Reviews of books or magazines relating to scale modeling.

Book Author(s)
Robert Panek
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
June 1, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$25.00

Historical Background

The Henschel HS-126 was a parasol wing single engine army cooperation aircraft developed for the Luftwaffe early in 1937. At the beginning, problems were experienced with the engines, and some changes had to be made, but the first production model, HS-126A-1 came into service in 1938. Soon, an upgraded model, the HS-126B-1 came into use, and that became the standard production model. A tropicalized version, HS-126B-1 Trop. , appeared in 1940, and an export model, Hs 126K-6 was sold to Greece early in the war.

The type suffered badly during the Battle of France in 1940 resulted in the end of mass production, and the type was replaced by the twin engine Focke Wulf FW-189. The type continued in use for several years thereafter.

Book Author(s)
Pere Redon-Trabal
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
May 31, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Historical Background

This book deals exclusively with the creation and development of aviation in Spain beginning in the early twentieth century. It mentions pre-World War I developments, and then progress during the twenties. For some reason, the period of the Spanish Civil War, between Russian backed forces and Germany is mentioned in very little detail, with no photos of any of the aircraft involved in that war that were taken during the war. The Spanish were also slightly involved in the action on the Russian Front as allies to the Luftwaffe, and this is only slightly covered.

Book Author(s)
Przemystaw Skulski
Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
May 31, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.99

Founded in 1996, MMP Books is a UK-based publishing company with its book publishing division starting in 1999. Specializing in aviation and military history, MMP Books is known worldwide as a source for anything military.

PzKpfw. VI Ausf. E. Tiger I (late) Single Vehicle No. 06 is the sixth book added to the “Single Vehicle” line of books MMP Books in 2022. Others include Single Vehicle No. 01 ( SU-76M) published in 2021 to their latest Single Vehicle No. 08 (Polish Armoured Draisine TK) entered the market in 2023. MMP Books

This A4 format 8-3/4 x 11-3/4 inch 24-page book is printed on satin paper with color pages printed on glossy paper. The front and back covers are both printed on glossy paper. The text is in English.

Book Author(s)
Bert Kinzey Illustrator: Rock Roszak & Jim Rotramel
Review Author
Tim Hortman
Published on
May 13, 2023
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$19.99

You may be thinking that “I have the previous version (1982) of this book, so I don’t need this one.” – Well, you’d be unwise with that line of thinking.

This new volume on the F-105 Thunderchief has been totally updated. The text and photo captions have been rewritten and when possible, the photographs have all been printed in color. The plastic modeling section has also been updated to include the latest kit releases.

The book starts with a short introduction and history of the Thunderchief, followed by a detailed study of each of the Thud variants. Each variant is described in detail, and numerous photos illustrating each are shown.

Following the variants is a chapter on Arming the Thunderchief, with descriptions and photos of the munitions carried.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
May 13, 2023
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$29.95

This is the 40th book in the Tank Craft series which details tanks and also covers model kits and accessories to build the tanks covered in the book. This book covers the German Army Light Tank Panzer III in North Africa El Alamein to Tunis 1942 to 1943. The Panzer III was the mainstay of the German Army’s Panzer Divisions in the early tears of the war made up the bulk of the North Africa Armored forces.

Although it was not as heavily armored as some of the opponents tanks it was very reliable, sturdy and its main gun was as powerful as the enemies armaments.

I found this book a fountain of information and rare pictures of both tanks. The Profile pictures are a particular favorite and awesome source for modeling.

The chapters on the different model builds and kits are of great interest and will provide a good resource when modeling these two tanks.

Book Author(s)
Ben Skipper
Review Author
Chris Gibson
Published on
May 11, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$28.95

This is one book in a line of military aircraft books from Pen and Sword in the Flight Craft series #27 Boeing B17. Now there have probably been hundreds of books published on the Boeing B17, many of which I have read. This is the first one I have read that incorporates design and development, camouflage and markings, in service and in action, B17 variants, with modeling the B17 and showcase models. This book seems to be aimed at the modeler who wants to incorporate more detail into his modeling.

The first half of the book gives a useful overview of the real thing with the design and development, to in-service and in-action, and detail of some B17 special variants. The book takes you from the first Model 299 through the B17G and all variants. The camouflage and marking section has 24 illustrated color profiles that show how varied the paint schemes and markings were of B17s, including the aircraft captured by the Germans and Japanese.

Book Author(s)
Scott Cuong Tran & Nick Tran
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
May 11, 2023
Company
Key Publishing Ltd
MSRP
$24.95

First, thanks very much to Casemate Publishing for providing IPMS USA a copy of this well formatted and image-rich minigraph. We appreciate the opportunity to review this book!

Travis AFB almost 30 years ago, (’93-‘]96) was one of my frequent TDY locations while overseeing the KC-10 fleet as the KC-10 Maintenance Chief for Air Mobility Command. Lots of great memories in working that place, and the people are still doing a fantastic job as the West Coast hub for Air Mobility Command.

Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
May 11, 2023
Company
Avonmore Books
MSRP
$44.95

“There were lots of ways to get killed in the Southwest Pacific and weather was one of our worst hazards.” – Lightning Pilot Leroy Ross.

Author Michael John Claringbould begins his book with the following first paragraph of the Preface,

“The day of Sunday 16 April 1944 marks the biggest non-combat loss the USAAF incurred in any theater in World War II. After a delayed morning departure more than three hundred Fifth Air Force aircraft departed to attack Japanese airfields and installations at Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea. Not one aircraft was lost to enemy action, but over three dozen were lost to a vicious weather front. The date quickly became known as Black Sunday within the Fifth Air Force.”

Book Author(s)
Usman Shabbir and Yawar Mazhar
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
May 11, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Helion’s latest book in the Asia @ War series is a square back soft cover includes 76 gloss paper pages. The cover color illustration by Pablo Albornoz depicts A116, one of the Royal Pakistan Air Force’s 35 Tempest IIs. Here, she is seen flying over the mountains and lakes of Kashmir in 1949. Tom Cooper’s color side-profile is of L973, a Hawker Sea Fury T.20 serving in a target-tow role. Her undersides were painted yellow with diagonal black bands. The white fuselage band was applied in the field by the squadron’s maintenance personnel. The rear cover features a color side-profile by Peter Penev of a de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth in British standard trainer yellow. Compare this with the color side profile of this aircraft on Page 34i where she was painted in high-speed silver from the factory, and passed down through the RAF, the Indian Air Force, and finally to the Royal Pakistan Air Force. This aircraft was manufactured by Dockers Brothers Aircraft of Birmingham, England.