Hub Plott
Reviews By Author
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T-33A/RT-33A Shooting StarPublished:
This book is from the Italian Aviation Series and covers the T-33A/RT-33A mostly in Italian service. Like several other Italian aircraft book series this one too provides text and captions in both Italian and English. Chapter one is an introduction to the design, where chapter two covers its design and beginnings with the USAF. Chapter three by far the book’s largest at 45 pages covers the Shooting Star’s (better known in the USA as T-bird) service to the Italian AF. The first T-33 was received in July of 1952 and the type served the IAF until March of 1982 a career of almost 30 years of uninterrupted service. Chapter four covers the use of Canadian built CT-133 in a hail preventing operation. Chapter five is a modeler’s note section with building the 1/72 Heller kit of this… more |
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RAF Fighter Command: Defense of the Realm 1936-1945Published:
This book details RAF’s fighter command from just prior to the conclusion of WWII. Their job was to be the defensive shield for the home islands from all comers. This chapter explains how despite this mission the flying and training during this time did very little to prepare them for aerial combat much less the all-out struggle for survival during the early days of aerial combat in WWII! The book is broken down into 17 chapters, beginning with as it is titled “The greatest Flying club in the world” giving an overview of planes and issues used by and facing the RAF from WWI up through1945. Chapter 2 has the RAF playing catch up with the Nazis albeit with the sound and familiar designs of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. One of the biggest advances and… more |
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Lockheed F-104 Starfighter A HistoryPublished:
The F-104, known as “the missile with a man in it” is a sterling example of US cold war aircraft design. Designed to intercept incoming Soviet bombers the F-104 had great speed at the expense of range and the addition of wingtip tanks came at the expense of armament. Frontline USAF service was not that lengthy, although they did serve in Vietnam. The F-104 did serve a long time with the National Guard. Foreign Service is where the F-104 was used in the greatest numbers and the longest time. License built in Europe and Japan there was a long history of service in these various air forces. Mr. Bowman’s book is broken down into 11 chapters, covering from development to the post military service Starfighters display team. The book is an easy, enjoyable read with many pilot’s… more |
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American Secret Projects 2: US Airlifters 1941 to 1961Published:
This book is the second in a series on American prototypes and secret projects, the first on cargo aircraft. It covers many different aircraft from WWII types to right up till the early cold war. The authors were granted an unprecedented level of access to the various manufacturers’ archives and the amount of information in the book really shows this! This book covers over 200 designs from the well-known to those beyond obscure. The book is broken down into nine chapters. The first is a brief overview of the last 80 years of airlift design and usage. The second chapter covers the design challenges facing aerospace engineers especially when the government demands were outpacing the technology. Everything from wing placement to cargo door size and placement are discussed… more |
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NAA P-51D-10-NA Mustang (Single No. 4)Published:
This is volume four in the Single series. This is a thin book with no text other than photo captions. The book contains very nice 1/72 and 1/48 scale drawings, B&W photos of various details and pages from the manuals showing different systems. There are also three-color photos of cockpit details. One page that should prove extremely useful to the model builder is the diagram on page 20. Showing which wing areas were natural metal which areas had two coats of filler those with one coat of filler and then sprayed with silver paint and the areas of silver paint only. There is also a beautiful rendition of the instrument panel and an index to its layout. The book concludes with three pages of color drawings of P-51D 44-14292 “Man O War”. This is a nice inexpensive book… more |
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F-80 Shooting Star Units of the Korean WarPublished:
Designed during WWII and built in 180 days the F-80 did see some service in Italy in the final days of WWII. Post war many were stationed both in Europe and in Japan. Those in Japan were the first to answer the call when the North Koreans invaded South Korea. The F-80 compiled a strong record in the Korean conflict. The aircraft is credited with shooting down 17 enemy aircraft, using in excess of 80,000 air to ground rockets and dropping over 33,000 tons of bombs during almost 90,000 combat sorties. A most admirable record for any aircraft. They served throughout the conflict and were the first US jet to engage in jet to jet combat. The book is broken down into six chapters covering their use with mostly the 49th and 8th Fighter Bomber Wings. The… more |
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South African Air Force Fighter Colors Vol.1 East Africa Campaign 1940-1942Published:
This is volume one in a three volume set to cover the SAAF in WWII. This volume covers the East African Campaign with the following two volumes to cover North Africa and Malta as well as Sicily, Italy and the Balkans! The SAAF was sent to protect the Sudan and Kenya early on in the war from the Italians and their 200,000 troops and some 400 aircraft. The SAAF 1, 2 and 3 squadrons were equipped with mostly obsolete bi-plane aircraft such as the Gauntlet, Gladiator and Fury with which to counter any Italian attack. These were augmented by a few fabric winged and wooden propeller equipped Hurricane Mk Is. Later on these units joined by 4 Squadron that brought its Curtiss Mohawk fighters and Gladiators. The book is broken down into 10 sections. First is a brief introduction then… more |
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North American Aircraft NATO F-86D/KPublished:
Born from the great North American F-86A, the F-86D/K all weather interceptor had a long and widespread career. It served the USA both home and abroad and as this book covers with 7 NATO air forces as well as US forces in Europe. The F-86D/K served NATO until the final ones were retired from the Italian Air Force in 1973. The book has 5 total sections with the first section a brief overview of its development and production. Section Two covers the USAF in Europe. Section 3 is the largest section comprising 50 pages with coverage of the type’s service in Royal Danish, French, West German, Royal Hellenic, Italian, Royal Netherland and Royal Norwegian Air Force. Section Four has a look inside with manual pages and detail pictures reproduced throughout. The book ends with the… more |
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Hellcat Vs Shiden/Shiden-Kai Pacific Theater 1944-45Published:
The opponent vs opponent series is one of Osprey’s most enjoyable, this volume does not disappoint. The Hellcat was a later war USN fighter of which 12,275 were built. It was fast, maneuverable and very rugged (there is good reason Grumman was called “The Iron Works”. The Hellcat became the premier fighter of the USN. The Kawanishi Shiden and Shiden-Kai of which a total of approximately 1400 were built, was developed from a floatplane and departed from customary Japanese design philosophy in that it was heavily armed and both maneuverable and ruggedly constructed. The book is broken down into 10 sections beginning with two short introduction and design chronology sections totaling 4 pages. Next there comes the Design and Development section. The hellcat is discussed… more |
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X Planes Dornier Do 335Published:
Ask any WWII aficionado what was one of the most interesting designs and you will undoubtedly get many that would answer the Do-335. This large push/pull configured fighter has long fueled the imagination. Dornier had originally ceded further development of its unique design to Junkers due to their many production commitments, but Dornier reclaimed the work as the Junkers facility moved too slowly with the D0-335’s development. The book is broken down in six chapters and is number 9 in the series. Chapter One is an introduction to the design and the politics and war situations that influenced it. Chapter Two covers the origins of the Dornier Company, its many designs and the work with the Goppingen Go-9 push-pull testbed. Chapter Three is the longest in the book at 23… more |