Brian R. Baker
Reviews By Author
Mitsubishi Babs: The World’s First High Speed Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft, Volume 2Published: April 11, 2024 IntroductionThis book is the second volume on the history and development of the Mitsubishi Ki-15/C5M high speed reconnaissance aircraft, which was used by the Japanese Army and Navy in numerous roles before and during the course of World War II. Volume 1, which has already appeared in review on this site, provides an excellent account of the aircraft’s development and service… more |
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Bell Airacobra P-400Published: March 7, 2024 HistoryThe Bell P-400 was a development of the Bell Model 14 P-39 Airacobra series, which originated in the late thirties. It was an unusual design in that it featured an engine mounted behind the pilot, and a cannon firing through the propeller shaft.It also was equipped with a tricycle landing gear. It was designed for high performance, and the U.S.Army ordered quite a few before… more |
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In The Skies Of China, Composite Kit: Ki-21 and Ki-27Published: January 21, 2024 HistoryOver the years, much interest has been generated in the conflict between the Japanese, Chinese, and Russians begun by Japanese aggression in the area of northeastern China. By 1939, Japanese and Chinese air forces were actively engaged in a struggle for aerial superiority. While the Chinese had no aircraft industry to speak of, the Japanese were producing airplanes that… more |
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Eagles of the Luftwaffe, Vol.2, Focke-Wulf Fw-200Published: November 3, 2023 Historical BackgroundWorld War II is probably the most covered subject of publishers of material intended for modelers and historians, and this book fills a gap that has been left unfilled for a long time. Most publications seem to be of purely military aircraft, but this one is unusual in that it provides the development and combat history of an airplane that was originally… more |
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Biplanes of the 1930s and 1940s (Не-51A-1, Ki-10-II, U-2/Po-2VS)Published: November 2, 2023 Brief Description of ProductThis kit includes three quite well done 1/72 scale kits of three biplanes which were historically very important during the nineteen-thirties. Each kit includes an extensive instruction sheet, several color and marking choices, and adequate decals. The aircraft included are (1) Japanese Army Kawasaki Ki-10 Biplane Fighter, code named Perry by the Allies… more |
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Focke Wulf FW-190 Vacuformed CanopiesPublished: October 8, 2023 This product consists of two vacuformed canopies for FW-190 and TA-152 kits in 1l/72 scale. One canopy is the early flat variety, while the other is the “blown hood” type. The instructions state that they can be used for the Airfix, Frog, and Revell kits, but given the fact that there are numerous kits of FW-190 variants in 1/72 scale, these canopies should be useable for almost any of the… more |
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Photo Etched Metal Details for He-162Published: October 8, 2023 Historical BackgroundAlthough the Heinkel HE-162A was manufactured in quantity for the Luftwaffe at the end of World War II, no HE-162A ever was credited with the destruction of an enemy aircraft due to its late arrival into the Luftwaffe inventory. The story of the He-162 has been published many times, and there are quite a few good accounts of its design and development. Designed… more |
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Air Power and the ARAB WORLD, 1909-1955. Volume 8, The Revival in Egypt and Iraq, 1943-1945Published: September 16, 2023 Historical BackgroundThis book is a part of a series of detailed historical studies of the development of military aviation in the Arab World starting with the era of European colonization in the Middle Thirties, the events leading up to the outbreak of World War II, the conflict itself, and the decline of colonization after the end of the war. The major colonial power was, of… more |
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Air Power and The Arab World, 1909-1955. Volume 7: The Arab Air Forces in Crisis, April 1941-December 1942Published: June 27, 2023 Historical BackgroundThis book is part of a series of detailed accounts of the developments of Arab air forces in the Middle East, concentrating mainly on the World War II era. One of the authors was a postwar pilot in the Egyptian Air Force, and the other was a PhD in Middle East History. The authors have divided the book into four major sections, the Anglo-Iraq War (May, 1941),… more |
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Henschel Hs-126: Camera On #30Published: June 1, 2023 Historical BackgroundThe Henschel HS-126 was a parasol wing single engine army cooperation aircraft developed for the Luftwaffe early in 1937. At the beginning, problems were experienced with the engines, and some changes had to be made, but the first production model, HS-126A-1 came into service in 1938. Soon, an upgraded model, the HS-126B-1 came into use, and that became the… more |