When the United States first started its bombing campaign in North Vietnam, it discovered that its ability to combat the sophisticated air defense system was very limited and early on it became apparent that the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile had a number of serious limitations, particularly in its range, small warhead and limited seeker. In effort to overcome some of these limitations, the Navy worked with General Dynamics to develop an air-launched version of the Navy’s RIM-66 Standard surface-to-air missile. By using an existing missile platform, development proceeded fairly quickly and the result was the AGM-78 Standard ARM (anti-radiation missile). Early versions of the AGM-78 were actually outfitted with the same seeker head as the Shrike, but as the Standard ARM had a much larger warhead, a larger engine and a gimbaled seeker head, it was more flexible and effective than the Shrike.

Caracal Models has scaled down their 1/48 T-45 series into 1/72, which can fit the Testor’s/Italeri version of the kit. The decal set comes with five options, which are:

Thank you very much to the wonderful folks at Osprey Publishing for providing this new publication for review. Thanks are also due to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to explore a fascinating historical documentation and description of the enigmatic SR-71. The book was particularly interesting to me, since the time I stood nose-to-nose with a Blackbird at Beal AFB during IPMS Nationals in Sacramento in the 80’s. This volume follows previous Osprey releases describing the SR-71 and the A-12.

History

The Letov S-16 design work began in 1924 as an all metal replacement for earlier all-wood aircraft, and was intended as a two seat long range bomber and reconnaissance type. Powered by a 450 hp. Lorraine-Dietrich water-cooled engine, the prototype first flew in 1926, and the Czech Air Force ordered three test aircraft. In all, 89 S-16’s were built for the Czechs, and in addition, Latvia bought 21 and Turkey obtained 12. In addition, Yugoslavia bought one to test as a floatplane. The type served with distinction during the late twenties and early thirties, and a few were still operational in 1938 when the Germans occupied the country.

Lakenheath is host to the largest deployment of United States Air Force personnel in the United Kingdom and one of the most important planes in their inventory is the F-15 Eagle. The Eagle is becoming a venerable plane having first debuted in 1976 but is still very capable and Caracal has honored this by producing a sheet for four F-15C’s all with kills and one F-15D all from Lakenheath.

The set comes an excellent color cover showing all four options. Left and right profile shots of all four options are also included with stencil and markings placement. Color call outs are also included. There is also a note included that all aircraft depicted have had the MSIP II conversion so that is why the Great Wall Hobby kit is the recommended kit over the Hasegawa/Tamiya/Monogram offerings. Also, this group of planes is well documented and pictures can be found all over the Internet.