Another quick addition to the lovely new Tamiya 1/48th scale F-4B is this decal set which includes decals to recreate the numerous numbers and cautions found on the aircraft's access doors. Also included are decals to recreate yellow canopy rain seals, as well as adding details to engine nozzles.

Inside the package, there is a large foldout sheet with large enough print to add all the appropriate decals for the door markings. What I found nice is the size of the instructions which open to 10” x 14” and are dual sided; top on one side and bottom on the other. Also included in this set are additional markings for the F-4J. The instructions are color coded with black being both B and J versions; Red is specific for the B version and Green is specific for J versions only. And did I mention they are big enough to actually read!

When visiting the D&S website, note that when the page opens it will feature a series of publications labeled, “Detail & Scale Series”. To find the publication being reviewed here, scroll down to find the “Colors & Markings Series” in which this publication is listed.

About the Authors

Bert Kinzey is well known as the creator/author of the Detail & Scale series of publications. These publications, as noted in Kinzey’s bio on page 121 of the F9F Cougar publication focused on the details of aircraft featured in the D&S series. Those details included “the cockpit, weapon systems, radars and avionics systems, differences between variants, airframe design and much more.” (D&S F9F Cougar, Page 121).

“Air Wars between Ecuador and Peru” is volume 3, Operations over the Cenepa river valley 1995 is the final book in the three part air war series between these two countries. The author who is from Peru goes through great detail from both sides with a strong emphasis from the Peruvian perspective which is understandable. The book is 80 pages of print and eight pages dedicated of colorful aircraft art, photos and a map. There is a list of abbreviations included at the beginning of the book.

Artillery has generally been known as the King of Battle for quite a long time and for good reason. The ability to reach out and touch your opponent on a battlefield is an obvious advantage. And if you can do that first, further, with more power than your opponent there’s a strong chance your forces are going to win the day. Battlefield artillery has come a long way since the United States has been in existence, and the US has found itself at the forefront of that development. This book gives that history a quick glance in both text and pictures.

Seldom does a military aircraft gain a reputation the way the MiG 25, NATO codename “Foxbat”, did. When it entered service in 1970, little was known in the west other than grainy satellite photos and radar tracks that showed impressive speeds at high altitude. It was originally developed as a counter to the American XB-70 Valkyrie bomber, Western analysts believed the MiG 25 was a highly maneuverable, high-tech fighter based on the limited intelligence they could gather. Fast forward to September 6, 1976 when Lieutenant Victor Belenko took a MiG 25 from Russia and navigated his way to Japan landing at the civilian airport in Hakodate. Belenko was granted US citizenship by then President Jimmie Carter and the MiG was dismantled and studied by US intelligence officials. Some of the speculation was quickly refuted. The MiG 25 was made primarily of steel and required powerful engines to push the airframe to its Mach 2 plus performance.