Scale aviation modeller international

1918-2018

RAF 100 The

Official Story

AUTHOR: James Holland

YEAR: 2018

PUBLISHER: Andre Deutsch Ltd

ISBN: 978-0-233-00526-3

FOR M AT: 224pp Hardback

T

his book is the official

history of the RAF, and is

an official licensed product

of the RAF, the Royal Navy, and

the Army. In only 224 pages the

book can only give a broad look

at the subject, but there are text

boxes within the chapters which

highlight important events and

aircraft within the life of the RAF.

The book is well illustrated

throughout with contemporary

images. Some of the images in the

book will be familiar, but I must

admit that quite a few of them were

new to me. The images do not just

show the aircraft but they cover

all aspects of the service, showing

those who flew them, maintained

them, and supported them.

The last text box in the book

describes the new threats we

face, including cyber attacks, and

the creation of the RAF-led Joint

Forces Cyber Group to combat

them. The book ends with a photo

of the Lockheed Martin F-35

Lightning II, which should become

a familiar sight in the skies over

the UK in the coming months.

I did spot a couple of surprising

errors for an official history; for

example, the double-page photo of

perhaps the most famous Spitfire of

all, K5054, has the caption describing

it as ”an early prototype”, when it is

of course the prototype. In the last

chapter the Hercules is described

as being retired from service in

2011, but a quick look at the RAF

MOD website states that the type

will be in service until 2030.

That aside, this is a good-looking,

well-produced book (printed on

mat paper), which serves as an

ideal introduction to the first 100

years of the RAF. The book could

never be expected to describe

every aircraft or action in the

detail I am sure some of us crave,

but if you are looking for a general

history, then this book is ideal.

My thanks to Andre Deutsch Ltd

for supplying this book for review.

TMU-S

Rabaul 1943-44

Reducing Japan’s Great Island

Fortress

AUTHOR: Mark Lardas

ILLUSTRATED by Mark Postlethwaite

YEAR: 2018

PUBLISHER: Osprey Publishing Ltd

ISBN: 978-1-4728-2244-4

FOR M AT: 96pp Paperback; also as e-Book

T

he second in the Osprey

Air Campaign series, this

volume moves to the Pacific

Theatre of World War II. Its subject

matter is the allied campaign

against Rabaul in the Bismarck

Archipelago, one of Japan’s most

important and strategically

significant bases in the Pacific.

The structure of the book is the

same as the first in the series, Battle

of Britain 1940. After an introduction

and chronology, Attacker’s

Capabilities examines the American

forces, principally the Fifth Air Force,

Thirteenth Air Force, and the US Nav y

and Marine units in the Solomon

Islands and surrounding territory,

but also including mention of the

Royal Australian Air Force and Royal

New Zealand Air Force units involved.

Defender’s Capabilities then

looks at the Japanese defenders’

doctrine, commanders, aircraft,

anti-aircraft defences, weapons, and

tactics. Campaign Objectives and

The Campaign deal with the events,

followed by Aftermath and Analysis,

a further reading list, and an index.

In Osprey’s customary style, the

text is illustrated with photographs,

maps, tables and other illustrations.

Like the first in the series, this

book will be invaluable to those

with an interest in the history of

the period, and particularly to

modellers interested in the history

of their particular subject. Highly

recommended, and I hope to see

more in this series in due course.

Thanks to Osprey Publishing

Ltd for the review copy.

MJC

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate

AUTHOR: Maciej Noszczak

PUBLISHER: Kagero Topdrawings 52

ISBN: 978-83- 65 437-74 -7

FOR M AT: 20pp Paperback

T

he Japanese Nakajima

Hayate (Gale), allied

reporting name ”Frank”,

was developed to make use of

the more powerful radial engine

that became available in 1943.

With high speeds and powerful

armament, the Hayate was

able to intercept and attack the

B-29 Superfortress bombers

attacking the Japanese homeland,

and achieved considerable

success in these missions.

As with previous Kagero books,

it starts with a short introduction to

the aircraft in English and Polish.

The bulk of the book is filled with

drawings in 1/32 and 1/48 scales,

which show the detail differences

between production models and

the ordnance they carried. Two

pull-out sheets give full plans of

the aircraft in 1/32 and 1/48 scales.

Also included are ten beautiful

colour profiles depicting the

camouflage and markings of

different Japanese Army Air

Force units. The icing on the

cake is the inclusion of masks

for use when airbrushing

your model of the Hayate.

A perfect reference for the

modeller who wants to refine his

kit with extra detail, or to modify

it to a different specification.

Review copy kindly supplied

by Casemate Publishers w w w.

casematepublishers.co.uk

Paul Middleton

Warbird Series

Warbirds Collection No.8

C AT. NO: 3015

PUBLISHER: Aero Research Co.

WEBSITE: http://www.AeroResearchCDs.

com

T

here are 152 images on

this latest disc from

Aero Research and, as

regular readers of my reviews

may have noticed, I rather like

seeing warbirds in civil schemes,

and the images on this disc do

not disappoint. This disc has a

really good variety of aircraft;

some are presented in civil

schemes, some in military

schemes, and some in a derelict

state. The image of the derelict

Hawker Hunter would certainly

make a pretty cool model.

Other stand-out images include

some of the aircraft at the Reno

Air Races, including Aero L-29

Delfins, an L-39 Albatross, and

even Mig 15s, 17s and 21s. Hopefully

there may be a decal sheet for the

Reno De Havilland Vampire?

As usual there are lot

of inspiring images on this

disc; now we just need some

more decal sheets!

My thanks to Aero Research

for supplying this disc for review.

TMU-S

78 • JULY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

BOOKS & MEDIA

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