A-1 Skyraider in Action
AUTHOR: David Doyle
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: Squadron/Signal
Publications
ISBN: 978-0-89747-837-3
FOR M AT: 80 pp SoftbackT
his book is in Squadron/
Signal’s usual softback
landscape format, and
traces the development of the
A-1 Skyraider, perhaps one
of the most iconic post-war
US Nav y aircraft. There is
some very informative text,
starting with the introduction,
which explains the origins of
the aircraft. This intro also
includes some very interesting
photographs of the XSB2D-1;
this was originally planned as
the replacement for the SBD,
and is an aircraft your reviewer
admits he has never heard of.
In common with most of the
Squadron/Signal range, the bulkof the book consists of a good
selection of photographs and line
drawings, the latter illustrating
the various developments from the
original XBT2D-1 to the AD-7/A-1J.
The only omission is that, whilst
there is mention of the aircraft in
non-US service, the only photos
are of US machines, except for a
few in South Vietnamese service.
But that is a minor quibble,
and any modeller with an
interest in the “Spad” will
want this on their bookshelf.
Thanks to the author
for the review copy.
MJCB-17F Flying Fortress
A Visual History of the B-17F
Flying Fortress in WWIIAUTHOR: David Doyle
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: G-104 Press
ISBN: 978-1-77501-331-0
FOR M AT: 120 pp SoftbackT
his book concentrates
on one sub-type of
the iconic World War
Two aeroplane, the B-17F
Flying Fortress. After a short
introductory text, the rest of the
book consists of photographs.
The author presents a great
selection of contemporary shots
of B-17Fs in service, followed
by a walk-around selection
of the B-17F preserved in the
Museum of Flight in Seattle,Washington. Each photograph
is informatively captioned.
If you are modelling a B-17F,
particularly one of HKM’s 1/32
giants, you will find this book
invaluable, but it will also be
of interest to anyone who has a
soft spot for the mighty “Fort”.
Thanks to the author
for the review copy.
MJCTornado F3 in Focus
A Navigator’s Eye on Britain’s Last
InterceptorAUTHOR: David Gledhill
YEAR: 2015
PUBLISHER: Fonthill Media Ltd
ISBN: 978-1-78155 -307-7
FOR M AT: 282 pp Hardback/e-BookY
our scribe received this
book for review not long
after hearing about Revell’s
imminent issue of a new 1/48
Tornado F3 kit, and reading
the book has certainly made a
purchase of said kit more likely.
The author tells the story of
the service introduction and
development of the Tornado F2 and
F3, from their early years and entry
into service through to the type’s
retirement from RAF service.
David Gledhill is very well
qualified to write the book. As an
RAF officer and navigator, he was
involved with the type in a number of
capacities: as a staff officer in MoD; as
one of the first instructors, and later
Executive Officer, of 229 OCU; and
as CO of 1435 Flight, the unit tasked
with air defence of the Falklands.
There have been many tales- some true, some not so true –
about the early (in)capabilities
of the aircraft. The author pulls
no punches in relating the early
problems and defects, and how
they were overcome, but he
equally gives praise where praise
is due. The style flows well, and
the technical explanations are
made understandable without
the author ever being guilty of
talking down to the reader.
The descriptions of a number
of “special” sorties are particularly
interesting. These include a
Buckingham Palace flypast for HM
the Queen’s birthday by a nine-
aircraft formation, and an epic
10.5-hour flight to deploy for a series
of exercises with the Sultan of Oman’s
Air Force, tanking from a TriStar for
the first time in the aircraft’s service.
There is a good selection
of appropriate photographs
and other illustrations in both
black and white and colour.
If you have an interest
in the aircraft or the RAF in
the 1980s onwards, this book
belongs on your shelf.
Thanks to Fonthill Media
Ltd for the review copy.
MJCModellers Datafile Scaled Down 7
The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super
Hornet and EA-18G Growler
AUTHOR: Andy Evans
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: HobbyZone Limited (under
licence from SAM Publications)
ISBN: 978-0-9955460-7-3
FOR M AT: 100pp SoftbackT
his book is the latest in
this popular series from
SAM Publications. The
opening chapter begins with
a look at the development of
the type, before moving on to
look at the Super Hornet as fleet
defender and strike fighter.
The next chapter takes a look
at the Growler variant of the Super
Hornet. Chapter 4 is very short,
taking a look at the Advanced Super
Hornet, which was a Boeing and
Northrop Grumman self-funded
prototype, with a 50% reduction
in frontal radar cross-section,
conformal fuel tanks, and an enclosed
weapons pod. Chapter 5 looks at
the Australian Export version of
the Super Hornet. There follow
four pages of colour and colourful
side profiles by Andrew Borovyh.
The next section features seven
kit builds: four 1/48 scale Hasegawa
kits, and three in 1/72 scale (one
from Revell, two from Hasegawa).
The builds feature some of the
more colourful schemes the type
has worn during its service life.
The appendices include some
really useful walk-around anddetail images, including weaponry
as well as airframe details.
Appendix 2 is the Kitography,
which takes a look at the available
kits, decals, and accessories.
Appendix 4 comprises images from
the technical manual, which are
mainly focused on the cockpit. The
last section looks at the squadrons
that operated the Super Hornet.
If you have any of the many
available kits of the Super Hornet
in your stash, then this book
may just give you the inspiration
you need to build them!
My thanks to HobbyZone/
SAM Publications for supplying
this copy for review.
TMU-SBOOKS & MEDIA
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