The long awaited IL-28T torpedo bomber is the first release of what will probably be a series of IL-28 versions from Bobcat Hobby Model Kits (formerly Xuntong Model). The parts are molded in a grey, slightly soft/slightly brittle plastic (more on the drawbacks of this later). Each of the half dozen sprue trees is individually wrapped in a resealable plastic bag. The kit has been well designed, and most of the parts themselves are highly detailed, even if the exterior surface scribing is a bit heavy. The pilot’s cockpit and bombardier’s compartments in particular are very well fitted out, and the landing gear and wheel wells are nicely detailed, as are the two different torpedo types (for a total of four weapons). The ailerons, flaps and rudder are positionable. Extra parts are included to have both the landing gear doors and pilot’s canopy either opened or closed. Two nose glazings are included, although the difference between them is easy to miss.

Kagero Publishing, from Poland, is one of the major military history publishing houses. Since 1998, when Kagero started publishing in English, over 550 titles have been produced. Topics focus on specific planes, armor and ships, along with a bevy of focused topics, such as a class of warships or an armor type. Kagero caters to ship modelers by turning out books filled with line and 3D computer-generated illustrations, with incomparable accuracy to details. For warships, Kagero has two series: 1) Super 3D Drawings and 2) Top Drawings, focusing on a single ship per book. The topic of this book review is one of the Top Drawings series, which are designed for modelers to have a reference for detailed appearances of individual ships. Top Drawings consist of color covers with black & white (B&W) line drawings of the ship, particular features, and equipment, especially armament.

This book is PeKo Publishing’s second in the series of photo albums introducing rare wartime photos from battles, operations, vehicles, or complete photo albums from soldiers who fought in WWII. This volume 1.1 illustrates photos from an unidentified German Sturmartillerist of the Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung (Assault Gun Battalion) 191. The first volume in the series, 1.0, illustrated photos from Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 189.

Abteilung 191 was dispatched in December 1940 from Jüterbog to Romania, and traveled through Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary. The book contains photographs from fighting at the Greek border where the Abteilung supported the German infantry on the Metaxas line. Photographs during marches through the country showing destruction and enemy vehicles, and in Greece after the capitulation are included as well.

As noted in the title, this book is a scaled down version of its bigger volume on the Grumman A-6 Intruder family. This volume includes descriptions and photographs of the attack versions of the A-6, as well the tanker (KA-6D) and both electronic warfare versions, the EA-6A and the EA-6B. The book is lavishly illustrated with both color and black and white photographs with informative captions.

Chapter 1 briefly discusses the design and development of the A-6. In late 1950’s the Navy issue a request for the design of an all-weather attack aircraft with two crewmembers to replace the A-1 Skyraider. Grumman’s proposal was selected by the Navy and first flew in April of 1960. Adopted by both the Navy and the Marines, the A-6 Intruder became a mainstay of Navy and Marine Corp combat operations in Vietnam. The chapter includes a brief description of the systems installed in the A-6 to give it it’s all-weather capabilities.

Brief History (Exerpts from Wikipedia)

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat, twin engine, all-weather, long-range supersconic jet fighter-bomber and interceptor originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonald Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their air arms.

The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles,air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was initially designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated an M16 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.