Paul Bradley
Reviews By Author
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Air Battles Over the Baltic - 1941 Volume 2, The Pathway to WarPublished:
This book is the second of three that deals with the Soviet Air Forces in the Baltic Region from the subjugation of the previously-independent Baltic republics in 1940 to the invasion by the Nazis in June 1941. Using previously-classified documents and first-hand interviews and accounts, the Russian author Mikhail Timin goes into great detail to document the attempts to modernize what was a pretty bad organization, with poor aircraft, poor tactics, poor leadership and poor training, which had led to the humiliations of the attempted invasion of tiny Finland. Timin shows that despite much effort, none of these factors was substantially improved before Barbarossa. For example, pilot training was abysmal - trainees were sent to frontline units with just 50 or so hours, most of which… more |
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The Bristol Bulldog, A Technical Guide: Airframe Detail 12Published:
Valiant Wings’ Airframe Detail series reaches number 12, with the Bristol Bulldog featured in this volume. The interwar period saw rapid development of airframes and engines and in the mid-twenties, the RAF found its service fighters were quickly becoming obsolete. Enter the Bristol Bulldog, which was an advance on what was then available, but, as a two-gun biplane, itself became obsolescent within a few years. Nevertheless, the type was widely exported and did see combat in the late 1930’s. This volume follows the established format for the series, with a section on development and service, both with the RAF and in foreign skies; an extensive and detailed look under the skin with walk-around photos of the preserved example at the RAF Museum, Hendon, and technical photos and… more |
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"Line Jet Lethality" E/A-18G GrowlersPublished:
Dash Two Decals is a new company to me, but looking at their website, they are a one-person company based in the US that specializes in modern/recent US Navy subjects. The 1/48 scale sheet I was sent is for E/A-18G Growler line jets and features eight low-visibility Growler schemes on a full 8.5×11-inch sheet. The included markings are:
504 Ladybird commemorates Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay “Miley” Evans and Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman, two decorated Naval Aviators lost in a… more |
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Sweeping the SkiesPublished:
At the start of WWII, the Royal Australian Air Force was little more than a glorified flying club with few pilots and only a couple of hundred effective aircraft. With the outbreak of war, the Australian Government committed to a large and rapid expansion of RAAF airpower, including the formation of a number of units in Britain to serve alongside the RAF. One of these squadrons was 452, a fighter squadron formed in April 1941 and manned by RAAF personnel but operationally controlled by the RAF. Equipped with the Spitfire V and based initially in RAF Kirton in Lindsey, once it had worked up, it moved to RAF Kenley and into combat on Circus operations over France. The squadron built up a reputation for dogged persistence and determination, and was led by a number of famous aces,… more |
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Wessex HAS.3 Top Engine Cooling GrillePublished:
The Westland Wessex was a British license-built version of the Sikorsky H-34 and in it’s HAS.3 anti-submarine version, was a capable hunter/killer and saw combat in the Falklands War, where one machine nicknamed ‘Humphrey’ seriously damaged the Argentine submarine Santa Fe, which subsequently had to be scuttled, and also rescued SAS troops from a glacier in bad weather after their helicopters had crashed. Italeri’s Wessex HAS.3 kit was released in 2013 and is a very nice kit, though it has a few issues and is lacking finesse in some areas. One such area is the mesh cover for the gearbox compartment. This compartment sits atop the Wessex’s distinctive ‘humpback,’ just under the rotor and rotor head. Quickboost labels this as an ‘engine grille,’ though as the Wessex’s engines are… more |
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Wessex HU.5 Debris MeshPublished:
The Westland Wessex HU.5 was a British commando/utility helicopter upgraded from the Sikorsky H-34. They were also used by the Royal Navy for SAR work and I was lucky enough to spend a week with our local SAR Flight at HMS Daedalus back in 1981 as part of a work experience programme. I was taken for a number of flights including one where I played the part of a ‘survivor’, being winched up and down from the cabin. Fun times! Italeri released their 1/48 Wessex HU.5 in 2012 and it is a fine kit, though not without a few issues. Aires’ Quickboost brand has a number of improvement sets for the kit, including this new 3D printed one. The nose of the Wessex 5 has a large and very distinctive debris guard over the nose air intake. In the kit, this is represented by a two-part construct… more |
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Sea Fury (Early) and (Late) Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) provides resin and white metal parts for scale model aircraft, most of which are drop-in landing gear replacements. Their standard packaging is a card-backed blister pack that should protect the parts, though one gear leg in one set was slightly bent went I opened the package. The superb DBMK 1/32 Sea Fury kit was released earlier in 2026 and these sets from SAC are direct copies of that kit’s landing gear, including the main gear legs and various attached and associated parts. The early set, 32199, depicts the original Sea Fury landing gear that featured the Hawker standard landing gear leg, while the late leg, as depicted in set 32198, had an extra oleo section to better cope with shearing forces in cross-wind landings, and to help damp bouncing… more |
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HAF & IRIAF F-4E/RF-4E Phantom Collection #2Published:
The McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom II needs no introduction. With over 5,000 airframes built, and many being exported, including to the two countries covered by this decal sheet, Greece and Iran. The Hellenic Air Force (Polemikí Aeroporía) began using the planes in 1974 and has some Peace Icarus 2000 upgraded Phantoms still in service, while the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) may still have a few in service – their status is currently unknown due to the current issues the country is facing. Taiwanese modeling company DXM Decals has released a set of 1/48 decals for six airframes, including two Hellenic Air Force F-4Es, plus two Iranian F-4Es and two Iranian RF-4Es. The decal set comprises two sheets, one standard-sized decal sheet is packed with images comprising what… more |
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IAF & ROKAF F-4E Phantom Collection #1Published:
The McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom II needs no introduction. Over 5,000 airframes were built, and many were exported, including to the two countries covered by this decal sheet, Israel and South Korea. The IAF began operating the Phantom in 1968 in the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War, finally retiring the fleet in 2004. South Korea’s Republic of Korea Air Force was a Phantom operator from 1969 until their retirement in June 2024. Taiwanese modeling company DXM Decals has released a set of 1/48 decals for five airframes, including three Israeli Air Force F-4Es, plus two Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force F-4Es. The decal set comprises two sheets, one standard-sized decal sheet is packed with images comprising what appears to be two complete sets of stencils, plus a half-sheet… more |
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RF-4E JASDF 501 Squadron Final Year 2020Published:
In 2020, the JASDF celebrated the final year of service for the RF-4E, which had entered service in 1961, with a specially marked airframe, serial 57-6907. Taiwanese modeling company, DXM Models, has released a set of 1/48 decals for this airframe and has kindly sent IPMS/USA a sample. This set included two sheets of decals, one for the stenciling and standard markings, while the second is devoted exclusively to the special markings applied to the airframe. A full colour instruction leaflet includes comprehensive decal placement and painting guides for top, bottom and both sides. Colour callouts are in Mr. Color, Humbrol and FS standard where applicable. The decals are printed for DXM by Cartograf, which ensures quality. The colours are strong, even the tiniest of… more |