Hub Plott
Reviews By Author
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Convair Class VF Convoy Fighter: The Original Proposal for the XFY-1 PogoPublished:
This book covers the proposal in 1950 that lead to the XFY-1 Pogo, the Convair Class VF Convoy Fighter! This called for an aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing from ship and shore to protect ships in a convoy from enemy aircraft. The Convair design was one of a total of five that the Navy received. The book is logically laid out beginning with an introduction to explain the history of the concept, and then goes directly into the Convair proposal. Cutaway drawings showing the aircraft internals, the seat adjustment for takeoff and landing, general description and so on are provided. The many technical drawings show armament, engine layout, assembly breakdown. In addition there is discussion for a proposal to the US Army for an observation version of this… more |
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LancasterPublished:
This book is a condensed history of the Avro Lancaster. What would come to be the mainstay of Bomber Command has its lineage traced from the beginnings of the failed Manchester design into the most famous of Britain’s WWII bombers. The book is broken down into five chapters plus an introduction. The chronology section lasts three pages and lists all important dates from the Air Ministry specification of July 1936 that lead to the Lancaster’s development through to the 1956 retirement of the Lanc and the 1963 retirement of its follow-on the Lincoln. The design and development chapter begins not just with the Manchester but also discusses how the development of long range bombers had been held back since the Handley Page Heyford in favor of medium ranged twins. This… more |
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Consolidated Vultee XB-46 Air Force Legends #221Published:
This book comes in the now familiar red cover with type photo and follows the series normal format. The XB-46 was one of four entries into the competition for a jet-powered medium bomber. They were along with the XB-46; the North American XB-45, Boeing XB-47 and Martin XB-48. Boeing was allowed to use swept-wing research captured from the Germans on their design. Of the other three straight winged designs the XB-45 was the winner and received a production order. That being said Convair’s XB-46 was one of the most beautiful and elegant straight wing jet designs ever conceived. The long thin 113 foot Davis wing and 105 foot cylindrical fuselage combination was most aesthetically pleasing. The book begins with the development of the design and construction. Paying strict… more |
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The Mosquito Pocket ManualPublished:
The Pocket Manual is a compilation of various Air Ministry pamphlets, publications and manuals on the De Havilland Mosquito. The book starts with the design specifications and related documents. This is followed by the pilot notes in chapter 2 and the operations and tactical publications. This last section details aspects of operating the night bomber version, strategic bomber version, pathfinding and even the Sea Mosquito. The book concludes with 105SQ operations record books. This is an interesting look at various period publications to aid in operating and maintaining the Mosquito. There is good information for the historian, pilot and some nice detailed period cockpit photos with instrumentation callouts. If the Mosquito interests you, you will find this book to… more |
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The Hurricane Pocket ManualPublished:
The Pocket Manual is a compilation of various Air Ministry pamphlets, publications, and manuals on the Hawker Hurricane. The book starts with the design specifications and related documents. This is followed by the pilot notes in chapter 2, the tactical in chapter 3, and operations in chapter 4 publications. These last sections detail aspects of tactical trials as well as 111 SQ operations record book, Fighter Command Combat report for 12 Group and Sqdn. Leader Douglas Bader’s September 7-19, 1940 flight log. This is an interesting look at various period publications to aid in operating and maintaining the Hurricane. There is good information for the historian, pilot and some nice detailed period cockpit photos with instrumentation callouts. If the Mosquito interests… more |
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P-51 In ActionPublished:
The In Action series should be familiar to all. David Doyle continues his update of this series this time focusing on the iconic P-51 Mustang, a plane many would say was the best of the war. The book begins with the NA-73X prototype designed to help supply Britain in the early part of WWII. The USAAC would only allow North American to export the planes if they provided 2 at no cost to the Army for evaluation. These two became the XP-51 one of which survives today with the EAA in Wisconsin. The book follows the development of the plane as it progressed first with the Allison engine powered variants; the Mustang I, F-6A, A-36A dive bomber and the P-51A. Next comes those powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin and its license built examples from Packard. That change in engines… more |
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Spotlight on Junkers Ju 87 StukaPublished:
The Spotlight series of books consist of a large number of color profiles of multiple variants of the covered subject. The first page discusses the RLM colors of the various Stukas shown. This is followed by 42 beautiful color profiles from the early Ju-87A1s to the final Ju-87G2s. The last page shows top views of the Ju-87A-1, B-2 and D-5s. If you love color profiles and I do, you will like this book. The numerous color profiles are beautifully rendered. The modeler will find many schemes for modeling the Ju-87 in any scale. Those who like WWII history, aviation history, Luftwaffe history and modeling will find this book very useful. I recommend it to all of the above. Our thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy and my thanks to IPMS/USA for the… more |
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American Secret Projects Vol 1: Fighters, Bombers and Attack Aircraft 1937-1945Published:
Luftwaffe ’46, Hikoki ’46 all have had many books and websites devoted to them, the paper projects, X-planes and wonder weapons of the enemy Axis Powers. Now there is a book that details all of the same from the US manufacturers. We are given a nice hardback book filled with photos of those designs that actually were built or made it to the mock-up stage, and drawings of those that did not. Some of the drawings are just basic rendering of the aircraft, while others are more useful engineering drawings with dimensions and scale. The chapter layout begins with USAAF single engine fighters. Here each manufacturer’s designs are discussed. From early Bell designs for what would become the P-39 to the XP-47H and J on to the XP-75 Eagle and beyond are all discussed. There are… more |
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Spitfire The Legend Lives OnPublished:
March of 2016 marks the 80th birthday of the Spitfire design. Like its American counterpart the P-51, the Spitfire is the most numerous survivor of its country’s WWII fighters both on display and flying! As the years go by we lose more and more of those who were there and flew these machines in the last great global conflict. Soon they all will have passed into history. Their machines though will live on to tell the story. Each of the Spitfires discussed in this book has a service history. Whether found behind a hangar, unearthed or recovered from crash sites on land and in the sea, they have been lovingly rebuilt. Some seemingly from only a few remaining usable parts. We are given a beautiful, large book equally at home in the library or on the coffee table… more |
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Siebel Fh 104Published:
Upon opening the box, one is greeted with a simple resin kit of an aircraft so obscure that even though I pride myself on my knowledge of WWII aircraft and have built over 100 resin kits of many obscure aircraft, again I had to look this one up! The following brief history was gleaned from Wikipedia:
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