Publications

History

Windsock Datafiles has probably become the premier publisher of detailed studies of specific World War I vintage aircraft, and they have recently branched out into aircraft subjects about which little has been published before.  This publication is no exception, as the Spad VII and XIII, while famous in French, American, and other services, was also used by the Italians, although not in great numbers, and many were kept in postwar use until the mid twenties.  Although the first French Spads were sent to Italy in 1917, the Italians declined to produce the plane in Italy and imported limited numbers from France, some without engines, rather than relying on Italian production which was often inadequate.  As a result, other fighter types provided the majority of combat aircraft for Italian fighter units although the type was used until 1924, and many civilian examples were flown well into the thirties.  One survivor has been faithfully restored and is on display in the Italian air Force Museum.

The Book:

Model Art Modeling Magazine is a Japanese publication that is released monthly. The text is mainly in Japanese with some English subtitles throughout.  One feature of these magazines is the high quality of the photographs and the models that are used.

The feature article in this months issue showcases the IDF (Israel Defense Force). They use a multitude of well-built models, photographs, and drawings to represent the aircraft and armor that the IDF use.

There are two short articles following the IDF’s. One pertains to Republic of China destroyers that were American at one point, the DDG-995 USS Scott and DDG-994 USS Callaghan. This is followed by a quick preview of Model Art Modeling Magazines JASDF (Japanese Air Self-Defense Force).

The next section is the New Kit review. This month they cover Hasegawa’s 1/72nd Eurofighter Typhoon, Trumpeter’s 1/350th HMS Type 23 Frigate-Kent [F78], Cyberhobby’s 1/35th Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf. A, AZ Models’ Nakajima J9N “Kikka”, Aoshima’s 1/24th Aventador LP700-4, and Fine Molds’ Type 73 Light Truck (Canvas Top & W/MG).

Scale Aircraft Modelling is an excellent monthly publication focusing on modeling scale aircraft. Averaging just under 100 pages, SAM is filled with build articles featuring some of the newer kits on the market, as well as projects based on old favorites. Printed on glossy paper in full color, this magazine is a treasure chest of information about modeling techniques as well as a great source of information on new products.

The cover article in this issue is entitled, “Classic Cat” and refers to the F7F Tigercat. The kit being spotlighted is the Italeri 1/48th scale “Cat”.  Author/Modeler Philippe Roger presents a Masterclass in scratchbuilding additional detail for the Italeri kit. There are seven pages of detailed text accompanied by a series of detailed images. The lessons put forward by P. Roger are not limited to the F7F but are easily applicable to other aircraft.

Thank you to Gary Newman of Squadron Signal Publications and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to review this excellent photographic tour aboard the USS Massachusetts in Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA.  There is a wealth of detail contained in an astonishing number of color photos, all with great descriptive captions.

Model Art Modeling Magazine is a Japanese publication that is published monthly. The text is mainly in Japanese with some English subtitles throughout. One feature about these magazines is the high quality of the photographs and the models that are used.

In the December issue of Model Art, they start out with a modeler’s how-to guide. In this section they cover how to replicate wood on WWI aircraft, accenting panel lines (washes), and shading.

The next article covers the 2012 All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show. While there does not seem to be much coverage on built models, they do several pages of new releases. To modelers, it looks like 2013 will be another banner year for new kits in all genres.

Following that is a comparison review of six different Tony fighters in 1/72nd scale. They compare Fine Molds, Hasegawa and RS Models kits.

Fifty years ago, the world stood at the edge of the abyss and stared nuclear annihilation in the face.  During a two-week standoff, there was a very real chance that the US and the USSR could initiate a nuclear World War III over missile sites placed in Cuba.  For the most part, written accounts of the Cuban Missile Crisis of October, 1962, are told from the diplomatic or political point of view.  These usually involve President Kennedy and his advisors struggling to find a diplomatic solution to persuade the Soviets to remove the missiles that were being placed on the island nation of Cuba, just ninety miles from the southern coast of the United States.  Blue Moon Over Cuba offers a different perspective…one from treetop level at high speed.  It is the story of Operation Blue Moon, undertaken by the Photographic Reconnaissance pilots of VFP-62, also known as the Fightin’ Photos.  It is based on the memoirs of US Navy Captain William B. Ecker, the commanding officer of the squadron.  The book recounts the dangerous missions during which the pilots, flying RF-8 Crusaders, photographed the missile sites in great detail.

After 28 years of publishing, Ray Rimell’s Windsock Worldwide should be a familiar periodical reference to any serious WWI model aircraft builder.  It’s fair to say that any such builder who is not familiar with the publication has been missing a lot and has been pursuing the subject at a great disadvantage when compared to those who look forward to the mailing of each new issue. Windsock Worldwide is, without a doubt, THE reference on the subject.

The September/October 2012 issue continues to deliver what can be best described as the bread and butter of WWI model aircraft news and information.  This issue follows the now-familiar format…regular columns presented in order, with the center of the issue devoted to one or more featured subjects.  This issue will be of great interest to any model builder who has purchased recent Wingnut Wings’ Fokker Eindecker or DH2 kits, because they comprise the featured subjects.

Thank you to Bruce Herke of Osprey Publishing and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to review this delightful description of the Sopwith Camel.  This was a very enjoyable and informative read.  I reviewed the book through the eyes of a rank novice (something I seem to be good at) when it comes to World War I aviation.  I suspect many of us may have first heard of the Camel as the form-changing doghouse of Snoopy’s fantasies.

This book strikes a very nice balance of good reading and historical data.  Design and development, technical specifications and variants, and operation history are covered in separate chapters.  Tables of technical and performance specifications are included, along with excellent color renderings of different aircraft markings and armament.  There are intriguing descriptions of tandem and monoplane versions along with naval and night fighter operations.  The Camel’s predecessor, the Comic, is frequently referred to throughout the book.  Purchases by the U. S. Army and Navy are described, and specific references to shipboard launching experiments are made.

There’s Merkavas and Pumas and Magachs, oh my.

I have been a fan of the Israeli military for many years but have concentrated my interest on the 1967 and 1973 wars.  Their ingenuity regarding their armor and aircraft make them more interesting than German Panzers, in my opinion.

This is the first book in a new series by Wizard Publications (Israel) on IDF Armor.  Wizard has done many books on the Israel Air Force and it is nice to see them take up the armor side.

This softcover book is full of full color pictures of the modern Israeli armored fighting vehicles starting in the late 80’s on up through 2011.  This time frame covers a change in tactics from the wide open killing grounds of the Sinai to the towns of Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.  To meet these challenges, the IDF converted its tanks and APCs to more heavily armored vehicles designed for close-in fighting.

History

During World War II, a total of 10,500 V-1 missiles were launched against Britain, of which over 3,900 were destroyed by air and ground defenses. Overall, the attack and subsequent damage could have been much worse, for by the e