Thanks to Casemate Books for the review copy!

The Air Force’s 18^th Aggressor Squadron is based at Eielson AFB in Alaska and flies specially painted F-16s in fulfilling its role of simulating opposing air forces. Over the years its F-16s have worn a wide variety of paint schemes mimicking those used by potential opponents. Recently, the Squadron painted some of its F-16s in several variations of the “Splinter” scheme recently observed on Russian Su-34s and the Sukhoi T-50. Two Bobs have now issued decal sheets in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scales to allow modelers to depict these schemes.

This is a very handy reference publication for modelers. In this booklet by Maciej Noszczak, there are 20 pages of beautiful line drawings, side view color plates and photos of the XF4U-1 prototype.

There is little in the way of text, aside from a long paragraph detailing the basic developmental stages for the Corsair family of aircraft.

The line drawings are highly detailed (including one full page inserted and removable page). The line drawings are prepared in 1/48^th scale while the color plates are done in a larger unspecified scale. However, these color plates provide a number of valuable color references in both two-tone grey over white, solid dark grey, and the ever popular intermediate blue and dark blue over white schemes. Though far from an expert on the Corsair, I made several comparisons, using Tamiya’s 32^nd scale kit and panel lines and even rivet details appear to be accurate.

The Aircraft

The P-40N was in several respects the final and some would say the definitive P-40 Warhawk or the Kittyhawk Mk. IV. The most distinguishing feature was the extended canopy, which provided the pilot with a much better view from within the canopy. While it can’t be seen from the exterior, this model of the P-40N was powered by the Allison V-1710-87 engine.

The Kit

This kit was a pleasure to build and estimated to take only 20 hours to complete, appears to match the published dimensions in all respects, and provides an attractive addition to the Warhawk or Kittyhawk family of kits (not counting the CMK after-market items noted below).

The Build

The basic kit has a pretty low level of difficulty and would be pretty straight-forward. In spite of my early premonition about the Special Hobby kits, there are small locating pins and holes found in this kit. The very basic steps are as follows:

It’s June of 1940. The Wehrmacht has just crushed the armies of Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The British Army has escaped across the Channel from Dunkirk, and they’ve left a lot of equipment behind, not to mention a goodly number of soldiers. Germany has to get their act together in France, prepare for occupation of those conquered territories, and then there’s the thought of what to do about England.

This book is not the usual Osprey book we review here at IPMS USA. It is mostly text, with only a few pictures thrown in. It covers the period from June 1940 to July of 1941. After this, Sea Lion became a moot point, as the Wehrmacht had their hands full in the Soviet Union.