Reviews of books or magazines relating to scale modeling.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Steven J. Corvi
Published on
March 15, 2023
Company
David Doyle Books
MSRP
$24.99

The author is David Doyle who is an American writer on historic military vehicles, aircraft, hardware and warships. He has written over 100 books published by various publishers. He also sells books through his own website. He has published through Schiffer publications on numerous occasions. David Doyle books can be purchased directly from the author!

Book Author(s)
Jon Diamond
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
March 14, 2023
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$34.95

The Battles of El Alamein were critical in the fight for North Africa and had the potential to change the course of the war. The German war machine was at the zenith of its power, with Britain and Russia absorbing defeats as they fell back on their lines. When the opportunity to review this book was presented, I jumped on it for several reasons: the history of this crucial campaign, the Images of War series’ reputation and Jon Diamond as the author. It promised to be a powerful book – and it delivered!

Book Author(s)
Sebastian Piechowiak
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
March 14, 2023
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter held several world record “firsts” in 1958: airspeed, altitude, time-to-climb, and becoming the first aircraft to hold all three simultaneously. It was also the first aircraft to be equipped with the M61 Vulcan autocannon, the first production aircraft to achieve Mach 2, and the first aircraft to reach an altitude of 100,000 ft after taking off under its own power. With all these records, it lasted a brief time with the USAF (until 1969 in the USAF and 1975 with Air National Guard). It did; however, serve with distinction with fifteen countries during the Cold War. It was built to intercept, hit with missiles, and run. Born during the end of the Korean War, it was the first aircraft to hit twice the speed of sound with pilot Joe Ozier flying a FY-104A (serial number 55-2955).

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
March 13, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$26.95

Ian Baxter is a prolific author and has an impressive collection of photographs, many unpublished previously. The book follows the familiar Images of War format with brief introductions for each chapter followed by a lot of photographs to tell the story. After reading Ian’s book on Heinrich Himmler, the Architect of the Holocaust, I wanted to read, and learn more, about the mass deportation of some 438,000 Hungarian Jews. Ian Baxter did not disappoint. He illustrated how the Nazi final solution had become even more efficient and brutal in 1944 after the Hungarian change in government at the behest of the Germans. The Hungarian Jews, who until that time, were temporarily protected, were now open to joining their Jewish neighbors throughout Europe. Operation Höss was named after Rudolph Höss, the longest serving commandant of the Auschwitz camp system from 4 May 1940 to November 1943.

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Paduch
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
March 7, 2023
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$37.00

Based in Central Europe Kagero Publishing House is the biggest publisher and exporter of English-written publications about military history, release nearly 60 titles every year. Kagero was founded in 1995, and began by delivering military titles in Polish. Their success led Kagero to start releasing books in English in 1998. Authors from Poland, Canada, USA, Australia and Great Britain, who were invited to cooperation, gave a beginning to a new range of products, which have put them on a position of one of the most recognized publishers on the market. Kagero has released more than 550 publications. Kagero is managed by Damian Majsak and his wife Joanna.

Book Author(s)
Gerry Manning
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
March 7, 2023
Company
Key Publishing Ltd
MSRP
$24.95

This is the 2nd volume of a new Key Books Series Modern Commercial Aircraft. This covers the Airliners used in the South and Southeast Asia region. This covers all types of aircraft across the Asian airlines flying now and in recent years. The book contents consist of many photos with individual captions describing the details of the aircraft and the operators.

During my Airline interiors career I work on the interiors for a lot of the aircraft shown on this book and is a great collection of Aircraft types and Liveries for the Asian region.

All the photographs and write up in this book really help to show the variation of aircraft and airlines using then during this period.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in Commercial Aircraft and or Airlines. Also great for commercial aircraft modelers. After reading this book I look forward to adding more of this series to my library.

Book Author(s)
Alan Ranger
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
March 7, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$25.00

Alan Ranger is a former British Royal Engineer, engineer, collector of World War II militaria and original period photographs, and prolific author. Alan started his publishing days with Model Art of Japan this is his 28th book in the Camera On series (he already has another four in production), typically focusing on weapon systems and vehicles. The beauty of this book is the photos were taken by German soldiers during their wartime service, not typically posed and polished propaganda shots.

Book Author(s)
Key Publishing
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
March 4, 2023
Company
Key Publishing Ltd
MSRP
$27.50

Anyone familiar with the Vickers name knows how critical their contribution to British industry has been. Starting in 1828 as a steel producer, the company diversified into arms, ships, railroad stock and aircraft. The aviation arm of the company got its start by building rigid airships and blimps. This experience not only gave them experience in building these types of structure, it also brought them Barnes Wallis as one of their designers. At the same time, they introduced the R.E.P. Type monoplane. This single seater had a steel tube frame and was used as the base trainer for a flying school Vickers opened. During the first World War, the “Gun Bus” series of pusher powered fighters were designed and built as well as the first multiengine military aircraft in the world, the E.F.B. 7, flown in August 1915. Vickers also built several other prototype fighter designs that contributed to the evolution of the type but were not produced in numbers.

Book Author(s)
Mick Davis
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
March 4, 2023
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$38.50

Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. They also provide 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.