James Kelley
Reviews By Author
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WWII German Military Medical PersonnelPublished:
HistoryIn WWII, German Medics were called Sanitäter, or Sani for short. In Wehrmacht, the direct medical care for wounded soldiers on the battlefield was provided by medics who were part of platoons, companies, and battalions. They could be distinguished from ordinary infantrymen by their special medical pouches, additional water flasks, patches, and armbands. They were also able to evacuate the wounded to first aid stations or collection points. Infantry companies also included non-commissioned officers of the medical service, and at the battalion level, a military doctor (Assistenz or Oberarzt) was responsible for centralized medical care. However, it was not possible to carry out serious medical operations in the battalion; this was the responsibility of the divisional… more |
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Pacific Profiles Volume 11. Allied Fighters: USAAF P-40 Warhawk series South and Southwest Pacific 1942-1945Published:
The ongoing Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of aircraft which served throughout Australia, New Guinea and the South Pacific. This Volume 11 covers the P-40 Warhawk series, which served with a dozen USAAF Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force fighter and reconnaissance squadrons, service units, combat replacement pools and other miscellaneous units. Most profiles are presented for the first time, alongside markings derivations, including squadron heraldry and codes. Frequent airframe reassignments between units resulted in wide-ranging and oft-changing unit markings and nose art. Until now there has been a paucity of material about several units, particularly those in the Thirteenth Air Force. This volume also rectifies past mistakes which continue to… more |
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Messerschmitt Bf-109G Metal Landing GearPublished:
One advantage of white metal over styrene plastic is strength. Metal parts will not warp under the weight of a built model regardless of the size of the aircraft, no matter how many years it stands on display. Another advantage of white metal is the way it holds up under "working" conditions (drilling, scoring, sanding, etc.), as it is much denser than styrene plastic and has a much higher melting point. Being quite malleable, it can be bent without the fear of breaking & a useful characteristic when it comes to final alignment "tweeking". Note: SAC white metal contains no lead. This set is ideal for adding extra strength to your 1:35 scale Border Models Messerschmitt Bf-109G aircraft models’ landing gear. This set contains 7 nicely-cast white metal parts to enhance your… more |
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Ju-88A-8 ParavanePublished:
HistoryThe Junkers Ju 88 is a German World War II Luftwaffe twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (JFM) designed the plane in the mid-1930s as a so-called Schnellbomber ("fast bomber") that would be too fast for fighters of its era to intercept. It suffered from technical problems during its development and early operational periods but became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the war. Like a number of other Luftwaffe bombers, it served as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, heavy fighter, and at the end of the war, as a flying bomb. The Junkers Ju 88 is a German World War II Luftwaffe twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (JFM) designed the… more |
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Discovering Lost Automobiles and Their StoriesPublished:
Many enthusiasts dream of finding a Bugatti or a Bentley in a barn or a long disused building. In reality, such finds are more likely to be an Austin 7, Ford Popular or a Mini. This book is stuffed with these so called “barn finds”. The author has tried to find out the background to the abandonment and the previous history of the “as found” car when it was in regular use. Why was it put away and apparently forgotten? Many of the stories have appeared in his “Lost and Found” column in “Classic and Sports Car” magazine, but a book gives a chance for the expanded story to be told. The cars featured date from 1900 through till the 1980’s, most come from Great Britain and Europe but there are plenty from Australasia and USA. There are well over 200 different cars plus collections… more |
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TANKART 4 German Armor (2nd Edition)Published:
TANKART 4 German Armor is the fourth TA book and second one to cover the always popular subject, WWII German Armor. This 2nd Edition printing expands on the original edition by 64-pages utilizing additional chapter material to provide greater coverage. Each chapter inside TA4 has been given more pages to help cover on the processes better, including more images of the various steps, ideas, and thoughts behind each project or technique discussed.
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Messerschmitt 309V-4Published:
HistoryThe Messerschmitt Me 309 was a prototype German fighter, designed in the early years of World War II to replace the Bf 109. Although it had many advanced features, the Me 309's performance left much to be desired and it had so many problems that the project was canceled with only four prototypes built. The Me 309 was one of two failed Messerschmitt projects intended to replace the aging Bf 109, the other being the Me 209 of 1943. The Me 309 project began in mid-1940, just as the Bf 109 was having its first encounters with the Spitfire in the Battle of Britain, the first aircraft to match the 109 in speed and performance. Already, Messerschmitt anticipated the need for an improved design to replace the Bf 109. The Reich Air Ministry, however, did not feel the… more |
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German Instrument PanelsPublished:
This book from the series “Inside” shows detailed drawings of the German aircraft instrument panels in great detail. Instrument panels of the following aircraft:
One would not initially think that a book named “German Instrument Panels” would be an interesting, dare I say fascinating book, but if you’re a modeling nerd like me, yes it very much is. The author has rendered the IPs of several… more |
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Spotlight On: Grumman F4F WildcatPublished:
This book is the latest in a new reference series for aircraft modelers called "Spotlight On" and presents detailed illustrations of the famous American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service in 1940 with the US Navy. The Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the US Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre during the early part of the Second World War. The book contains 42 specially commissioned color profile views of the colors, camouflage and markings of the Grumman F4F Wildcat and the General Motors built Wildcat including the Martlet. The book starts with a single page introduction where the author and illustrator Zbigniew Kolacha provide details of the development and combat experience of the Wildcat. The illustrations are… more |
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Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Bubbletop - Camouflage and DecalsPublished:
Kagero brings us another of their “Camouflage & Decals” series books, this time showcasing the Republic P-47D Bubbletop Thunderbolt. There is no text, other than a brief caption of each aircraft and the unit/pilot assigned. The color profiles are mostly pretty exciting and colorful, with many featuring gorgeous nose art of the time. This makes the book a helpful resource for the modeler, if you have the correct decals in your files. Speaking of decals...the single sheet included provides markings for two aircraft, each in 1/48 and 1/72 scale. They appear to be in perfect register, but there is no indication of who produced the sheet. I suspect it’s from Kagero’s in-house decal shop. One of the least inspired aircraft in the book makes the sheet, “Lonesome Lee”, a P-… more |