Scale aviation modeller international

Les Hydravions de Chasse

Japonais au Combat: 1re partie

(Japanese Floatplane Fighters in

Combat: Part 1)

AUTHOR: Bernard Baeza

YEAR: 2018

PUBLISHER: Lela Presse

ISSN: 1234-8650

FOR M AT: 104 pp Softback

A

small number of nations

experimented with

floatplane fighters

during World War 2, namely

Britain with the Spitfire and the

USA with the Grumman F4F-

3S Wildcatfish. However, the

only nation to use such aircraft

in significant numbers was

Japan. This French-language

publication, which is Number 47

in a bi-monthly series, “Avions”

(Aircraft), covers the operational

use of Japan’s principal type, the

A6M2-N, Allied codename Rufe.

After an introduction, and

a description of the Rufe, the

author takes us through the type’s

use in combat, from the South

Pacific to the Aleutians. You will

note this is Part 1, and it covers

the Solomon Islands campaign

and the Aleutians up to 1943: the

second part is intended to cover

1943 onwards, and will take in

Indonesia, Truk, and the defence

of Japan. Illustrations throughout

consist of period photographs and

some well-drawn colour profiles.

As you would expect, there are

plenty of Rufes, but there are also

many photographs and profiles

of their opponents, such as the

F4F Wildcat and other US types.

This is an interesting look at

a small but significant element

of Japanese air power during

World War 2, and will appeal to

anyone with an interest in this

area, particularly if they can read

French or know someone who can.

But even for non-Francophones,

the illustrations provide plenty

of inspiration and detail for those

interested in the subject matter.

Thanks to the Lela Presse

for the review copy.

MJC

Orange Series

PZL.23 Karas

AUTHOR: Tomasz J Kopański

YEAR: 2018

PUBLISHER: MMP Books

ISBN: 978-83-65281-63-0

FOR M AT: 144pp Softback

I

t is always good to see less

well-known types being

featured in mainstream

books, especially when we have

seen quite a few new kits of the

Karaś recently! Prior to the

1/48- scale kits from Mirage and

the 1/72 scale kits from IBG, this

was a type that was unknown

to me, so this is a very welcome

addition to my reading list.

The book opens with a look

at the development of the type,

including the twin tailed PZL.42

(kitted by IBG in 1/72 scale).

This section is illustrated with

contemporary photographs and

1/72 scale plans for each of the

early development variations.

The next chapter looks at the

export versions, again illustrated

with plans and photographs.

The following chapters look at

the type’s service in the pre-

war Polish Air Force and then

during the German invasion of

Poland in 1939, where the pilots

flying the Karaś put up a stiff

resistance. This latter chapter

has sections on all of the flights

who operated the Karaś at this

time. The photos in this chapter

mainly show aircraft that have

been shot down, or had landing

accidents, or aircraft captured

during the German advance.

The next chapters look at the

Karaś in foreign service with the

air forces of Bulgaria, Romania,

the USSR and Germany. Pages

93-116 comprise contemporary

detailed photographs of

all aspects of the airframe,

including the cockpit.

The last section covers colours

and markings. This section has

a very useful chart for modellers

of Polish aircraft, giving the FS

numbers for the various shades

of green and other colours used

on the type, in Polish, Romanian

and Bulgarian service. As no

Karaś has survived, the book has

five pages of colour 3D renders

of the type, covering the cockpit,

gunners’ positions, and the

exterior of the aircraft. These are

beautifully done and verge on

photographic in their quality.

The book is rounded off with

21 pages of colour profiles, with

some plan views as well. All in

all, this is a quality book on this

relatively unknown (in the West)

type. I know this book will be on

my bench when I build my IBG kit!

My thanks to MMP for

supplying this excellent

book for review.

TMU-S

Fighting Falcon

F-16 Viper Under The Skin -

Special Edition

AUTHORS: Ioannis Lekkas & Ilias Gkonis

YEAR: Publication date to be confirmed

PUBLISHER: Eagle Aviation

FOR M AT: 144pp Softback

W

e have been sent

advance notice

of this new book

from Eagle Aviation, which

is now ready to pre-order.

Eagle Aviation are planning

to publish the ultimate guide

for the modern Viper, a unique

book with 600 photographs

that cover every aspect of the

F-16C/D/E/F Fighting Falcon.

Cockpits, fuselage details, landing

gear, engines, and avionics are

thoroughly presented throughout

the totally redesigned book. This

Special Edition is redesigned

with over 75% new photographs

and offers 44 extra pages in a

larger A4 landscape format.

In this Special Edition the

experienced modeller, as well

as the serious enthusiast, will

discover all the internal parts

of the jet, with photos taken

during heavy maintenance, such

as the engine bay, fuel cells,

APU, hydraulic systems, flight

control actuators etc. as well

as all the modern ordnance (no

practice rounds) from AIM-

120Cs and AIM-2000s, up to

AGM-154Cs and GBU-50s.

Further to this several

users of the type are presented.

The reader can find detailed

illustrated information for

aircraft in use with over 10 air

forces, including USAF, Israeli,

Hellenic, United Arab Emirates,

Polish, Singaporean and Chilean

Air Force as well as some other air

forces from all around the globe.

It is also worth mentioning

the photo processing and printing

quality. To match the exact tones

of the real parts of the jet all of

the photos are processed colour

by colour, so that the reader gets

a clear and accurate picture of

the subject. All of the detail shots

are captured and processed in

a way that diminishes shadows

leaving no disclosed areas. The

book has been printed in high-

quality printing facilities in glossy

three layer 135 gr paper with the

best quality inks in the market.

If this Special Edition is like the

previous books from Eagle Editions

then it will be a very special book

indeed, especially with all of the

extras this new edition brings. If

you like the F-16 this book will be

a very worthwhile addition to your

bookshelf. http://www.Eagleaviation.gr

TMU-S

78 • NOVEMBER 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

BOOKS & MEDIA

T

he A4D/A-4 Skyhawk is without doubt

one of the more successful military aircraft

of the post-War era. It entered service with

the US Navy in late 1956 and served with distinction for

many years, bearing much of the early action in carrier-based

strikes against North Vietnam during the 1960s. The Skyhawk was

in continuous production for over twenty-seven years, and although the A-4

is no longer serving with the US Navy and US Marine Corps, a few

examples are still operational in foreign hands, and private defence

contractors. Douglas built 2,960 Skyhawks between 1954 and 1979,

and this small yet effective aircraft packed a mighty punch and these

lightweight, high-speed bombers was affectionately nicknamed

‘Heinemann’s Hot Rod’, the ‘Bantam Bomber’ and ‘Scooter’. Upgraded

models had improved engines and a drogue parachute, new avionics

displays, larger cockpit canopies and more ammunition for the two

cannons, and the two-seat trainer versions included the TA-4F and

TA-4J series. As noted, its combat career began with the first American

carrier-launched raids on North Vietnam, August 4, 1964, and during

Israel’s Yom Kippur war in 1973, Israeli Air Force Skyhawks provided

much of the short-range striking power on the Sinai and Golan

Heights fronts. Skyhawks were also in action against British forces

during the 1982 Falkland’s conflict, where they paid a heavy price

against the Sea Harrier. The Navy’s ‘Blue Angels’ flight demonstration

team flew the Skyhawk from 1974 to 1986, and Skyhawks were also

used by the armed forces of Australia, Kuwait, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia

and New Zealand. An additional role undertaken by the Skyhawk was that

of ‘aggressor aircraft’. During the Vietnam War, it was found that the air-

to-air kill ratio against North Vietnamese fighter aircraft was too low. In an

attempt to improve this, the Navy Fighter Weapons School - better known

as ‘Top Gun’ - designed to train pilots against Soviet-bloc aircraft, adopted

the Skyhawk and when its avionics and weapons systems were stripped out

it proved to be an extremely agile aircraft, and one which could simulate

the performance characteristics of the MiG-17. The A-4 Skyhawk remains

one the iconic designs of the Cold War era, and its history and operations are

celebrated in these pages of this new Datafile from SAM Publications.

SKYHAWK

THE DOUGLAS A-4

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

MDF 31

SKYHAWK

£24.99

+ P&P

By Andy Evans

M D FSKYHAWK 31

SKYHAWK

THE DOUGLAS A-4

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

by Andy Evans

THE DOUGLAS A-4 SKYHAWK

SAM Publications

Modellers Datafile • 31

000-CoverFront-MDF-OUTPUT-FRONT_MDF31-Cover.Skyhawk.indd 1Cover: Illustration Purposes Only 06/07/2018 13:45

US Navy, US Marine Corps and Foreign Versions

order now

31

M D F

SKYHAWK

ORDER HOTLINE: 44 (0)1234 211245

ORDER ONLINE: http://www.sampublications.com

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