Reviews of books or magazines relating to scale modeling.

Book Author(s)
Dick Taylor and Andy Brend
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$49.00

Real Weathering Volume 2 is a reference book with photos of military vehicles showing various conditions of wear and exposure to different environmental conditions. This volume features military armor and land vehicles. The book is the second in a series and is intended for military modelers who want to weather their scale models to better replicate actual vehicles.

The book is not an instruction manual that describes how to model the effects shown in the photos. The value in this book shows examples of vehicles that can be used by the modeler to replicate various effects on actual vehicles. The photos are large and many are zoomed in on particular details.

The only text in the book is in the Introduction and captions on some photos in the Introduction. The main chapters of the book are strictly photographs with no descriptions and are as follows:.

Book Author(s)
Alan Durkota
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Aeronaut Books
MSRP
$9.99

This book is the third in the series of medal of honor recipients in the Army Air Force during World War II. The careers of nine aviators and details of the aircraft they used are profiled in this book:

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Introduction
  1. William Lawley
  2. Darrell Lindsey
  3. Archibald Mathies & Walter Treumper
  4. Jack Mathis
  5. Thomas McGuire
  6. Edward Michael
  7. John Morgan
  8. Harl Pease
  • Index

Organization of chapters

Each chapter includes the flying record of the recipient, list of missions flown, the Medal of Honor citation, B&W photographs of missions, color profiles of aircraft, and the careers of the Medal of Honor aviators.

Book Author(s)
Geoff Jones
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Fonthill Media
MSRP
$28.95

On December 17, 1935, the first of a ground-breaking aircraft that ushered in a new era of passenger flight: the immortal DC-3, which needs no introduction and is still a common sight 90 years on; the illustrious DC-3, about which so much has been written for 90 years; the glorious DC-3, which holds a special place in the hearts of aviation enthusiasts across the globe.

Every 10 years, someone releases a book titled “Douglas DC-3: [X] Glorious Years." First, it was Arthur Pearcy with his 40 Glorious Years, 50 Glorious Years and 60 Glorious Years. This year, it’s Fonthill Media’s turn with their new book Douglas DC-3: 90 Glorious Years. This is a reprint of their previous book Douglas DC-3: 80 Glorious Years, printed 10 years ago.

Book Author(s)
Jacek Jackiewicz and Robert Bock
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$55.00

MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modeling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly", a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor. From 1997, the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999 with Stratus, and since then they have built up a list of hard cover and soft cover titles on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history. Stratus/MMP Books are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications. One can find additional information available on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mushroomModelPublications/.

Book Author(s)
Wen Jian Chung; Illustrators: David Bocquelet
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

From the Introduction,

In battle, the artillery has always had two roles. In defence, its purpose is to destroy the impetus of the enemy’s attacks, and in attack, its task is to destroy the enemy’s will to resist. Just that. And whether you consider the medieval wars or the Napoleonic wars or the great wars that followed them, those two tasks have remained.

– General Sir Thomas Lovett Morony, KCB, OBE, Master Gunner, St James Park (1985)

The author, Wen Jian Chung continues,

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$24.95

Ian Baxter is a respected historian and an author I actively seek out for his insight and amazing photographs for World War II. This book continues its amazing legacy, does not disappoint, and is worth the price for the photographs alone.

Following the familiar Pen & Sword Images of War series is the story of Tanks and Armour in Ukraine 1941–1944. Each chapter starts with a brief history of the topic covered, followed by a lot of photographs to complement the text.

This book is composed of the following:

Book Author(s)
Various
Review Author
Tom Dunford
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$16.00

Super Model International No. 4 is the fourth installment in Kagero's series combining ‘how to’ information with a ‘showcase gallery’ of armor models in diorama settings. The publication is sub-titled: “Polish Steel, vol.2” and includes reviews of four armor models all featuring world-class builds from Polish modelers:

  • SdKfz-234/3, Hasegawa 1:72, by Adam Juszczak
  • M3 Lee, Mirage 1:72, by Radoslaw Rzeszotarski
  • KV-2, Trumpeter, 1:35, by Robert Chmiel
  • BT-7, Tamiya, 1:35, by Tomasz Kica

There are minimal ads, excellent photography with a useful layout making it easy to navigate the 4 main articles. Each build is presented in the Author’s style so the format is varied. The first article on the SdKfz-234/3 places all the text into the individual photo captions; whereas, the following three articles include all of the written information into a comprehensive ‘body of text’ in the more customary style.

Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Avonmore Books
MSRP
$42.95

Michael John Claringbould hit another home run (the pun works with both baseball and cricket) with this latest addition to the Pacific Profile series. Night fighters grew out of necessity and are rarely noted, much less written about. This book fills that void in great and interesting detail.

From the Introduction,

Welcome to the diverse world of Pacific War night fighters. This volume focuses on their markings and insignia, mostly under-represented to date with the exception of the P-61 Black Widow series. In addition to the P-61, other types illustrated include the P-70 series Nighthawk, the P-38 Lightning, the B-25 Mitchell, the F4U-2 Corsair and the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura. Three other miscellaneous types associated with the night fighter program are illustrated in the final chapter.

Book Author(s)
Dr. William Wolf
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Fonthill Media
MSRP
$59.95

With over 650 titles in print, Fonthill Media publishes high-quality subjects including Archaeology and Ancient History, Aviation, Biography, Local History and Heritage, Military and General History, Sport, Transport and Industrial History.

Book Author(s)
N/A
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$114.00

The non-profit UK-based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The first two issues of Contact! are available for a free digital download on their website. Their journal, Cross & Cockade International, is also published four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 72 pages [including covers] as well as digital copies (or both). The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI-themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance.