Greg Wise
Reviews By Author
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Nakajima A6M2-N Type 2 Fighter Seaplane (RUFE) '902 Flying Group'Published:
History BriefThe A6M2-N floatplane was developed from the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Type 0, for the purposes of supporting amphibious operations and defending remote bases. It was based on the A6M-2 Model 11 fuselage, with a modified tail and added floats. This aircraft was the brainchild of Shinobu Mitsutake, Nakajima Aircraft Company's Chief Engineer, and Atsushi Tajima, one of the company's designers. A total of 327 were built, including the original prototype. The ProductMy sample came in a standard size box featuring attractive box art. The contents were well packaged and included; 9 grey plastic sprue, 1 in clear, 1 instruction sheet and 1 decal sheet. This kit has been around for a few years now and has been re-released with differing decal options.… more |
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A-6E IntruderPublished:
History BriefDuring the mid 1950's the U.S. Navy's need for an aircraft that could attack both ground and sea based targets in any weather, day or night, attracted a lot of proposals. In 1956, eight aircraft companies submitted at least twelve designs. Grumman Aerospace A-6 Intruder answered the call, design number 1280 was the winning entry and a contract was issued on March 26,1959. The aircraft was originally designated the A2F1, and the first flight of BUNO 147864 took place on April 19, 1960. The first A6A entered service with VA-42 in March 1963. The A-6 was a sturdy mid-wing design featuring twin Pratt & Whitney J-52 P-8B turbojets and a two crew side by side cockpit. Max Speed (clean): S/L 563 kts (648 mph) and a Ceiling: 42,400’. The A-6E was the… more |
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Sunderland Mk. IIIPublished:
History BriefThe Short Sunderland, one of the most famous seaplanes of World War II. It came into service toward the end of 1938, equipping the Royal Air Force squadrons of Coastal Command. The Mark III turned out to be the definitive Sunderland variant, with 461 built. Most were built by Shorts at Rochester and Belfast, a further 35 at a new (but temporary)[N 3] Shorts plant at White Cross Bay, Windermere;[22][23] while 170 were built by Blackburn Aircraft. The Sunderland Mark III proved to be one of the RAF Coastal Command's major weapons against the U-boats, along with the Consolidated PBY Catalina. As the U-boats began to use ‘Metox’ passive receivers the ASV Mk II radar gave away the presence of aircraft and the number of sightings diminished drastically. The… more |
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Airwing All Stars Intruders Part OnePublished:
Coming home from work the other day I found on my porch a rather large box. I’m sure that my mail lady who placed it there was annoyed because she had to get out of her Jeep. The crude looking box was rather curious, it was chopped down and folded up from a larger box that sported red and blue “Revell” models logos. I reached down and lifted the box up to eye level and saw the familiar IPMS seal with Dick Montgomery’s name and return address. I then did the unthinkable, I shook the box like a kid on Christmas day. I already knew what “Ole Saint Dick” had sent but I didn’t know when. As I walked through the front door my wife greeted me with “that better be a review” as she kissed me. I know, it’s a dream that only plastic modelers have but I was wide awake and I couldn’t wait to open… more |
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Westland WhirlwindPublished:
History BriefThe Westland Whirlwind was a British heavy fighter. Designed by Teddy Petter from the RAF's specification drawn up in 1937, the Westland Aircraft Company produced a single-seat, twin-engined monoplane, prototype which flew on 11 October, 1938 with Whirlwind production starting early the next year. It was the RAF’s first single-seat, twin-engined, cannon-armed fighter and a contemporary of the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft’s small tube fuselage with its 'T'-tail was an advanced design for its time and the entire plane was built of stressed-skin duraluminium2. The pilot was seated in one of the first 'bubble' type canopies, giving the pilot an almost 360 degree view, and the low forward position of the wing gave the pilot… more |
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US Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War IIPublished:
About This BookNoted author and historian Barrett Tillman has complied yet again another literary masterpiece. This time devoted exclusively to US Marine fighting squadrons in World War II. The US Marine Corps aviation recently celebrated its centennial in 2012. During the last 100 years ‘the flying leathernecks’ have enjoyed a rich heritage of bravery and excellence. Exploring this, Barrett Tillman steps up and delivers factual accounts from the best known Marine aviators such as Greg ‘Pappy’ Boyington, Joe Foss and many more. Tillman also included a wartime interview of Boyington. Through these recollections you’ll learn about the caliber of the men that defended our freedom in clear and honest recollections. These guys were as tough as nails. Their presence in the Pacific… more |
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Ki 27 Type 97 Fighter Nate '1st Flight Regiment'Published:
History BriefDuring the early summer of 1935 the Imperial Japanese Army issued requests to Mitsubishi, Kawasaki and Nakajima to competitively build advanced fighter aircraft prototypes to replace the Kawasaki Ki-10 fighter biplane. Before the end of 1935 Nakajima responded with the Ki-27, a single-seat monoplane fighter derived from the company's ‘Type P.E.’ aircraft. Of the three contenders Nakajima’s nimble Ki-27 was by far more maneuverable than the other two but was not as fast and had a slower climb rate than the Kawasaki. Finally, after further testing in late 1937 the Nakajima was ordered into production as the Army’s Type 97 Fighter Model A or Ki-27A. Later production aircraft introduced further refinements, including an improved cockpit canopy, these carried… more |
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F6F-3 Hellcat W/Carrier DeckPublished:
History BriefThe F6F Hellcat, was a completely new design from Grumman for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The F6F Hellcat, a single-seat carrier-based fighter is credited with destroying a staggering 5,271 enemy aircraft. In all, some 4,402 F6F-3 carrier-borne fighters were produced up until April 1944 before it was replaced by the F6F-5. This type first flew on 3 October 1942 and it reached operational readiness the following February with VF-9 aboard USS Essex. The fighter’s standard armament was six .50-cal M2/AN Browning machine guns plus six High-Velocity Aircraft Rockets (HVAR) mounted under its wings , while later aircraft had three hard-point’s capable of carrying 900kg of bombs. The ProductCyber-Hobby is offering aircraft modelers something… more |
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F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-9Published:
About This BookA historical account of VF-9 and its pilots that became aces flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat. In the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the US Navy quickly formed Carrier Air Group 9. CAG-9 had four squadrons, VF-9, VB-9, VS-9 and VT-9 they were activated in March 1942. Initially equipped with five Brewster F2A-3 Buffalos that were quickly replaced by Grumman F4F Wildcats. VF-9 first saw action during the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942. It was here the squadron successfully engaged Vichy French fighters in combat over Morocco. Upon returning to the United States, VF-9 became one of the first squadrons to receive the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Soon after they deployed on the USS Essex, namesake of its class of fleet carriers… more |
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A-25A-5-CS ShrikePublished:
History BriefThe A-25 Shrike was the USAAF variant of the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. Nine hundred aircraft were ordered by the USAAF under the designation A-25A Shrike. The first ten aircraft had folding wings, while the remainder of the production order omitted this unnecessary feature. Many other changes distinguished the A-25A, including larger main wheels, a pneumatic tail wheel, ring and bead gun sight, longer exhaust stubs, and Army-specified radio equipment. By late 1943 when the A-25A was being introduced, the USAAF no longer had a role for the dive bomber, as fighter aircraft such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt had shown their ability to carry out tactical air support… more |