Frank Landrus

IPMS Number
35035

Reviews By Author

The Lockheed Dragon Lady U-2

The Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady

Published:
Book Author(s): Ryan Dorling
Company: Phoenix Scale Publications

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modelling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modelling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modelling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold winning modeler and he has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has featured in numerous aviation and modelling… more

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Cross & Cockade International Summer 2024

Published:
Book Author(s): Managing Editor: Mick Davis
Company: Cross & Cockade International

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. Issues are available as printed as well as digital copies (or both). 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 Summer 2024 journal of Cross & Cockade International features a color photograph of three Russian flying boats beached near Sevastapol, the largest city in Crimea. The front two aircraft are Curtiss F aircraft [Later designated Curtiss Model 7]. These two seaplanes were part of two batches… more

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Messerschmitt Me 328 Development & Politics

Published:
Book Author(s): Dan Sharp
Company: Mortons Books

Mortons Media Group was established in the 19th century and has been producing book-length publications since the early 2000s. The company established a dedicated books division in 2019 and Mortons Books has already earned a reputation for publishing high-quality titles by authors who are true experts in their field. For the best reads on rail, aviation, nostalgia and history, look no further. This book is part of their imprint: Tempest Books addresses all aspects of aviation history are covered in authoritative detail. The aviators and aircraft of the Second World War are profiled by our titles alongside more modern fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and transports. 'Secret projects' and experimental designs are also an important part of the Tempest Books portfolio.

Dan… more

CCI Spring 2024

Cross & Cockade International Spring 2024 Volume 55/1

Published:
Book Author(s): Various
Company: Cross & Cockade International

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. Issues are available as printed as well as digital copies (or both).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 Spring 2024 journal of Cross & Cockade International features four photographs of RAF squadron lineups that include Bristol F2B Fighters, Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s, and Sopwith Camels. The rear inside and outside cover is connected to the Tim de Ferrars feature, Marske Miscellany… more

Bengun Tu-141 Strizh

Tupolev Tu-141 Strizh

Published:
Company: Brengun

Background

Hauler-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 Tupolev Tu-141 Strizh is offered in only 1/144 scale.

The Tupolev Tu-141 Strizh ("Swift"; Russian: Туполев Ту-141 Стриж) is a Soviet reconnaissance drone that served with the Soviet Army during the late 1970s and 1980s, as well as the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2014. As with previous Tupolev designs, it has a dart-like rear-mounted delta wing, forward-mounted canards, and a KR-17A turbojet engine, 4,409 lbs of thrust, mounted above the tail. It is launched from a trailer using a solid-propellant booster and lands with the aid of a tail-mounted parachute. The Tu-141 was in Soviet service from 1979… more

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The Heinkel He 177 Greif

Published:
Book Author(s): Richard A. Franks
Company: Valiant Wings Publishing

Valiant Wings Publishing was founded in 2010 under the guidance of Richard A. Franks and Mark Peacock. Valiant Wings has released several series of primarily airplane monographs [Airframe & Miniature, Airframe Album and Airframe Detail series] with the first Airframe Album dedicated to the Heinkel He 219 ‘Uhu’ released in 2012. This is Valiant Wings largest Airframe Album to date at 192 pages.

Valiant Wings Publishing’s editor, Richard A. Franks, and in this case the author of The Heinkel He 177 Greif, has recollections of making models at the age of eight. The first aircraft Richard ever built was an Airfix blister-pack 1/72nd Fokker Dr. I. Made in an afternoon, resplendent in 'Post Office Red' and with the decals applied whilst the paint was still wet so that there were… more

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Justitia, Roman Goddess of Justice

Published:
Company: Morland Studios

Morland Studios produces 32mm and 54mm figures; 200mm busts; along with bases and scenics with the focus on quality display miniatures. Morland Studios is the home of the Officially Licensed Nene Thomas, Howard David Johnson, and Order of the Stick miniature lines. Justitia, the Roman Goddess of Justice, is a 54mm metal figure sculpted by Sebastian Archer that was released in February 2015.

The kit comes in a somewhat square box stuffed with confetti-like paper to pad the parts. Pulling out the parts, you get a 54mm white metal figure, a black plastic base, and a zip-lock bag with the remaining kit parts. The zip-lock bag contains two chains and three white metal parts. The Howard David Johnson painting on which this kit is based is depicted on the side of the box.

I would… more

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Mikoyan Gurevich UTI MiG-15 and License Build Versions

Published:
Book Author(s): Lechosław Musiałkowski Illustrator: Andrej M. Olejniczak
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modelling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly”, a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor.From 1997 the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999, and since then we have built up a list of books on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history.

Lechosław Musiałkowski has authored aviation monographs, including the Polish language Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowejseries: Łódź… more

Asia at War 45 France's War in Indochina

France's War in Indochina Volume 1: The Tiger Versus the Elephant, 1946-1949

Published:
Book Author(s): Stephen Rookes
Company: Helion & Company

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 over 1,200 books with 100 or more new titles coming out every year.

Author, Dr. Stephen Rookes, works for the French Air Force as a researcher and lecturer at the Centre de Recherche de l’Armée de l’air et de l’espace (CREA) in Salon-de-Provence, France. Originally from Devon in the UK, he is now a French national. Stephen Rookes is the author of four books published by Helion, and the author of peer-reviewed articles in English and in French. He specializes in the history of Cuban exiles and takes a particular interest in the CIA's covert operations in Central America and… more

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Saab 35 Draken: Aircraft in Detail

Published:
Book Author(s): Nicolas Deboeck and Fredrik Edvardsen
Company: HMH Publications

TheSaab 35 Draken is the latest publication from Duke Hawkins Books and is the thirty-first volume of a series of books that they have recently published highlighting modern aircraft. This series got its start with The Sepecat Jaguar in July 2017 and has been quite successful. There is also a special limited edition on the Belgian Air Force F-16 and on the Juan Carlos I Aircraft Carrier. This series of publications fall under the name of Duke Hawkins, but it is not clear exactly who Duke Hawkins is. If you check out other retail sites on this series, you can findRobert Pied and Nicolas Deboeck listed as authors, but there is not much additional information on them. One of the bylines goes like this:

So, there I was, looking for a book that could show me the Jaguar in… more