Scale aviation modeller international

Flying Into The Storm

RAF Bombers at War 1939-1942

AUTHOR: Chris Sams

YEAR: 2017

PUBLISHER: Fonthill Media Ltd

ISBN: 978-1-78155 - 617-7

FOR M AT: 238pp Hardback/e-Book

T

his book relates the

development of RAF bomber

strategy and tactics in the

years before the real “heavies”

• Lancaster and Halifax – came
  into widespread service. Five
  main types are covered – Battle,
  Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington,
  and Whitley – although others
  such as the Bombay are also
  mentioned where appropriate.
  The book starts with a look
  at the aircraft involved, their
  development, and their strengths
  and shortcomings. A large part of
  the book then covers the bomber
  offensive against Germany, and
  shows how pre-war theories
  were put to the test in the light of
  operational experience. It then
  moves on to examine the use of these
  aircraft in other theatres, including
  North Africa and the Far East. After
  a conclusion, there are endnotes, a
  bibliography, and an index. There is a

photographic section mid-

way through the book, with

a selection of photos.

The text is generally well-written

and engaging, but let down by what

may be proof-reading or auto-correct

issues: for example the widespread

use of “ordinance” (“That which

is proclaimed by authority ...*”)

where “ordnance” (“...munitions

...”*) is meant; confusion between

“effecting” and “affecting” on p144;

or on p37, where one can only puzzle

over the meaning of “... acting the

seat, the captain [...] collapsed ...” –

perhaps “vacating” was intended?

But notwithstanding these

this is a useful volume for those

with an interest in the RAF, the

bomber force and its aircraft, and/

or the early part of World War II.

Thanks to Fonthill Media

Ltd for the review copy.

MJC *Chambers Dictionary, 9th Edn.

Ag Aviation No.2

PUBLISHER: Aero Research Co.

SERIES: Digital CD Civil Series

C AT. NO. 5010

A

s Monty Python’s Flying

Circus used to say ‘and

now for something

completely different’, and

that is certainly what this CD

supplies! Agricultural aircraft

may not be everyone’s cup of

tea, but they do perform a vital

role in farming communities

around the world, and they are

certainly colourful and very

different looking from the

Spitfires and 109s commonly

seen at model shows!

This latest CD from Aero

Research has 151 images of Ag

aircraft from around the world.

Some of the types covered will

be familiar, like the Stearman,

or the Grumman TBM; others,

like the Ayres S2R, less so. The

Grumman G164 caught my eye, as

being a particularly ugly aircraft,

considering it came from the

same company that designed

the rather sleek Tigercat!

Another type that caught my

eye was the very bizarre looking

Transavia PL-12. This twin boom

type would certainly stump

most aviation enthusiasts.

Ag aircraft are not commonly

kitted, but Grand Models

announced a brand new kit of

the PZL M18 in 1/72 scale at

Scale ModelWorld. HpH also

have a Zlin Bumblebee in 1/32

scale in preparation, so if you

fancy modelling a dedicated

Ag aircraft or converting a

warbird to this role, then this

disc could well be the inspiration

that you are looking for!

My thanks to Aero Research

for supplying this disc for review.

http://www.AeroResearchCDs.com

TMU-S

MiG-21 Aces of

the Vietnam War

AUTHOR: Istvan Toperczer

YEAR: 2017

PUBLISHER: Osprey Publishing Ltd

ISBN: 978-1-4728-2356-4

FOR M AT: 112 pp Softback

T

his book is one of the

latest in Osprey’s Aircraft

of the Aces series, telling

the story of the MiG-21 aces of

the North Vietnamese Air Force,

and follows the usual format for

this series. This Vietnamese were

already using MiG-17s when,

in 1965, a group of pilots and

engineers travelled to the Soviet

Union and trained on the MiG-21.

After a short introduction,

Chapter One starts at that point in

time, and covers the period to the

end of the Vietnam War. The book’s

focus, as the title suggests, is on

the aces, and covers the various

aerial encounters and the units

operating the aircraft. The very

readable text is illustrated with

many contemporary photographs

and other illustrations, including

one showing an underground

bunker from which some aircraft

operated. The drawings also include

the customary selection of colour

side profiles illustrating the colour

schemes and markings worn. There

are appendices, which list the high-

scoring aces, and give more detailed

captions for the colour profiles; and

finally, a bibliography and index.

The author is a flight surgeon

in the Hungarian Air Force. In his

spare time, he travels frequently

to Hanoi and elsewhere to research

the Vietnam War. He has written

other Osprey books on the subject.

This book deserves a place on

the shelf of any MiG-21 fan, or

any student of the Vietnam War.

Thanks to Osprey Publishing

Ltd for the review copy.

MJC

P-38 Lightning

in Action

AUTHOR: David Doyle

YEAR: 2017

PUBLISHER: Squadron/Signal Publications

ISBN: 978-0-89747-849-6

FOR M AT: 80 pp Softback

T

his book follows the

usual Squadron/Signal

format, and deals with

the P-38 Lightning, an aircraft

that was unique among US

“P-“ types, not just because of

its twin-engine, twin-boom

configuration, but as the only

one to remain in full production

throughout the USA’s

involvement in World War II.

As usual, the book traces

the development and service of

the type. Again, as usual, this

involves some text, but the main

value lies in the photographs

and line drawings. All variants

are covered, starting with the

XP-38, and the various stages

of developing the nacelle and

boom configurations, moving

through the major and minor

fighter variants, and then

the other types, such as the

F-4 and F-5 reconnaissance

versions, the P-38M night

fighter and the Droop Snoot.

As one would expect, the

version ordered for the RAF is

also covered. As the reader may

know, most of the RAF order

was never taken up, and the bulk

of these machines were taken

over by the USAAC and used

for training. There are some

great photos of these machines

in US service, wearing their

originally allocated RAF serial

number, which (as with other

types in similar circumstances)

was adopted as their US serial.

This book will prove a good

resource for anyone modelling

a “fork-tailed devil”, as well as

anyone with an interest in the type.

Thanks to the author

for the review copy.

MJC

94 • JANUARY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

BOOKS & MEDIA

094-95-Books-0118.indd 94 08/12/2017 17:03