Reviews

Book Author(s)
Ben Skipper
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$29.95

This is part of a series of books by FlightCraft on aircraft and I have a few of these and are truly indispensable when building a model of the subject matter.

This book goes into great detail on the F-35 fifth Generation fighter. There are a few versions of this aircraft all covered in this book.

The contents of the book are as follows:

  • Introduction
  • Design and Development
  • Key Technical Systems
  • Power Systems
  • In Service
  • Camouflage and Markings
  • Modeling the F-35 Lightning
  • Showcase Products

I found the Key Technical Systems section most interesting section to me and learned a lot about the aircraft systems.

The modeling sections were also very informative. There are a few builds highlighted including the Tamiya, Academy, Italeri, and Trumpeter Kits.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Casemate UK
MSRP
$29.95

Reviewer’s Comments:

TankCraft 46, Panther Medium Tank, German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 details the Panther tank, officially the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther (Pz. Kpfw. V, Sd. Kfz. (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) 171, during the largely defensive battles on the Eastern Front during 1944. As the author states in the Introduction,

“At the beginning of 1944, the German armies in the East had lost much of the territory that they had overrun in the spectacular advances of 1941 and 1942. In the north, Leningrad was still surrounded but was being resupplied, and the city was no longer under any serious threat. Most of modern-day Ukraine east of the Dnipro River was now in Soviet hands and in the south the Red Army had occupied the Perekop Isthmus, cutting off Generaloberst Erwin Janecke’s 17. Armee in Crimea.

Book Author(s)
Gustavo Marón
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Helion is a UK-based company that produces books on many aspects of Military History from the Late Medieval period through to the present day. Helion was established in 1996 by University of Warwick graduate Duncan Rogers. Since then, they have published over 1,200 books, with 100 or more new titles coming out every year, for readers around the world. Casemate markets Helion books in the United States.

Book Author(s)
Aleksandar Radić
Review Author
Paul Stirrup
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

The Yugoslav Air Force in the Battles for Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991–1992, Volume 2 by Aleksandar Radić is an excellent addition to any aviation or modern military history collection, especially for those with an interest in the Balkan conflicts of the early 1990s. Radić does a strong job of combining operational history with detailed insight into the aircraft, units, and missions that defined this complex period. The narrative is clear and well-structured, giving enough political and military context without overwhelming the reader, while still maintaining a strong focus on aviation.

One of the standout features of the book is high-quality photography throughout. The images are sharp, well-reproduced, and thoughtfully selected, offering a valuable visual record of the aircraft and conditions during the conflict. These aren’t just filler; they genuinely enhance the reader’s understanding of the subject.

Book Author(s)
Wen Jian Chung
Review Author
Paul Stirrup
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

War in Ukraine, Volume 9: Soviet-Designed Artillery Systems, 2014–2024 by Wen Jian Chung is a highly focused and informative entry in the Europe @ War series, offering a detailed look at one of the most important elements of the ongoing conflict, Artillery Systems. Chung does an excellent job breaking down the development, deployment, and battlefield use of Soviet-designed systems still in operation today. The text strikes a solid balance between technical detail and operational context, making it accessible without losing depth. It’s particularly valuable for readers interested in how legacy systems have been adapted and employed in a modern, high-intensity conflict.

Review Author
Bradley Moreland
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$100.00

After previously reviewing a 1:700 Ship model from ICM (Kaiser’s Steel Fist) I have decided to return to something that better fits my skill set, and have chosen the ICM Do 217M-1, which I will do in a “Night Bomber” scheme.

Unboxing

This kit includes 11 highly detailed sprues of parts. 9 of them are molded in their usual light grey and there are 2 clear canopy sprues. All of them are very highly detailed, which has become the expected norm for ICM kits for me. I am always impressed by how clean the sprues are and how highly detailed the parts are. There is 1 decal sheet and the instruction book. Once again, I have to point out how clear and precise the instructions are. This particular instruction book also includes masking templates for the canopies which will be EXTREMELY helpful as the masking will be a LOT!! This also gives 4 different color schemes to use, all in full color.

Review Author
Paul Stirrup
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$163.00

This rather imposing triple kit package of the G7117, Studebaker US6-U3, and Studebaker US6-U5 trucks, comes in an average sized box with a nice artist rendering of the three trucks on the outside, with several pictures and a detailed description of what you get inside. Inside there are three stuffed plastic bags containing the individual, and the three instruction manuals that correspond to them. The sprues at first glance look well packaged with cushioning tape wrapped around the delicate parts, no etched fret, but a well rendered Decal Sheet for multiple marking options.

Book Author(s)
N/A
Review Author
Jeff Leiby
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$15.00

Bottom line up front: The title states this is a reference for the Curtiss P-40B/C, but actually, it is a reference for the P-40E with a few photos and color plates for the P-40B/C. The accompanying decals are for a P-40B/C.

The soft-cover booklet is 1-1/2” x 11-3/4” with 24 pages. There are ten black & white aircraft photos, twelve detail photos, six color profiles, a four-view color profile for the aircraft covered in the decals, and twenty-two line drawings of P-40Es and Kittyhawk IAs. The price on the Kagero website is Euro 12.95.

The decals cover a single P-40B/C in both 1/72 and 1/48th scale. They are in good register, the colors are solid and crisp, and the carrier film is thin.

Book Author(s)
Krzysztof Dabrowski
Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

From the publisher’s website:

Nearly forty years have passed since the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant - the most severe nuclear accident in history and one of the gravest man-made disasters ever recorded. Countless books, documentaries, and films have examined the catastrophe and its aftermath. Yet, despite this abundance of material, a crucial aspect of the story has remained largely overlooked in English-language accounts: the immense contribution of Soviet aviation to the response effort.

In the shadow of the “liquidators” who manually cleared radioactive debris, thousands of aviators - especially helicopter crews - risked their lives flying repeated missions into the deadly plume above Reactor No. 4. Their work was vital in containing the fallout, delivering personnel and equipment, and monitoring radiation in conditions no aircraft had ever been designed to endure. Their story has never received the recognition it deserves.