Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Book Author(s)
Bartlomiej Belcarz
Franciszek Strzelezyk
Review Author
Brett W Scholten
Published on
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$25.00

This was a fun book for me (as a history nerd). The introduction was interesting as it explained why Poland had to choose a European built aircraft vs an American built aircraft (American aircraft needed a higher-octane fuel which was not available in Poland).

The first part of the book is a bit dry. I wish the authors had tied events in Poland (i.e. the German invasion and defeat of the Polish Military) into events listed in the book. We learn that the Polish Pilots operated from various French aerodromes, but no real discussion is made of how the French integrated the Polish Pilots/Units into their order of battle. The combat narratives are short, and I wish they had been expanded too.

Book Author(s)
Andy Evans
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$41.00

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modelling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modelling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modelling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold winning modeler and he has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has featured in numerous aviation and modelling books and magazines for the last 35 years.

Book Author(s)
Author: Andy Evans
Illustrator: Ryan Dorling
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$36.00

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modeling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side, we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modeling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modeling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold-winning modeler who has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has been featured in numerous aviation and modeling books and magazines for the last 35 years.

Book Author(s)
Various; Managing Editor: Andy Evans
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$12.99

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modelling press. After so many years working for others, we have come together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modelling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modelling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold winning modeler (though he freely admits there were only 3 models in his class that year at Telford!) and he has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has featured in numerous aviation and modelling books and magazines for the last 35 years.

Book Author(s)
Ryan Dorling
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$45.00

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modelling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modelling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modelling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold winning modeler and he has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has featured in numerous aviation and modelling books and magazines for the last 35 years.

Book Author(s)
Andrzej Glass
Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Wydawnictwo STRATUS
MSRP
$9.95

This book offers a detailed development history of the PWS-10 fighter designed by Polish engineers from the Podlaska Aircraft Factory in 1928. The reader will find a brief development story of the plane and details about the aircraft’s design. The first prototype of the PWS-10 was flown in 1930.

There was a competing design of the PZL P.1 aircraft (later developed into the P.7, P.11, and P.24 fighters that soldiered during the WWII) in the process of development but required additional refinement. Facing a lack of a better alternative for a fighter plane at the time, the military authorities decided to go with the PWS-10. The PWS-10 did not have a good reputation among pilots due to its flying characteristics and being prone to catching fire. Nevertheless, it briefly served the needs of the young Polish Air Force.

Book Author(s)
Managing Editor: Mick Davis
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$50.00

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. Issues are available as printed as well as digital copies (or both). 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.

Book Author(s)
Dan Sharp
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mortons Books
MSRP
$60.00

Mortons Media Group was established in the 19th century and has been producing book-length publications since the early 2000s. The company established a dedicated books division in 2019 and Mortons Books has already earned a reputation for publishing high-quality titles by authors who are true experts in their field. For the best reads on rail, aviation, nostalgia and history, look no further. This book is part of their imprint: Tempest Books addresses all aspects of aviation history are covered in authoritative detail. The aviators and aircraft of the Second World War are profiled by our titles alongside more modern fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and transports. 'Secret projects' and experimental designs are also an important part of the Tempest Books portfolio.

Book Author(s)
David Francis, Andy Evans, Andy Folds, Jon Philipps, The Senior Partners, Phoenix Scale Publications, LLP
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$9.99

Aviation Modelling International is an aircraft modeling magazine produced by Phoenix Scale Publications, hailing from Great Britain. According to the Phoenix Scale Publications website,

Phoenix Scale Publications is a partnership of four people who have worked in the modelling and aviation press for many years and have come together to produce two brand-new, high-quality modelling titles and a new book series – for modellers, by modellers - with each partner bringing their own unique talents.

The reader gets a lot of information and inspiration within its 68 pages for the cover price £5.99 ($9.99 from Sprue Brothers Models), postage will almost double that price. There is a digital version available which drops the price down to £4.99 for a single issue, or £23.99 for an annual subscription.

The July 2024 issue of Aviation Modelling International contains the following Regulars articles:

Book Author(s)
Andy Evans
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$21.99

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom is probably one of the most iconic aircraft of all time. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy, the F-4 found it’s way to the Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force. This highly capable aircraft went on to become the most produced American supersonic aircraft in history. Due to its capabilities, the F-4 also served with the air forces in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.