Originating from a USMC requirement for a close support aircraft, The OV10-A, a North American Aviation design, won a production contract in 1964. Performance highlights included short takeoff using a high-lift wing configuration and trailing beam landing gear to allow rough field operations. The central boom could hold paratroopers while sponsons carried 4 machine guns and hard points for weapons and a fuel tank. The operational version had 10 feet added to the wingspan. The cockpit canopy featured bulged side panels to allow downward vision to the pilot and observer. These aircraft were used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role in Southeast Asia all the way through the war in Iraq. In 1995 the last Broncos were retired by the USMC.

Green Stuff World is a recent addition to IPMS’ review line, and it is welcome indeed. They make amazing modeling tools and products to aid you with your models and dioramas. In the case of this line, there is a vinyl sheet full of these tufts. I am reviewing the three here:

• Burnt
• Dry
• Beige

There are also Light, Winter, and Dark varieties.

The Fairey Barracuda will never win any aircraft beauty contests, but it proved to be a capable and long serving aircraft. Serving the British, it’s commonwealth, and a couple of foreign countries as well. The aircraft served until the early 1950s with some still existing into the early 1960s. Today, no intact example exists, but the Fleet Air Arm Museum is working to restore/build one out of a couple of recovered wrecks.

The book is divided into 5 sections. First is the introduction containing a short history not only of operational use, but also the development of the air frame. The second, but labeled first section, is full of technical drawings as well as under-construction photos. The second section contains many drawings depicting the prototype as well as production and proposed variants. Section three has many color profiles of Barracudas in service, as well as two rare color pictures.