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.

ICM continues to pump out high quality model kits for us eager, plastic hungry modelers around the world! This is the second release of the Bristol Beaufort and represents the Mk.1A with tropical filters. These filters mounted on top of the engine pods and were used in hotter/dustier Mediterranean and North African environments. The downfall was the larger filters increased drag and reduced the cruising speed by about ten mph. The Mk.1A was an improvement over the Mk.1 incorporating a new machine gun turret and an ASV radar for torpedo bombers to search for surface targets. The Beaufort and her crews were relatively forgotten and unsung heroes of the Second World War.

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.

What is in the Box

• 2 gray injection molded plastic sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 3-D printed resin parts
• 1 set of pre-cut masks
• 1 decal sheet with 5 markings options
• 1 instruction book

Construction

This Arma 1/72 Hurricane IID starts with an unconventional build sequence, wings first, which includes the modification for the [-IID] 40 MM canons armament. This is really the only part of the kit that may cause concern for the neophyte builders. The plastic is a bit soft so careful sanding and re-scribing is necessary. Arma does give you a nice little resin [3-D printed] template for the upper wing. This provides the access panels to the 40mm underwing canons. You have to remove the four 20mm Hispano Suizo canon details on the upper & lower Hurricane IIC wing. Essentially, the plastic in this kit is the previously released Arma Hurricane IIC kit.

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.