Brian R. Baker
Reviews By Author
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MS-406C.1 "Battle of France" and MS-410C.1Published: November 26, 2013
HistoryThe Morane Saulnier MS-406 series of single seat fighters originated in 1934 after a design competition, with the MS-405C.1 eventually being ordered into limited production in 1937; only 16 were produced. During that year, minor modifications were made, with subsequent Morane… more |
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Petlyakov Pe-2Published: November 5, 2013 HistoryThe Petlyakov Pe-2 (nicknamed Peshka – “Pawn”) began life in 1939 as a high altitude fighter project, designated VI-100. It was designed under very unusual circumstances, as the design team which included both Vladimir Petlyakov and A.N. Tupolev had been swept up in one of Stalin’s paranoidal purges, and both were imprisoned as “threats to the state.” However, they… more |
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Junkers Ju-88C-6 NachtjagerPublished: October 28, 2013 HistoryThe Junkers Ju-88 was probably one of the most versatile multi-engined aircraft that the Luftwaffe had available during World War II, and it seemed that whatever was asked of it, it performed very well in the role. Designed originally as a fast medium bomber, one variant was adapted as a long-range heavy fighter, eventually evolving into one of the most effective night… more |
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Boeing P-26A Pea-ShooterPublished: October 3, 2013 HistoryThe Boeing Model 248, which became the P-26 series, was designed in 1931 and first flew in 1932, and was one of the first monoplane fighters adopted by the U.S. Army Air Corps to replace such classic biplane fighters as the Curtiss Hawk and Boeing P-12. Retaining some of the features of previous fighters (including an open cockpit, external wire bracing, fixed landing gear,… more |
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Curtiss F11C-2 HawkPublished: June 22, 2021 HistoryThe Curtiss F11C-2 was one of the last of the Curtiss Hawk series of biplane fighters that began with the F6C-1 and P-1 series of 1925. Although later models used different wings and powerplants, the F11C series reverted back to the tapered wing. While the later F11C-1 had a metal wing, the F11C-2 wings were wooden. Power was provided by a 575 hp. Wright R-1820-78 radial… more |
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Focke Wulf Fw-190A-8Published: September 16, 2013 HistorySo much has already been written about the Focke Wulf Fw-190 that I needn’t add much to the history of the type. The BMW-powered Fw-190A series was produced in numbers approaching 20,000, and served as the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter and ground attack forces during World War II. Easier to fly than the Bf-109, the wide track undercarriage of the Fw-190 resulted in… more |
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Tupolev Tu-2Published: February 10, 2020 HistoryThe Tupolev Tu-2 has a rather interesting origin, being designed by a team of engineers who had run afoul of Stalin’s paranoia. They had been placed in a political prison as “enemies of the state,” and the design work for this aircraft began while the designers were incarcerated. The airplane was designed as a high speed bomber, capable of both level and diving attacks.… more |
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Messerschmitt Bf-110EPublished: August 17, 2013 HistoryThe Messerschmitt Bf-110 was an early attempt by the Luftwaffe to develop a long range strategic fighter for deep penetration missions. It was also intended as a long range escort for bombers, as an interceptor against enemy bomber formations, and as a light bomber and ground attack aircraft. The first prototype flew in 1936, but protracted engine development kept the Bf-110… more |
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Focke Wulf Fw-190A-4Published: August 9, 2013 HistoryThe Focke Wulf Fw-190 is probably one of the most modeled aircraft in any scale, mainly because it was such an excellent design and was produced in very large numbers during World War II. Although sources vary as to the number produced, slightly fewer that 1,000 of the A-4 type appear to have been manufactured during 1942 to replace the A-3, and subsequently being supplanted… more |
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Dornier Do-335A-1Published: August 9, 2013 HistoryThe Do-335, like many German aircraft of World War II, had a checkered development. It began its life, at Hitler’s insistence, as a high speed bomber, and only later, when Hitler was told that the Me-262 would be a better high speed bomber, was the plane’s basic mission changed to that of heavy fighter and reconnaissance. First, Dornier used a scaled down (1/2.5) Do-… more |