated, the Royal Australian Air Force needed a high altitude fighter to supplement its low altitude fighters, such as the Curtis Kittyhawk (P-40). After reviewing the projected performance of the Spitfire Mk. VIII, the Australian government requested delivery of Spitfire Mk. VIII’s to fulfill this role. The RAAF eventually received over 400 of this version of the Spitfire and operated it in several theaters.