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Front cover

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Modeller, Volume 21
Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Happy Medium Press
MSRP
$29.95

Back in 1994, modeler Mike Reccia started editing a Science Fiction modeling magazine called Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models. I found these in my local Comics Shop and grabbed them whenever I could. The magazine started out bi-monthly, converted into Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models International and ending up as a monthly release. Unfortunately this ended in 2001 with Issue 53.

About 5 years ago Mike resurrected the idea as a quarterly, larger format magazine under the new name Sci-fi & Fantasy Modeller. The issues are now 100 pages (counting covers) with a sturdier card cover and full color photos. The stories are still well done with a combination of modeling stories and behind the scenes articles. Let's take a look and see what is in the latest.

Volume 21 contains 12 articles, 10 on modeling and 2 others.

Front cover

SPAD VII vs. Albatros D III 1917-18
Book Author(s)
Jon Guttman, Illustrated by Jim Laurier
Review Author
Perry Downen
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

I would like to thank Osprey Publishing for submitting this book for review and thank IPMS/USA for allowing me to do the review.

In the latter half of 1916 the French SPAD VII and the German Albatros D III were introduced into the Great War. At the time, each represented major improvements in aircraft design and would change aerial warfare. Soon these two machines met in the skies over France and Germany. The SPAD VII was smaller, lighter and a little more maneuverable but the Albatros D III was equipped with two machine guns. In the hands of legendary pilots such as Manfred von Richthofen, Heinrich Kroll, Georges Guynemer, Rene Fonck, Raoul Lufbery each aircraft proved to be very successful.

Box Art

HMS Campbeltown 'St Nazaire' Operation Chariot, 26 March 1942
Review Author
John Ratzenberger
Published on
Company
Mirage Hobby
Scale
1/400
MSRP
$19.95

Background

I don't know why we need fictional action movies -- there are more than enough tales of derring-do in the real world and in my book Operation CHARIOT, the raid on St Nazaire, is right up there near the top.

The British were ever concerned about the various German battleships, battle-cruisers, etc., and numerous air raids were flown to sink or cripple them in port, damage the ports facilities, etc. One such target was to render the graving, or Normandie, dock at St Nazaire incapable of handling Tirpitz and thus forcing her off the western coast of France -- from this was born OPERATION CHARIOT. The basic plan was to disguise a ship to look like a German patrol boat, load it with explosives, and ram it into the Normandie Dock, rendering it useless. The secondary objective was to destroy port facilities and smaller docks such that the port was rendered tidal and thus severely restrict use by U-boats and other vessels.

Box Art

USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier
Review Author
John Lyons
Published on
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/485
MSRP
$24.95

History

USS Yorktown, a 19,800 ton aircraft carrier built at Newport News, Virginia, was commissioned on 30 September 1937. Operating in the Atlantic and Caribbean areas until April 1939.

The U.S.S. Yorktown was among the first "true" aircraft carriers ever built. During the Battle of Midway, the Yorktown scored a decisive victory against the Japanese, with the help of the U.S.S. Enterprise and the U.S.S. Hornet. For the heroic sacrifices made by her soldiers in this battle, the Yorktown earned three battle stars. Kit features highly detailed hangar and flight decks with optional-position deck elevators and cranes, twenty Douglas SBD dive bombers, a display stand and official U.S. Navy marking decals.

Cover

RMS Titanic Owner’s Workshop Manual

Book Author(s)
David F. Hutchings & Richard P. de Kerbrech
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Haynes Publishing
MSRP
$28.00

The story of Titanic is well known. Most are familiar with how the world’s most luxurious passenger liner struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sank taking over 1500 of her passengers and crew with her to the bottom of the Atlantic. Less has been detailed about how she was built, fitted out and operated!

Haynes is a company well known the world over for their quality and in-depth automotive repair manuals. Lately; they have branched out to include manuals on the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster. Now they turn their attention to Titanic!

The book begins with a brief history of the ship, her maiden voyage and the tragedy that befell her. Included herein are many well known pictures of the ship and her passengers.