Thank you to Mushroom Publications for bringing a tremendous digital resource for the modeler. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching model subjects. This digital publication is nearly identical in content to the paperback version [suggestion to editor: here is the link for the paperback review on the IPMS Review site.

Overview

I am very pleased with the increasing availability of research material in the tablet world. Interactive Panels allows an interesting reference experience for the WWII German aircraft modeler. Cockpit views of six different aircraft instrument panels are included, as listed:

• Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4
• Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
• Henschel Hs 123
• Messerschmitt Bf 110E
• Focke Wulf Fw 190A-3
• Junkers Ju 88 A-4

Excellent drawings and artwork showcase the instrument panels. A 2 to 4 paragraph introduction provides background information on each aircraft. Information is accessed with tap-swipe-pinch finger commands familiar to Apple users. Highlighting, notes and searches are all enabled. The table of contents entries are hot-linked to the corresponding chapter. Nearly all parts of each panel screen provide a pop-up detail drawing or description of the relevant part. Photographs are included in many panel chapters. Three-dimensional models (links) are included in some cases to illustrate a great perspective on complicated components.

An interesting dimension to this format is the experience of actually “touching” the panels and other components. I found myself critiquing the layouts and thinking about the operational aspects of the aircraft from a flight crew perspective. High-end flight simulators provide this perspective directly and software flight simulators often have a mouse interface. Actually touching the panel gives an interesting hand-eye sense of how effective the panel layout was in the actual aircraft. The book introduction describes the workplace clutter of many panels, specifically referencing British practices and the German concept of mounting instruments on engine cowlings!

Overall Recommendation

I recommend this publication for researching any of the six aircraft cockpits. I particularly enjoyed the easy access. The publication is very reasonably priced and is an excellent value. If you are one of those modelers building the Eduard panel kits, you will find this publication particularly useful.

Thanks to Mushroom Model Books for providing this review copy! Thanks are also in order for the tireless Review Corps team, who effectively solicit, proof, and post the reviews that I write.