Frank Landrus
Reviews By Author
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SMS Torpedo Boat A-IIIPublished:
Kagero’s SMS Torpedoboot A-III is one of the latest in their Super Drawings in 3D series. This edition is in their standard 8.25” x 11.75” format softbound publication that is 60 pages (including covers). This volume starts off with two pages of historical text followed by 61 pages of color 3D illustrations. There is also a Centerfold full of line drawings (B2; ~26.8” x 19.0”) that starts with profiles at 1/100th scale and goes up to 1/25th scale for the details. I counted 106 color 3D illustrations, 42 line drawings, and two tables. There are no current nor period photographs. Designed for use for operations off Belgium’s Flanders coast, these torpedo boasts neared the size of a small destroyer. Built in three series, A-I (25 built), A-II (30 built), A-… more |
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J 29 Tunnan Exhaust NozzlePublished:
BackgroundAires began in 1995, making 2020 their 25th anniversary. They are based out of the Czech Republic and include not only the Aires brand name, but QuickBoost, Aero Bonus, and Wheelliant. Pilot Replicas’ Saab J 29F Tunnan effort clearly surpasses that of any other Tunnan kits on the market. The first 1/48 Tunnan was Neomega's resin kit, which had not been improved upon by either the AZ kit with its distorted shapes, nor the Hobby Boss kit with its ~ 1/53 scale. Although the Neomega kit represents the exhaust marginally better and maybe has one advantage of an all resin cockpit, the Pilot Replicas’ kit has it beat everywhere else, especially on fit and surface detail. Pilot Replicas released a seamless intake shortly thereafter. Aires / Quickboost… more |
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RGD-33 Soviet GrenadePublished:
BackgroundHauler/Brengun was founded in 1999 and produces scale plastic kits, resin kits and accessories, photo-etched details for kits and other accessories. The Soviet RGD-33 (Ruchnaya Granata Djakonova obraztsa 33) Hand Grenade was designed by Russian engineer Mikhail G. Dyakonov in 1933 to replace the aging Model 1914 grenade. Complicated to use and manufacture, the RG-42 was developed to replace it in 1942. The RGD-33 consisted of three separate parts that were kept separate until ready for use: the warhead, the handle, and the fuse. They were only assembled and distributed prior to combat and even then, the fuse was kept in a separate pouch wrapped in wax paper. The RGD-33 was not armed until the fuse was inserted, just before it was thrown. There is a sliding… more |
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Cross & Cockade International Winter 2020 Volume 51/4Published:
Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. They also provide a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Winter 2020 journal of Cross & Cockade International features a nice sharp black and white photograph of Sopwith Camels of 70 Squadron in a Bickendorf shed in1918. The inside and outside rear cover continues with additional black and white pics of 70 Squadron at Bickendorf. This issue includes the fourth in a series of British flying sites in France,… more |
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Air Power and the Arab World 1909-1955 Volume 2: Arab Side Shows, 1914-1918Published:
Dr. David C Nicolle is a British historian specializing in the military history of the Middle-Ages, with special interest in the Middle East and Arab countries. After working for BBC Arabic Service, he obtained his MA at SOAS, University of London, followed by a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. He then lectured in art history at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan. Dr. Nicolle has published over 100 books about warfare ranging from Roman times to the 20th century, mostly as sole author. He also co-authored the ‘Arab MiGs’ series of books which covered the history of the Arab air forces at war with Israel from 1955 to 1973. Furthermore, he has appeared in several TV-documentaries, and has published numerous articles in specialized press. This is his third instalment for Helion’s @War… more |
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The Lion from the North - The Swedish Army during the Thirty Years War Volume 1; 1618-1632Published:
Professor Michael Fredholm von Essen is an historian and former military analyst who has published extensively on the history, defence strategies, security policies, and energy sector developments of Eurasia. He currently is the Head of Research and Development at IRI, an independent research institute. Educated at Uppsala, Stockholm, and Lund Universities, Michael Fredholm von Essen has lectured, including during conferences and as visiting professor, at numerous institutions and universities around the world. He is the author of a large number of books, articles, and academic papers, including Muscovy's Soldiers: The Emergence of the Russian Army, 1462-1689 (Helion, 2018); Charles XI's War: The Scanian War between Sweden and Denmark, 1675-1679 (Helion, 2018); … more |
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Silver Birds over the Estuary - The MiG-21 in Yugoslav and Serbian Air Force service, 1962-2019Published:
Helion is a UK based company that produces books on many aspects of Military History from the Late Medieval period through to the present day. Helion was established in 1996, and since then they have published almost 1,200 books, with 100 or more new titles coming out every year, for readers around the world. Helion’s sixth book in the Europe @ War series is a square back soft cover includes 80 gloss paper pages. This has become a popular series and more books in the Europe @ War series are planned for 2021. Bojan Dimitrijevic is working as a historian and is Deputy Director of the Institute for Contemporary History, Belgrade, Serbia. Educated at the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad, CEU Budapest and the University of Bradford, he has also worked as the custodian of the… more |
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The Yugoslav Air Force In The Battles For Slovenia, Croatia And Bosnia And Herzegovina,1991-1992 Volume 1Published:
Aleksandar Radić is a Serbian military analyst and author. His primary focus is on the security topics of the West Balkans, the history of the armed forces, the military technology in that region in the 20th Century, and the conflicts that have followed the break-up of Yugoslavia in the period 1991-2001. He has authored a dozen books and hundreds of magazine articles published in the specialized press. Recently, Radic has frequently appeared as a military commentator for major TV stations in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Northern Macedonia. This is his second book for Helion's @War series. Helion is a UK based company that produces books on many aspects of Military History from the Late Medieval period through to the present day. Helion was… more |
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The PIAT, Britain’s Anti-Tank Weapon of World War IIPublished:
Osprey Publishing has been providing books for enthusiasts since 1968 and since then it has grown, evolved and taken on new challenges until it stands today as one of the most successful examples of niche publishing around. Matthew Moss is a British author and historian specializing in small arms development, military history, and current defense affairs. Matthew has degrees from the Universities of Liverpool and Chester and has contributed to publications in both the United States and the United Kingdom. He runs the website Historical Firearms, a blog that explores the history, development, and use of firearms. He co-founded the Armourer’s Bench with Vic Tuff (… more |
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Rutan QuickiePublished:
BackgroundHauler/Brengun was founded in 1999 and produces scale plastic kits, resin kits and accessories, photo-etched details for kits and other accessories. This kit of the Rutan Quickie is offered in two different scales: 1/72 and 1/48. The Rutan Quickie is a lightweight single-seat taildragger aircraft of composite construction, configured with tandem wings. The Quickie was primarily designed by Burt Rutan in 1977 as a low-powered, highly efficient kit-plane. After the first flights, Tom Jewett and Gene Sheehan continued development of the Quickie to market it for home-build projects. Over 350 kits were produced between 1978 and 1980, with ultimately some 1,000 kits being sold. The recommended engine is a Onan four-stroke piston engine delivering 18 hp, although… more |