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Book Author(s)
Guy Ellis
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
November 12, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

In volume one we followed the exploits of the Police Reserve Air Wings (PRAW) operating in Rhodesia from 1967 to the last 1970s. These units supported the Rhodesian police by providing air support in countering resistance units that were attempting to force independence from British control. Although that goal was achieved in 1980, PRAW operated until the early 2000s. This volume covers PRAW operations from the mid 1970s till they ceased operations. Like the first volume, the story is told in words and pictures that included excerpts from “The Outpost Magazine”, a journal published by PRAW. As the fighting grew more intense, so did the level of weaponry carried by PRAW aircraft. This escalation is advertised on the cover photo showing a Beech Bonanza with gun pods, and inside Cessna Sky masters with over-wing gun pods. Several of the stories reflect just why it was necessary to shoot back. A few aircraft were hit by small arms fire and one gunner died from his wounds.

Book Author(s)
Guy Ellis
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
November 12, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

I was attracted to this volume because I'm a private pilot and have flown several of the aircraft types in this book. The story is set in Colonial South Africa, Rhodesia (now Botswana), to be exact. Like many of the British Colonial territories after WWII, the native populations began to demand independence from the Commonwealth. The methods employed to achieve this goal created conflict that was deadly at times. The Rhodesian Police couldn’t operate over the vast area it covered without air support. Lacking the money to purchase aircraft and maintain a cadre of pilots, they turned to the local population recruiting local pilots and their privately owned aircraft. From 1967 to 2000 these units called the Police Air Reserve Wings or PRAW preformed that mission.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
November 11, 2023
Company
ICM
MSRP
$19.99

ICM continues to announce new models despite the ongoing Russian initiated war in Ukraine. While most subjects released by ICM are welcome, the current conflict subjects are even more relevant and timely. The Acrylic Paint Set for Armed Forces of Ukraine (Camouflage Uniform) is designed to be used with ICM figure sets No. 35752 (“Quietly came, quietly went…” Special Operations Forces of Ukraine) and No. 35754 (“Always the first” Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine). This paint set is designed for the Multicam, not the Ukrainian pixel, camouflage.

The Acrylic Paint Set for Armed Forces of Ukraine consists of six 12ml paint bottles, that are surprisingly not dropper top, but rather are wide mouthed. The colors include:

Review Author
Phil Pignataro
Published on
November 11, 2023
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$48.99

Though it has flown operationally in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Libya, the AMX Ghilbi has been overshadowed by its larger counterparts: the SEPECAT Jaguar, the F-15E Eagle, and the Panavia Tornado GR.4. In the early 1980’s, Aeritalia, Aermacchi, and EMBRAER of Brazil collaborated to design and produce a light attack aircraft to meet requirements for the Italian Air Force (AMI) and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). Planners called for 187 planes for Italy and 65 for Brazil. These numbers were later augmented by 51 Italian and 14 Brazilian two-seaters. These are the only two countries using the Ghibli for attack and reconnaissance missions, so its numbers are modest.

Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
November 11, 2023
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$12.50

Value Gear resin products are well known to most modelers for the excellent quality resin stowage and gear to use on your models and diorama scenes. Owner Steve Munsell is a quality guy who, more often than not, throws in some extra pieces into most of the packages and one package can often inhabit more than a couple builds if used wisely- or you can completely deck out one model if you wish. His 1/16 product lines are growing as more companies release more 1/16 scale kits.

What’s Inside the Box

This set contains a small zip bag with five 75mm ammo crates for whatever 1/16 scale StuG or Panzer is sitting in your stash. A card with preparation and priming instructions are included. The quality is excellent in this scale and one might want to ding them up a bit to add some variety to the five– but the details of the wood grain, nail holes for the cross slats, and strap enclosures are amazing.