Perry Downen
Reviews By Author
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P-40 Warhawk vs Bf 109 MTO 1942-44Published:
I would like to thank Osprey Publishing for submitting this book and thank IPMS/USA for allowing me to review it. When we hear the name P-40 we almost invariably think of the shark mouth P-40s of The Flying Tigers doing battle with Japanese Nates and Zeroes over Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, the P-40s also spent considerable time in the air over North Africa and the Mediterranean area engaging the Luftwaffe’s Bf 109. It is the latter struggle that author Carl Molesworth captures in his book P-40 Warhawk vs Bf 109, MTO 1942-44. This soft bound 7-1/4” X 9-3/4” book consists of 80 pages. The book contains many black and white periodphotographs – some rarely seen before. Each photograph is accompanied by a block of text explaining the action or activity… more |
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A-6E Intruders DecalsPublished:
First, let me thank Squadron Products for these review samples an IPMS/USA for allowing me to review them. The recommended model for these two sets of decals is the Revell 1/48 A-6E Intruder. Revell first released their A-6E 23 years ago in 1988 (kit # 4578). They have re-released it in 2011 (kit # 85-5626). The new kit includes decals for VA-85, the Black Falcons on the U.S.S. Forrestal and VA-35, the Panthers on the U.S.S. Nimitz. The old kit contained decals for VA-196, CAG, on the USS Coral Sea and VA-85 on the USS Saratoga. Squadron Products has issued two new decal sheets for this old, but popular war bird. Decal set MS481254 contains markings and tail art for Marine squadrons VMA-121 and VMA-224. Decal set MS481253 contains markings and tail art for VA-196 and… more |
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F/A-18C Snakes and Dragons DecalsPublished:
Snakes and Dragons. What an interesting title for a set of decals – two sets, as a matter of fact. The “snakes” portion of the title refers to the VFA-86 Sidewinders, MCAS Beaufort, NC, as of January, 2011. The “dragons” segment refers to the VFA-192 Golden Dragons, NAS Atsugi, Japan in October, 2009. The decals come packaged in a zip-lock bag along with a full-color instruction sheet. On the front side of the sheet the two Air Group Commander’s (CAG) aircraft are depicted in profile. This shows the decal placement on the sides of the aircraft. There are also several detail photographs of the actual airplanes, which come in handy when placing some of the decals. On the backside of the sheet are the top and bottom views of the aircraft showing decal placement in these areas.… more |
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Hawker Hurricane Part 1Published:
The Hawker Hurricane was credited with 60% of the RAF's air victories and played a critical roll in the Battle of Britain. More than 14,000 Hurricanes were built and they fought in all the major theatres of the Second World War. They served as fighters, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft and for a period of time the main single seat night fighter in the RAF. For their latest release Lifelike Decals has produced decals for four Hurricanes flown by three well-known pilots. The first is Battle of Britain ace F/L Arthur Clowes of No. 1 Squadron who is credited with 10 victories. The second is the night fighter of S/L James MacLachlan of No. 1 Squadron. He was a highly decorated ace credited with 16.5 victories. The third pilot is a well know veteran of WWII. He is Group… more |
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Milestone PhantomsPublished:
Several months ago I had the pleasure of reviewing Iliad’s book, Colors of the Falcons, a thorough examination of camouflage schemes and colors used on Soviet aircraft during the Second World War. Since I rated this publication very highly, I was interested to see if their decals were as good. I was not disappointed. The subject of this review is Iliad Design’s newly released 1/48 scale “Milestone Phantoms” decal set. As the title indicates these decals allow the modeler to finish a Phantom as one of several significant production aircraft. These include:
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Vulcan's Hammer, V-Force Projects and Weapons Since 1945Published:
I would like to thank Specialty Press for submitting this book for review and thank IPMS/USA for allowing me to do the review. During the latter stages of World War II strategic bombing methods had become very effective. In Europe the USAAF was carpet-bombing targets in daylight and the RAF was bombing at night. The planes used on these missions carried out their tasks with brutal efficiency. But, in August 1945 the existing strategic bombing philosophy was made totally obsolete when a single B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. After WWII ended the United Kingdom was left with the prospect of being left behind as a world power. To keep their place the British aviation industry and military leaders began a program that resulted in the V-bombers, Valiant, Vulcan, and… more |
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The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules The Complete StoryPublished:
I would like to thank Specialty Press for submitting this book for review and thank IPMS/USA for allowing me to do the review. In the 1950s and 1960s I grew up less than a mile from the end of Dobbin Air Reserve Base runway 11. Dobbins has always shared its runway, control tower, weather and rescue services with Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Company. My younger days were filled with watching planes come and go. I was there in a manner of speaking when the C-130 first came to life. Years later I was employed by Lockheed and worked in the engineering department of several aircraft including the C-130. I was very pleased to receive this book for review. The first C-130A entered service in December 1957. It is still in use and still in production as the C… more |
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Scot Racing Team Honda RS250RW "2009 WGP250 Champion"Published:
HistoryEstablished in 1949 by the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing. Currently it consists of an eighteen-race series visiting fourteen countries, and four continents. Eight nationalities of the world's most skilled riders are mounted on purebred racing bikes. These purpose-built, high tech prototypes are fielded by four manufacturers; Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. They are not available for purchase by the general public and cannot be legally ridden on public roads. In 2009 Hiroshi Aoyama won the 250cc World Championship riding a Honda RS250RW for Team Scot. Team Scot was a motorcycle racing team from Italy and named after Scot Costruzioni, an… more |
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SPAD VII vs. Albatros D III 1917-18Published:
I would like to thank Osprey Publishing for submitting this book for review and thank IPMS/USA for allowing me to do the review. In the latter half of 1916 the French SPAD VII and the German Albatros D III were introduced into the Great War. At the time, each represented major improvements in aircraft design and would change aerial warfare. Soon these two machines met in the skies over France and Germany. The SPAD VII was smaller, lighter and a little more maneuverable but the Albatros D III was equipped with two machine guns. In the hands of legendary pilots such as Manfred von Richthofen, Heinrich Kroll, Georges Guynemer, Rene Fonck, Raoul Lufbery each aircraft proved to be very successful. The author, Jon Guttman, is an expert in WW I aviation and frequently writes… more |
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United Air Lines DC-4Published:
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Minicraft Model Kits for providing this kit to IPMS/USA and to them for allowing me to review it. In the mid-1930s United Airlines decided they needed a larger plane than the DC-3s they were using. They contacted Douglas Aircraft to develop such a plane. Douglas designed and built a large aircraft they called the DC-4E (E for experimental). It flew for the first time on June 7, 1938. More than twice the size of the DC-3 (138 ft. wingspan and 97 ft. long) the cabin had a wide pressurized cross-section, a tricycle landing gear, and triple vertical stabilizers similar to the Lockheed Constellation. With its four Wright R-1820 engines developing 1450 hp each, it could potentially fly nonstop from Chicago to San Francisco. Testing… more |