What's New

Book Author(s)
David Baker
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Tempest Books
MSRP
$37.99

This is a revised and updated edition of the book originally published in 2018. The book covers the most modern of fighter aircraft currently in use and development. It is divided into nineteen chapters.

The first six chapters of the book cover the development of Jet fighters after WWII along with advances in armament, the use of missiles attempting to replace dogfighting as well as avionics and radar improvements and the development of stealth technologies.

The next nine chapters are aircraft specific, each covering one of the types flying at time of publication. First up is the first of the fifth-generation fighters, the F-22 covering its successes and problems, including the issues with the environmental systems that led to pilots having issues after landing with memory loss and alertness. Next is the F-35 which is hoped to eventually replace the F-16 and A-10 as well as be more mass produced than the F-22.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Foxbot
Scale
1/72

For those that have never heard of FOXBOT, they are a decal and mask manufacturer from the Ukraine and have a series of decals and masks in scales from 1/32 down to 1/144. They specialize in planes from their region such as MiG and Sukhoi but they do have markings for other planes such as B-25 and P-38’s and more. Needless to say, this company could use some support at this time. The set includes markings for nine L-39C/M/M1 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Foxbot
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.50

For those that have never heard of FOXBOT, they are a decal and mask manufacturer from the Ukraine and have a series of decals and masks in scales from 1/32 down to 1/144. They specialize in planes from their region such as MiG and Sukhoi but they do have markings for other planes such as B-25 and P-38’s. Needless to say, this company could use some support at this time. The set includes markings for four MiG-25RB’s of the Ukrainian Air Force:

Book Author(s)
Sgt Antoni Beda.
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.90

This is a very thin book with only 24 pages, but they are very high quality, outline drawing, full of profile pictures, and detailed Photographs of the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC.

The first 5 pages are dedicated to scaled outline drawings in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales, idea for most scale modelers to use.

The following three pages cover full aircraft shots in action.

Then the next 11 pages are what makes this book really worth buying which is the details pictures and drawings giving some super views for model references.

The last four pages cover a full color drawing of the instrument panel and aircraft profile pictures.

I will be using this book for a upcoming build of a 1/72 Hurricane and it will provide all the detail references I will need. This is a fantastic thin and inexpensive reference for all to use.

I recommend this book to everyone who likes and or builds Phantom’s

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Paduch
Review Author
Dekker Zimmerman
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$33.95

I received this book as a big fan of the MiG-3 WWII fighter and hoped to get more info on the subject.

There has not been much written on the actual aircraft and even fewer photos.

This is volume 1 in the MiG-3 Monograph Series #80 and deals mainly with the development of the aircraft.

Most of the first half of the book deals with other aircraft in Soviet development and concentrates on the designers and design boroughs of the VVS and others.

The majority of the book talks about the disjointed workings of the soviet government under Stalin and how designers of early soviet aircraft were shuffled around and sometimes imprisoned.

This book shows how the early designers cared about only speed and not much on aircraft strength and maneuverability. Many pages talk about the development of just early soviet power plants and engines.

Book Author(s)
Pierpaolo Maglio
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Aviation Collectibles
MSRP
$24.95

Pierpaolo Maglio is a great modeler whose work can be found on line but for the those that don’t know, he is also a published author and his latest book is what this review is about, a brief history of the Italian 102nd Squadron.

A look at the index shows the history starting in 1942:

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$109.00

I have been using enamels for many years (a couple of decades) now. Enamel hobby paints are getting hard to find and there are the health considerations on enamels, so I have been exploring different acrylic options out there. I was surprised to find out that ICM Models from Ukraine has released an extensive set of paints that are acrylic and water thinnable.

The 80-Color boxing includes 77 actual colors and 3 varnishes: matt, satin and gloss. There is no thinner included in the boxing, but that is nitpicking. The box says that you can thin the paint using water.

The full list of colors follows

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions specializes in white metal replacement parts. Its line of replacement landing gear has been expanded to include a set for the Hasegawa (reboxed by Revell as well) 1/48 Hurricane. This set applies to the whole line of Hurricanes: Mk.I, Ia, II, IIB/C/D and IV.

The set is including a total 5 parts covering the main landing gear struts and tail wheel. These parts are drop-in replacements for the plastic parts.

Considering that the Hurricane is a medium size model -in 1/48- I don’t think the reason to get a metal landing gear is due to the weight (unless you add a lot of resin to it) but rather the reason to get the set might be to be able to ‘tweak’ the landing gear strut for an improved alignment of the parts to achieve a proper stance.

You can see from the pictures the parts are very cleanly molded and formed, without barely visible molding lines, which can be removed just a few passes with a metal file.

Book Author(s)
Richard Marmo
Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Richard Marmo
MSRP
$0.99

The 9th e-book from Richard Marmo has to do with turning an e-book into a hard copy to keep on your shelf.

I relate well to this title as I am one of the old school who still prefers paper to pixels. While I am willing to read books on my phone when it comes to model related material, I would much rather have it flat on my desk to review rather than on a computer or phone screen.

Richards smaller than usual e-book actually points to these concerns during his introduction. The Basics covers the different types of formats available and brings up copyright concerns.

The then jumps into the meat of the topic with what is needed to print, namely a computer, printer, Adobe Reader and even discusses the different types of paper and using binders to store the printed version.

Book Author(s)
Bruno Bork
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
Company
Greenhill Books
MSRP
$34.95

The book was originally printed in German and published by Vaerlagshaus Wurzburg GmbH & Co. in 1977. There was a revised edition in 2009 and this new edition published, and I suspect translated by Greenhill Books. The book is divided into 10 chapters and starting with the formation of the unit in 1940 and it ends with their last battle in South-Eastern Front in 1944-45.

I was impressed by the numerous photos in the book. You will find candid shots, action shots as well as the different equipment used by the unit. The book is basically a unit story and takes you through the many battles in which the unit was involved from its formation to its end. It will, also introduce you to some of their personnel and awards.

The book reads like a “unit story” and that is what its basically is; throughout the book you are introduced to the unit challenges during the battle and the outcome of those battles and many of the members of the unit.