Frank Landrus
Reviews By Author
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Soviet Submarine Project 628Published:
Project 628 was a design study, circa 1952-1953, to fit a Vladimir Nikolayevich Chelomei (Влади́мир Никола́евич Челоме́й) sub-sonic cruise missile to the 1,500-ton diesel-electric Soviet XIV series K-Class sub. The Russian Project 628 proposal is similar to what the US Navy did with a ‘Loon’ launching from a Gato Class submarine, the USS Cusk SSG-348. The original K-Class design was approved in 1936 as a long range "cruiser submarine" with a heavy torpedo and gun armament. The boats could operate as a "fleet submarine" working with the battle fleet or as long range commerce raiders. The double hull was divided into seven compartments. It was originally planned to carry a small floatplane for scouting but this concept was abandoned when the planned aircraft proved too flimsy. Twelve… more |
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The "Trapdoor" Springfield: From the Little Bighorn to San Juan HillPublished:
John P. Langellier grew up in Tucson, Arizona and spent 12 years in the US Army. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in History from the University of San Diego, and his PhD in Military History from Kansas State University. John helped found the Autry Museum of the American West in California and has served as the director for the Wyoming State Museum. He is the author of numerous books and monographs that include: The War in Europe: From the Kasserine Pass to Berlin, 1942-1945 (1995, Greenhill); Fix Bayonets: The U.S. Infantry from the American Civil War to the Surrender of Japan (1999, Chelsea); Second Manassas 1862: Robert E Lee’s Greatest Victory (2002, Osprey); Union Infantrymen of the Civil War (2003, Osprey); Fighting for Uncle… more |
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Bachem Ba 349 NatterPublished:
Robert Forsyth, born in Berkshire, England, has studied the history and operations of the Luftwaffe since his school days. Based in East Sussex with his wife, he runs an aviation and military publishing business full-time. He has written articles for the magazines Aeroplane , Aviation News, FlyPast, and The Aviation Historian, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the latter publication. He is the author of several hard bound books, including: JV 44 – The Galland Circus (1996), Battle over Bavaria – The B-26 versus the German Jets (Classic, 1998), Mistel – German Composite Aircraft and Operations 1942-1945 (Classic, 2001), Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber (Classic, 2006, with Eddie Creek); He 162 Volksjäger (Classic, 2009, with Eddie Creek); Heinkel He 111 (Crecy, 2014); Junkers… more |
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Finnish Bomber Colours 1939-1945Published:
Kari Stenman has authored, or co-authored, aviation books for the past 49 years. He ran his own publishing company in Finland, focusing on Finnish Aviation History. Many of them were in his Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia series that were originally in Finnish only, but later re-released with Finnish and English text. including:
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MiG-31 Foxhound Airbrakes PistonsPublished:
Want an easy upgrade to the AMK 1/48 MiG-31 Foxhound? Step right up to the new Quickboost MiG-31 airbrakes pistons set that provides a beautiful replacement to what is supplied in the kit. The parts are packaged in the standard Quickboost re-closable packaging with a paper stiffener along with the description card. These parts are specific to fit the AMK highly detailed 1/48 MiG-31 Foxhound injected plastic kits. They may also work for the Hobby Boss Foxhound kit, but I only have AMK kits to compare to. This appears to be a re-release of the Aires 4722 Speed Brakes kit that was released earlier, only now without the actual replacement speed brakes. Quickboost has molded the airbrake pistons perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles. Quickboost has provided two… more |
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Cromwell vs Jagdpanzer IV: Normandy 1944Published:
David R. Higgins is the author of several military history books, including five previous titles for Osprey's Duel series. These include King Tiger vs IS-2 (Duel 37), Mark IV vs A7V (Duel 49), Jagdpanther vs Su-100 (Duel 58), Panzer II vs 7TP (Duel 66), and M48 Patton vs Centurion (Duel 71). David has also authored books for Osprey in the Raid and Combat series. David authored a hardcover book for Casemate in 2010: The Roer Battles: Germany’s Stand at the Westwall, 1944-45. David has been prolific in periodicals, having written nearly 50 articles for magazines such as Strategy & Tactics, Armchair General, World at War and Modern War, and has appeared on television's ‘Greatest Tank Battles'. David attended the Columbus College of Art & Design and received a BFA from Ohio State… more |
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Saab J 21 Air IntakePublished:
Want an easy upgrade to any 1/48 Saab J 21? Step right up to the new Quickboost Saab J 21 air intake set that provides a beautiful replacement to what is supplied in the kit. As a bonus, you get two air intakes! That’s right! You will find that this honey of a kit is so good you will want to build a second. The parts are packaged in the standard Quickboost re-closable packaging with a paper stiffener along with the description card. These parts are specific to fit the Pilot Replicas accurate and highly detailed 1/48 Saab J 21 A-3 injected plastic kit. A promised future release of the Saab A 21 will also use the same air intake. I believe this currently is the one and only kit release of a Saab J 21 in 1/48 scale, but I can’t promise you there is not a vacuform kit out there… more |
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Aero L-29 WheelsPublished:
The Czechoslovakian Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (NATO code Maya) became the standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact Air Forces. First flight was on April 5, 1959. Two-thirds of the over 3,000 aircraft manufactured have served with the Soviet Air Force as its standard basic, intermediate, and weapons platform trainer. The L-29 has seen combat in several wars, notably the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the Nigerian Civil War in the sixties. Many have been sold to the private sector with some performing in airshows and air races. This set is specifically designed for the AMK 1/48 L-29 kit. Of course it will work in the Eduard kit as well since Eduard used the AMK molds for the enhanced release. I don’t have the earlier Planet Models resin kit, but I’m sure these wheels will dress it up… more |
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US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1969-73Published:
Peter E. Davies lives in Bristol, U.K. and as authored or co-authored at least twenty-seven books on modern American combat aircraft, many with Osprey Publishing. He was published by the Naval Institute Press in 1997 with his hardcover book, The Harrier Story, co-authored with Anthony M. Thornborough. His Schiffer Military History hard cover on the Gray Ghosts, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps F-4 Phantoms published in 2000 is considered a must have. Peter published a hardcover book with Crowood Press, North American F-100 Suber Sabre, in 2003. He has also covered many aircraft in Osprey’s Combat Aircraft series, Osprey’s Air Vanguard series, and Osprey’s Duel series. Four of these have concentrated on the U.S. Navy's use of the F-4 Phantom II. All of Peter's books on this topic have… more |
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Junkers Ju87 Stuka; Wings of the Black Cross SeriesPublished:
Mark Proulx has enthusiastically studied World War II history for decades. During that time, his primary focus has been on the air battles over Europe. He has written a number of books for the Wings of the Black Cross series. Earlier on, that interest drove him to an airline career, where he now works as a training captain for one of North America’s larger regional airlines. In addition, his research has also been directed toward a number of EagleCals produced by Eagle Editions. Mark currently lives in Alberta, Canada where he is married with one daughter. Steve Deisley is a graphic artist that has recently joined Eagle Editions and provides the color profiles and color scrap details. Eagle’s second book in their Wings of the Black Cross Special addresses the… more |