Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modeling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas. This English language book, Dassault Mystère & Super Mystère, is authored by Andy Evans with scale drawings by Sam Pearson. The latest in Guideline’s Warpaint series, 148, was published in 2025. A digital edition will soon be available. The latest on Guideline’s publications can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/guidelinepub/

Warpaint's latest is their standard portrait A4 [8.25” x 11.75”] format, square-back, softbound publication that is 44 pages, including the covers. Sam Pearson contributed eight pages of color illustrations that include 48 color side-profiles along with two pages of 1/72 scale line drawings showing top, bottom, front views, and three side profiles. I counted 53 color photographs and 57 black and white photographs. The front cover features a Sam Pearson colored side profile of Dassault Mystère IVA, n^o276, from Escadron de chassé 2/8 Nice, BA 120 Cazaux, July 1981. The front cover color photograph is of Dassault Mystère IVA, n^o126, in flight. The upper color photograph on the rear cover is of Super Mystère B2, n^o156, in NATO Tiger Meet markings, serving with Escadron de chassé 1/12 Cambrésis, BA 103 Cambrai. The color photograph at the center of the rear cover shows off Super Mystère B2 in a US-inspired Vietnam camouflage scheme.

Andy Evans opens with an overview of the development of the Dassault M.D. 452 Mystère, Dassault M.D. 454 Mystère IV, and Super Mystère B2, beginning with the Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan [Hurricane]. The Ouragan, initially a private venture by Marcel Dassault, was the first French jet fighter to enter production. Detailed design work began in December 1947 and led to the prototype’s first flight on February 28, 1948. Additional prototypes were pursued and led to a production contract for 150 airframes on August 31, 1950. Design improvements led to the M.D. 452 Mystère I with a 30-degree swept wing that led to the M.D. 452 Mystère IIC being placed into production. The M.D. 454 Mystère IV began flying as the Mystère IIC became operational. Although outwardly similar, the Mystère IV was a new design that enabled a supersonic airframe. The center photograph on Page 07 reveals Dassault Chief Test Pilot Constantin Rozanoff standing in front of the Mystère IV. A line-up of Mystère IVs is featured at the bottom of the page.

The Super Mystère B1 achieved its first flight in March 1955, followed by the Super Mystère B2 flying in May 1956. Once again, despite a similar appearance to previous Mystères, she was a new design. The Super Mystère B2 was the first supersonic aircraft to enter mass production in France. France ordered 180 of the Super Mystère B2, with delivery completed in 1959. The Super Mystère B2 was retired in November 1977 after 19 years of service with the Armée de l’Air. The Super Mystère B2 range of weapons are on display at the bottom of Page 16. A line-up of four Super Mystère B2 aircraft can be seen at the top of the page. The Super Mystère B2 saw combat, serving with the Israeli Air Force during the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

A standard feature for Guideline’s Warpaint series is the In Detail section as seen on Page 29. These color photographs feature detail shots of Dassault Mystère IVA, #245, and Dassault Super Mystère B2 n^o145, both on display at the Musée de l’Aviation Clément Ader. If you are in the United States, a Mystère IVA can be found on display outside at the Pima Air Museum in Arizona. Sam Pearson’s 1/72-scale drawings of the top and bottom views of the Super Mystère B2 can be found on Page 35. Side views of the Mystère IIC and Mystère IVA are also included on the previous page in 1/72-scale. An example of the color side profiles can be seen on Page 40. The top five profiles are all Super Mystère B2s displaying a variety of camouflage schemes. The bottom profile is the Israeli Sa’ar [Tempest], an Israeli upgrade of the Super Mystère B2 by replacing the Atar 101G-3 engine with a Douglas A-4H Skyhawk Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A. The new engine, although not afterburning, was 25% more powerful, lighter, and more reliable. It provided the capability to carry more ordinance, extend its range, and improve loitering. This Sa’ar, #909, was the first Super Mystère B2 converted, and it had its maiden flight on February 13, 1969. Note the lengthened fuselage toward point to the engine, in addition to its strengthened wings and two new hard points. The entire Israeli fleet of 26 Super Mystère B2 “Sambads” were converted.

The chapters of this book include:

• Genesis of the Mystère – The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan
• The Dassault Mystère I and II
• Dassault Mystère IV [Page 07]
  • Israel
  • India
• Dassault Super Mystère
  • France [Page 16]
  • Israel
  • Honduras
  • Mystère Specifications [Table]
• Preserved Aircraft
• Mystère I, II, and Mystère IV Variants
• Dassault Mystère & Super Mystère In Detail [Page 29]
• Dassault Mystère / Super Mystère 1/72 Scale Drawings by Sam Pearson [Page 35]
• Color Profiles [Page 40]

The Dassault Mystère II is going to be problematic. Dujin issued a 1/72-scale kit of the Mystère IIC in resin, and it was re-released in 2020. Clear Prop! promised one in 2020 but is still awaiting the light of day. The Dassault Mystère IVA was released in 2012 by Azur in 1/72. There are plenty of older releases from Matchbox and Revell in 1/72-scale. A Dassault Mystère IVA in 1/48-Scale will be a bit rougher to find with older releases from Fonderie Miniature, Hi-Tech, and Xkit. If you are a fan of 1/100-scale, Heller has a 1960s-era release of the Mystère IVA. The Dassault Super Mystère has been rescued by Special Hobby in 1/72 and 1/48 with releases of a Dassault Super Mystère B2 Early, Late, and the Israeli Sa’ar variants.

I was able to read Andy Evans’ monograph over two days. The text is well supplemented with very clear photographs with good captions. Andy Evans provides well-executed color side profiles with Sam Pearson contributing the 1/96-line drawings. This is a nice reference on the Dassault Mystère & Super Mystère and would be a handy addition to your reference library. If you are building any of the model kits, I would consider this edition essential as an aide to your build. If you own any of the previous releases in the Warpaint series, you know what you are getting. If this is your initial entry into this series, you will be quite pleased.

My thanks to Guideline Publications and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great monograph.

Highly recommended!