The book comes in three distinct sections - the first is an in-depth analysis of the German "Westwall" defense system built between 1936 and 1944. This includes the build phases, the organization of the workforce and the political background.

The second section looks at the Allied campaign to overcome the defenses of the Siegfried Line through the winter of 1944/45, focusing on three major operations by the US, British and Canadian armies.

The third section deals with the perception of the Westwall in the eighty years since the war and then outlines a battlefield tour guide of those elements that still survive.

Another large and informative decal set from AOA yet again with a wonderful decal set for Naval Search and Rescue birds for the US Navy H-60 Seahawk/Knighthawk family that covers, MH-60S helicopter family.

This 1/35^th scale decal sheet Search and Rescue bird covers the following squadrons for the Kitty Hawk family of kits (now owned by Zimi models in China):

MH-60S

• HSC-2 Fleet Angel
• NAS Patuxent River
• NAS Patuxent River Option #2
• NAS Fallon
• NAS Fallon Option #2
• NAS Whidbey Island
• NAS Lemoore
• NAS Key West
• NAS China Lake

In the Package

There are a total of 2 decal sheets provided that have been printed by Microscale Industries. 9 versions of Search and Rescue birds are in this set! The main sheets provide bureau numbers, navy, and special markings. The second sheet has air frame data and stencil markings in low-viz.

Many will know Ronny Bar’s artwork from Wingnut Wings and Kotare Models kit sets; this new book highlights his talents with a vast selection of full-colour profiles of that most famous of WWII fighter aircraft, the Spitfire, and specifically the Merlin-engined versions. These range from the original 1936 prototype K5054 through to the late-War Spitfire Mk.16 and into the 1950s.

The landscape-oriented book has 232 pages and features 260+ different aircraft; there are 25 4-views, 4 3-views and 18 2-views. All operators seem to be covered including some unusual foreign-marked Spitfires. Also included are machines belonging to such aces as Stanford Tuck, Deere and Malan. The side profiles are to approximately 1/38 scale, so are of a good size. Some of the profiles will be familiar to those who have built one, or more, of the Kotare kits, and perhaps there are some clues as to what machines will be featured in future Mk.V kits?

This latest slim volume of the MMP Colour and Scale series by artists Dariusz Karnas and Teodor Liviu Morosanu features the French Air Force Potez 63.11 during the 1940 Battle of France. A three-place, twin-engined reconnaissance aircraft derived from the classy Potez 630 fighter, the 63.11 had a distinctive ‘greenhouse’ nose to allow for better ground observation. As a combat aircraft, the 63.11 was pretty useless, but it has featured in several kits over the years, particularly from Heller and Azur in 1/72 and the latter in 1/48.

Within this 16-page card cover book are a set of detailed 1/72 plans and full-colour profiles of 19 aircraft, including one 4-view and one 3-view. Captions are in English with a summary in Polish at the back.

Background

There is not much information available on the history of the Messerschmitt Bf-109S trainer type. The most I could find about this version was in the book by Richard A. Franks “The Messerschmitt Bf109 Early Series (V1 to E-9 including T-series)” by Valiant Wings Publishing. It states that it was a tandem trainer with the student sitting in the front seat and the instructor behind. The S version was the same as the Bf-109E-3 one but was equipped with a Revi gun-sight, and although it retained the nose armament, it did not have the wing cannons. It also had an early style canopy without armored glass in the front. The most interesting fact in the book was that it was a project only and was never built.

The Kit

The AZ model kit of the Messerschmitt Bf-109S depicts three painting schemes: two from 1941 and one from 1942. I selected the first of the three markings for my build representing the first prototype from April 1941.