This is volume five in the special series. Warpaint books are well known to the modeler and historian alike and this book follows the same pattern as others in the series. The book is divided into 15 different chapters. Beginning with design and a look under the skin the first two chapters cover the development of the Mustang from prototype to P-51H as well as a look at structure and various difference between the models such as engine, armament, and other components.

The next nine chapters cover the Mustang in WWII, from its beginnings with the RAF and its use in North Africa through all major Army Air Force use. The US Air forces covered are the 8^th (longest chapter at 16 pages. Followed by the 12^th,15^th,7^th,5^th,10^th, and 14^th in that order. Each AF chapter gives and overview of the AF and its fighter squadrons and their combat deployments and uses.

History

The P-51 Mustang is evaluated as one of the best fighters in World War II, not only the United States Army Air Corps, but also the highest peak of the piston-engined fighter that was adopted in various countries around the world and stayed active for a long time after the war. The P-51D, powered by the Merlin engine, is considered by many to be the definitive version of the Mustang. With its aerodynamic and sophisticated design, the P-51D Mustang has become a masterpiece fighter with a well-balanced variety of performance required for a fighter aircraft, such as excellent high-speed performance, long range, stable altitude performance, sufficient athleticism and fighting ability.

Summary

ICM has produced an excellent model kit for the fearsome Vietnam-era AH-1G Cobra helicopter (early version). With new molds, this kit is engineered and molded to contemporary standards. ICM has provided the modeler with many options for ordnance, service bay access, as well as open canopies. Markings have been provided for 4 schemes. The kit has eliminated most of the constructability problems of the old Revell/Monogram kit, but it still has a couple of spots that require special attention. The instrument panel details provided are inadequate for a kit of this quality.

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.

The Summer 2021 journal of Cross & Cockade International features a nice sharp colorized photograph of a Nieuport VIH, N.3, at Monaco in April 1914. The rear cover displays three black and white photographs of Bentley Camels of 204 Squadron, immediately after the end of the war. You can see that all three are fitted with bomb carriers. The center section, The Gazetteer, consists of seven black and white photos, and thirteen black and white maps. Also included is a separate folded color 1/100,000 map consisting of eight pages when folded up.

Bill Yenne has authored over 75 historical books and ten novels to date. He grew up inside Montana's Glacier National Park where his father was the supervisor of backcountry trails. Bill is also a nationally recognized artist and illustrator with his work being showcased in many national magazines and some of his paintings on display in the official collection of the US Air Force. Bill graduated from the University of Montana in 1971 and founded the American Graphic Systems company. He later graduated from the Stanford University Professional Publishing course in 1989. The AGS BookWorks division has produced some 200 large-format, illustrated books. He has contributed to encyclopedias of World War I and II (for you young’ns, this was Wikipedia before the internet came along). He has appeared on The History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, the Smithsonian Channel, C-SPAN, and ARD German Television.