James Kelley
Reviews By Author
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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 |
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F-6C Mustang "Expert Set"Published:
The P-51 Mustang was an excellent fighter, but it also proved to be a universal photo-reconnaissance plane. Its performance: speed, ceiling, armament, and great range meant that it could efficiently reach a distant target, photograph it and safely return to the base. To become a long-range aerial spy, the Mustang, unlike, for example, the Spitfire, required only the installation of photographic equipment. The concept of the Mustang fighter appeared as a result of collaboration between the RAF and the American industry. North American Aviation factory, which had been offered to license-produce Curtiss fighters, preferred to propose their own design. The first versions of the Mustang, powered by an Allison engine, were effective on the low-to-medium altitudes, agile, solid, and… more |
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The Messerschmitt Bf-109 Early Series (V1 to E-9 including the T series)Published:
Valiant Wings Publishing's next title in the ever-popular Airframe & Miniature series is an updated, revised and expanded second edition of The Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Early versions V1 to E-9 including T-series) – A Complete Guide to The Luftwaffe's Famous Fighter by Richard A. Franks. From the Publisher: This fifth book in our much-acclaimed series has been out of print for a while now. With new early Bf 109 kits now available in all scales, plus a mass of associated accessories and decals, it seemed right to make this book available once again. It will contain:
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Junkers Ju-88A-4Published:
The first in a new Kagero series (Club 1/48), author and modeler Sebastian Piechowiak presents his build log of ICM’s 1/48 Junkers Ju-88A-4 model. With text in both Polish & English, he describes his build in a step-by-step fashion. Obviously an accomplished and talented artist, the close-up photos are greatly appreciated, showing off his techniques and results, particularly in the cockpit/interior stages. The first 17 pages are dedicated to the step-by-step build/painting. Pages 18-25 are glamor shots of the completed model. Pages 26-27 contain info and pictures of all the tools, paints, cements & solutions used in his project, which I thought was very helpful to the reader considering a similar project. Pages 28-37 contain gorgeous, archival photos of the Ju-88A-4 in… more |
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McDonnell F-4B Phantom IIPublished:
This monograph is compilations of the 4-view colour profile, scale plans and photo details of the single variant of the McDonnel F-4B Phantom II Scale plans in 1/72 scale plus drawings from wartime technical manuals. Also photos of the details in B&W and color. The book is primarily composed of ‘walk-around” type photos, with some inflight pictures as well. The scale plans are nicely done, and appear to be true to scale. The photos are an absolute must for anyone modeling this aircraft, which so many of us are in the stages of doing (Tamiya). Four of the photos are “owner’s manual” type diagram photos of the plane’s instrument panels with all components labeled. There are two similar ones specific to the Martin-Baker Mk. H7 ejection seat. Again, super helpful to the modeler… more |