Hub Plott
Reviews By Author
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Japanese Heavy Fighters 1939-1945Published:
When most aviation enthusiasts and modelers think of heavy fighters, the image of larger, usually twin-engine aircraft such as the Bf-110, P-61 or Bristol Beaufighter come to mind. In Japan during WWII a heavy fighter designation meant an aircraft that were armed with large caliber machine guns and/or cannons. So, several small single engine fighters were considered to be “heavy fighters.” The book is broken down into three main sections, heavy fighters of the imperial Japanese Army Air Force, heavy fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force and Japanese Aircraft weapons. Aircraft covered in the IJAAF section are the Ki-45, Ki-96, Ki-102, ki-108, Ki-83, Ki-93, Ki-94, Ki-87, Ki-64, Ki-73, Ki-98, Ki-119Ki-81, Ki-88, Ki-46 and canceled heavy fighter versions of the Ki-67.… more |
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Focke-Wulf FW-190 Vol IVPublished:
This volume covers the Fw-190D and Ta-152 variants. It is presented in the familiar fashion of this publisher, with a column on each page in Polish and English. Captions and drawing explanations are also in both languages. Text and photos make up the first seventy-five pages of this volume. These pages cover both technical development, changes between variants, and operational use. A serial list of all productions as well as some of the most successful pilots are also covered. There is a wealth of scale drawing both in the book as well as a couple of extra loose ones. The four pages of diagrams showing all the changes from the basic A9 version into the Ds and Ta-152s are quite illuminating. The color profiles are beautifully done as is always the case with this publisher.… more |
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P-51 MustangPublished:
The P-51 Mustang. An icon of WWII held in the same esteem as the Spitfire, Thunderbolt and Hurricane by enthusiasts and historians alike. Aviation historian martin W, Bowman has compiled a wonderful album of photos of all marks that saw combat, from the P-51A to the F-82G. Some of these photos will be familiar to all, but many are new or have seldom been seen. There are nine pages of introductory text that give a brief overview of the history of the mustang from April 1940 when NAA proposed a new design to the British through its final military service with the Dominican Air Force, last flight of which occurred in 1984. Each of the photos has a fully informative caption giving the needed information. The only “funny” thing is on the cover it advertises “Rare photographs… more |
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Corsair Cockpits F4U-1 FamilyPublished:
This is volume 1 in a series. The book is by Dana Bell, well known author to modelers and historians alike for his work in aircraft colors. He is a retired researcher and Tech specialist for the NASM. This volume covers the multitude of changes in the cockpits of Corsairs from the XF4U-1 through 1D built by Vought, The F3A-1 and 1A built by Brewster and those from theFG-1 to FG-1D built by Goodyear. This book is a super-detailer’s dream. Changes in cockpit configuration are specified out by both contract and bureau number so you can detail out your specific build as accurately as you wish to. The book is broken down into sections dealing with specific details. Starting with the XF4U-1 and then covering the birdcage variants canopy and armor. These are followed… more |
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Fifth Generation FightersPublished:
This is a revised and updated edition of the book originally published in 2018. The book covers the most modern of fighter aircraft currently in use and development. It is divided into nineteen chapters. The first six chapters of the book cover the development of Jet fighters after WWII along with advances in armament, the use of missiles attempting to replace dogfighting as well as avionics and radar improvements and the development of stealth technologies. The next nine chapters are aircraft specific, each covering one of the types flying at time of publication. First up is the first of the fifth-generation fighters, the F-22 covering its successes and problems, including the issues with the environmental systems that led to pilots having issues after landing with… more |
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XP-55 Ascender Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions is a name well known for their replacement white metal landing gear for many different scales and kits. This set provides replacement for the Modelsvit 1/48 XP-55. Besides the landing gear you are also given a white metal nosewheel gear bay roof which will no doubt aide in preventing the model from tail sitting or at least reduce the amount of added nose weight required. These are drop fit replacements for the kit plastic landing gear and are also stronger. I have used many of these sets on my tricycle landing gear builds. The extra strength of these is extremely helpful especially when a large amount of nose weight is required. They are always well molded and easy to use. CA glue is required, and I have used every type of model paint from… more |
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Fairey FireflyPublished:
The Fairey Firefly was one of the most successful two-seat fighter/strike/attack aircraft used in WWII and beyond. While the type did have some teething problems at the beginning it proved its value across multiple theatres and two wars. The first action for the type was in Europe against the German battleship Tirpitz and then onto the Pacific against the Japanese, Later marks provided valuable service in the Korean War. The book is divided into eight chapters, the first dealing with the use of the Firefly in WWII. Though the production Mk. I was over 40MPH slower than Fairey had promised it did prove valuable in the reconnaissance and attack roles, Chapter two covers the post war Fireflies. When WWII ended the British had many American aircraft due to Lend-Lease.… more |
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The Forgotten American Volunteer GroupPublished:
Everyone has heard of the AVG also know as the Flying Tigers and their exploits in WWII, but did you know that there was another AVG that served in Colombia in 1932? This book is their story. In the early 1930s there was a border skirmish between Colombia and Peru when the latter invaded a very remote section of Columbia. So remote in fact that it was only accessible by floatplane or boats and thus there was a delay in the Colombian government finding out the Peru had invaded. Due to the remoteness of this area airpower was going to be the primary force to contest Peru. Colombia’s air force was largely under the control of the German Airline that operated in the nation as little had been done by Germany to train locals in and on the aircraft. Also, the aircraft in use… more |
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Soviet Heavy fighters 1926-1949Published:
This book comprises twenty-two segments each covering a different aircraft design. The heavy fighter concept was one that was tried out by many different nations. In theory these aircraft were to perform a variety of missions such as ground attack, bomber protection/escort as well as reconnaissance without the aid of single engine fighters. More often than not it was found that the heavy fighters needed their own single engine fighter escort for protection on missions. Many of the aircraft covered in this book are by lesser-known designers and thus the aircraft themselves are lesser known as well. Many of these designers struggled within Stalin’s government where failure was almost certainly to catch the ire of the communists in charge. The communist government and Stalin’s… more |
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PZL P.11cPublished:
This book covers the Polish PZL P.11c and is laid out in seven chapters. The book has text laid out in two columns per page, one on English and one in Polish. The first chapter covers the development and history of the first Allied aircraft to down a German plane in WWII. Included in this section are several color profiles as well as information about the various fighter squadrons and each of the aircraft depicted in the profiles. Chapter two is forty-seven pages of color walkaround and detail photos of the one surviving PZL P. 11c at the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow. These photos omit no angle or detail and are worth the price of the book alone. The next five chapters are build reviews of most of the kits of the PZL P.11c available. A chapter each is devoted to the 1/72… more |