Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
Book Review: The Most Dangerous Enemy – A History Of The Battle Of Britain
Steve Budd has sent this wonderful, very personal review of Stephen Bungay’s “The Most Dangerous Enemy – A History Of The Battle Of Britain”. Thank you Steve for the review, and for the reminder of what a momentous battle this was.
‘Of all Germany’s possible enemies, Britain is the most dangerous’ wrote Oberst Beppo Schmid, Head of Luftwaffe Intelligence on 22 November 1939. It proved to be an astute observation in the build up to the subsequent conflict that became the ‘Battle of Britain’.
I was born in Croydon and it was my hometown that was selected as the Luftwaffe’s first target at the beginning of The Blitz. My early childhood, through to my mid twenties were spent in Wallington, only a few miles away before returning to Croydon following my marriage. The whole span of my life has been spent under skies that witnessed fury and fear in equal measure during those frequent and ferocious encounters between the Luftwaffe and the RAF during much of 1940.
Small wonder then that this small boy soon began absorbing the prolific number of publications that sprang up from the fertile breeding ground of the battle. I revered our pilots as heroes and developed great respect for the Luftwaffe’s more gentlemanly aviators, Galland and Molders. Having Croydon Airport, Kenley Aerodrome and Biggin Hill (described as ‘the most famous fighter station in the world’) on my doorstep merely served to endlessly feed my imagination. Fact or mythology, my unquenchable appetite swallowed it all. In later years I settled, comfortably sated, into a cultural knowledge of the Battle of Britain that was as recognisable and familiar to Britain as Nelson’s Column or Buckingham Palace. Further books on the epic clash between Britain and Germany could, I reasoned, only be mere reiterations of what was already well understood. My opinion was widely shared. Read the rest of this entry »
Book Review: Osprey’s Modeling US Armor of World War 2
Osprey's Modeling US Armor of World War 2
Drew Hatch shares his thoughts on a new armor modeling book. You do know armor is not Corsairs, don’t you Drew? 
Whoa! Hold everything – Stop right there! What the heck is this crazy airplane guy doing reviewing an armor book? Has the tide changed or celestial bodies become reachable through warp drive? Nope – but you’re getting close. This book was given to me as part of the Agape Models Forum’s Secret Santa Fellowship Build this year (I swear I’m being set up for something) as I was sent so many armor subject references to get me moved over to the dark side – all that was left out was the infamous chocolate chip cookies. Probably swiped by Cookie Monster again no doubt.
Ospreys Masterclass series has many fabulous titles and this one is no exception. If you are familiar with some of the many armor publications out there then you have heard of Steven Zaloga, the author of this book. His works are well documented through the specialty magazines and Ospreys other fine armor books. The 192 page hard cover book left me with a sense of ambition to learn what some of the tricks of the trade are for armor builders. The book features several how to features and many step by step instructions to some very much over looked and under appreciated techniques. The spiral binding is a fantastic touch allowing the reader/builder to have the book open for easy reference on the bench without being in an awkward pose. My kudos to Osprey for that! Now how about the binding in the rest of the series? Read the rest of this entry »
Book review: “The Modern Viper Guide ,The F-16C/D Exposed” by Jake Melampy
Forum member Scooter Meek (Scot M.) sent in this review of a great resource for modelers. One can never have enough references!
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy Christian fellowship and modeling discussion, I invite you to join our forums!
The Modern Viper Guide is one of a growing series of books authored by Jake Melampy that caters to the needs of the scale modeler. In this title Jake looks at F-16′s that are operated by the USAF.
A softbound book consisting of 136 pages of full color photographs, Jake takes us up close and personal to the F-16, revealing parts of the aircraft very few get the chance to see. Excellent photographs of the cockpit, gear bays, and airframe details will provide an outstanding resource for the scale modeler.
Jake also goes the extra mile here, by explaining the differences and similarities between the different production blocks, which jets have either the Pratt and Whitney F-100-220, 229 or the General Electric F110, and the various upgrades the Viper has acquired over the years. He also provides captions and photographs of a few of the most common weapons that the Viper carries in today’s conflicts.
This title is an invaluable resource to those that enjoy building well detailed models of modern jets, and will soon be one of your favorites on your bookshelf.
Highly recommended.
Title: The Modern Viper Guide-The F-16C/D Exposed
Author: Jake Melampy
Publisher:Reid Air Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-0979506413
Price: $39.95
Available from: http://www.reidairpublishing.com and http://www.spruebrothers.com
Book Review: Sopwith Camel Vs Fokker DR1 – Western Front 1917-18
Steve Budd submitted this fine review of one of Osprey’s “Versus” titles, this one from the World War I time period. I have several from World War II, and like Steve, find them very useful.
Osprey continue their successful run of military aviation titles with this excellent ‘ Dog fight double’ publication, that looks in some detail at two of the most famous aircraft to take to the skies during World War One.
Interspersed among the text are period photographs and superb illustrations, comprising three view colour plates, as well as detailed colour cockpit paintings and a two page aerial battle scene from aviation artists Harry Dempsey, Jim Laurier and Postlethwaite.
Nine chapters of highly readable prose cover an introduction to the subject matter and then take the reader progressively through the chronology, design and development, technical specifications, the strategic situation, the combatants, combat, statistics and analysis and the aftermath of the struggle between these distinctive aircraft. The book, totalling 80 pages, concludes with a further reading list and an index.
Book preview: A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Making and Resin Casting For the Hobbyist
You may recall a short while back I highlighted Mark Buchler’s resin update set for Lindberg’s F11C-2 Goshawk. The set corrected several kit parts, and added several more detail parts.
Well, Mark has been quite a busy guy. He not only scratch-built those parts, and then cast resin copies, he also decided to write a book about it!
If you’ve ever considered getting into the world of making your own resin parts, but made the assumption that it was too hard, or required expensive or difficult to find tools- think again.
With this book, you’ll be able to start casting your own parts in no time at all. Step-by-step instructions guide you right through it, and Mark’s writing style is clear and simple. I even chuckled at his creative use of some simple tools- who would’ve thought Legos and rice would be useful tools in making your own parts? Read the rest of this entry »
Two-Man Air Force
Don Gentile and Johnny Godfrey formed one of the best lead/wingman teams of WWII. Between them they destroyed over 50 German aircraft, in the air and on the ground. Gentile’s P-51, named “Shangri-la”, is one of the most famous Mustangs of the war. When I saw this on the shelf at the local Books-A-Million, I couldn’t wait to get home and begin reading about these two amazing pilots.
One problem- the book fell far, far short of what I think it could’ve been. Read the rest of this entry »
