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Airfix Model World
http://www.airfixmodelworld.comMODERN JUMP JET BIBLE
Although the title and cover
give the impression that this
memoir is about the He 162,
only the last half concerns the
author’s experiences with the
Volksjäger. Wollenweber starts
by recounting his service in aBf 110 squadron from January
1943 until February 1944, flying
bombing and escort missions
from Norway’s Barents Sea
coast. The narrative is well
written and engaging, and
comprises a fairly standard
mixture of operational flying
and squadron life. But the
real meat, for this reviewer,
starts when the author
transferred to engineering
school, then single-engine
fighter conversion training,
and finally glider school...
all preparatory to joining an
Me 163 Komet unit. With the
Komets grounded for lack of
fuel, he transferred finally to
Jagdgeschwader 1, the sole
operational He 162 unit, wherehe remained until the war’s
end. Wollenweber’s narrative
is vivid in its description of
the chaos and confusion of
attempting to maintain an
operational squadron in the
final months of the war, moving
from airfield to airfield as
the Allies approached, trying
to keep aircraft serviceable,
scrounging fuel, food and
supplies. The Volksjägers
were temperamental and
difficult to control, which led
to many accidents and deaths
among those pilots who
couldn’t master its nuances.
The author also includes
portrayals of his comrades,
along with observations that
are seemingly at odds withtraditional history. Closing
the book is an appendix of
facsimile pages and translation
of the He 162’s Pilot’s Notes.
It’s a most worthwhile read for
anyone whose interests lie in
the Luftwaffe’s jet aircraft and
operations. PJHarrier Special Interest Group
stalwarts Andy Donovan and
Nick Greenhall have produced
what is easily the best and most
comprehensive photographic
study of the modern RAF
Harrier. The result of two years’
work, this 240-page, English/
German text book unpeels the
type in an unbeatable way.
After the forward by former
Harrier Force Commander, AVM
Gary Waterfall, one receives
a 12-page introduction on the
Harrier II that covers GR.5
onwards, and provides details
on upgrades and capability
boosts, the Pegasus engine,
flight profiles, the Martin-BakerMk.12H seat, GR.7/9 operations,
production serials and build
numbers. Then, almost 50
pages are devoted to whole
airframe shots of various
Harriers in all their glory...from
GR.5s to the mass retirement
formation and a stunning(and fitting) sunset shot. The
images from Afghanistan are
particularly useful, for getting
stores fits and camouflage
just right. What then follows
is a truly epic collection of
walk-round photos, and every
facet of the jet seems to have
been ‘snapped’, and with good
quality. Captions tell what
one is looking at, albeit in a
sometimes brief manner, but
this does allow for the images
to be used in the most effective
way. Thankfully, weaponry
photos also feature (too many
builds fall down on stores
accuracy), and there are superb
weapons carriage diagrams,too. In closing, five pages of
vector-style colour profiles/plan
views are offered, and there’s
also a marvellous set of super-
accurate fold-out 1/48 scale
plans. This is every Harrier
modeller’s dream! CCBOOK SPEC
Thunder over the Reich -
Flying the Luftwaffe’s He
162 Jet Fighter
By: Wolfgang
Wollenweber
ISBN: 978-1-9021093-8-3
Price: £29.95
Format: A4
Available from:
Hikoki Publications,
http://www.crecy.co.ukstudy of the modern RAF
Harrier. The result of two years’
work, this 240-page, English/
German text book unpeels the
type in an unbeatable way.
After the forward by former
Harrier Force Commander, AVM
Gary Waterfall, one receives
a 12-page introduction on the
Harrier II that covers GR.5
onwards, and provides details
on upgrades and capability
boosts, the Pegasus engine,
flight profiles, the Martin-BakerHarriers in all their glory...from
GR.5s to the mass retirement
formation and a stunningis a truly epic collection of
walk-round photos, and every
facet of the jet seems to have
been ‘snapped’, and with good
quality. Captions tell what
one is looking at, albeit in a
sometimes brief manner, but
this does allow for the images
to be used in the most effective
way. Thankfully, weaponry
photos also feature (too many
builds fall down on stores
accuracy), and there are superb
weapons carriage diagrams,THE ‘BRICK’ IN DETAIL
Having worked formerly with
MOD (PE) Buccaneers for a
period, this reviewer can attest
to the imposing nature and great
character of the aircraft. The type
is a great modelling subject (when
will someone provide us with adecent 1/72 styrene example?),
and if one has the Airfix 1/48 kit
or its 1/72 alternative, Matchbox’s
ageing effort (re-released by
Revell), or CMR’s boutique resin
items, then this 65-page softback
book is for you. The publication
begins with a very brief history of
the type, and then offers plenty
of clear and bright photos of
Buccs in flight and on the ground,
and these depict the earlier Dark
Green and Dark Sea Grey over
Light Aircraft Grey, the first two
shades in wraparound format,
and late-service low-visibility
grey. RAF Germany jets (15 and
16 Squadrons) are included, as
well as ‘specials’ such as the all-black 208 Squadron XN976, 12
Squadron’s XX984 with fuselage-
long green/black trim, and
exercise birds in grey and white
for Norway ops and with Pale
Stone added for Red Flag in the
USA. This section ends with the
Desert Pink Gulf War 1 machines,
with their now famous nose art
and mission tallies. As with Double
Ugly!’s more recent Harrier book,
reviewed below, the coverage
then ventures into the realm of
walk-round detail imagery, and
this doesn’t disappoint. Shots of
the radar, engines, undercarriage,
canopy, cockpits, ejection seat,
bomb bay and more provide
excellent reference for detailing,and there is a handful of stores
photos of Paveway II, Pave Spike,
Sea Eagle, Martel, CBLS carriers
and the Mk.20 refuelling pod.
Not nearly as extensive as the
publisher’s Harrier book, but a
useful work nonetheless. CCTHE ‘BRICK’ IN DETAIL
Having worked formerly with
MOD (PE) Buccaneers for adecent 1/72 styrene example?),
and if one has the Airfix 1/48 kit
or its 1/72 alternative, Matchbox’s
ageing effort (re-released by
Revell), or CMR’s boutique resin
items, then this 65-page softback
book is for you. The publication
begins with a very brief history of
the type, and then offers plenty
of clear and bright photos of
Buccs in flight and on the ground,
and these depict the earlier Dark
Green and Dark Sea Grey over
Light Aircraft Grey, the first twoend. Wollenweber’s narrativefinal months of the war, movingthe Allies approached, tryingto many accidents and deathstraditional history. Closing
the book is an appendix ofFROM PROPS TO JETS IN THE LUFTWAFFE
BOOK SPEC
Blackburn Buccaneer
By: Willy Peeters &
Glenn Sands
ISBN: 9783935687317
Price: €16.95
Format: 210mm x 297
Available from:
Double Ugly! Books,
http://www.shopofphantoms.comBOOK SPEC
BAE Systems Harrier II
By: Andy Donovan and
Nick Greenhall
ISBN: 9783935687188
Price: €39.95
Format: 210 x 297mm
Available from:
Double Ugly! Books,
http://www.shopofphantoms.com91_Books.CC.indd 91 17/03/2015 14:50