Search the Community

War of Intervention in Angola Volume 2: Angolan & Cuban Forces at War 1976-83 ISBN : 9781911628651 Helion & Company via Casemate UK It would seem depressing that throughout the 1970s and beyond that there was some kind of war in Angola. In 1975 the decades long war seemed was still short of any conclusion This was not helped by the fact there were three rebel movements fighting for supremacy with South Africa, America, Zaire, Cuba, and the Soviet Union being involved as well. The South African intervention in Angola, and the Cuban involvement are perhaps the most well known, however the CIA were actively trying to destabilise the country, in part to recoup some prestige following the events in Vietnam. Volume 1 which we reviewed here concentrated on the lesser known period of the final stages of withdrawal by the Portuguese Colonial forces, the build up of the three insurgent forces; and the initial intervention by Cuban forces in the region. Now in volume 2 we look at how the civil war looked decided. The MPLA had established itself in power supported by a large number of Cuban forces, with its opposition split and in disarray; however the war continued to drag on. The MPLA did not defeat UNITA in Southern Angola and then they faced an internal Coup which resulted in a blood letting. Many members were tortured or killed, while others defected to the opposition. The Soviets took advantage of this to increase their presence, and led the South African Forces to resume supporting UNITA and launch further attacks. The book looks at the forces on both sides of the conflict, some history of the region and how the main battles were fought. This volume is A4 soft back in format and 80 pages. There are over 100 rare black and white photographs throughout with 6 main colour maps, and 18 colour profiles. Conclusion This book should provide readers with a more complete understanding of the of the later conflict in Angola. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Monograph #66: The P.24 A-G (9788366148055) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The PZL P.24 was the last of a series of small single-engined monoplanes with high-set gull-wings that were designed in the 1930s by Polish engineer Zygmunt Puławski. It was initially to be powered by a license built Bristol engine, but due to restrictions on the licensing deal this was soon changed to a Gnome-Rhone unit and production began with airframes began entering service in 1936. In the run-up to WWII there were numerous orders for the fighter, and with each upgrade the letter designation increased from A through to G, with an H and J model proposed but not reaching service. When the war started it was soon realised that the fighter was out-dated compared to the more modern fighters fielded by the Nazis in their invasion of Eastern Europe, so it was pulled from the front and used in the training role. Greece however flew the aircraft against the Italians until they ran out of spares, and then were replaced by the Gloster Gladiator that fared little better. The Romanians also flew the type built under license, and some of the P.24's DNA found its way into their own IAR.80 in the aft fuselage, although the overall look of the aircraft was completely different to the casual observer. The Book This is number 66 in the Monographs 3D edition from Kagero, with Polish on the left half of the page and English on the right. It is perfect-bound in a card cover and 172 pages in colour and black & white. It is written by Andrzej Glass and Tassos Katsika. The first 90 pages are text interspersed with many pictures and their accompanying captions, and incidentally the English text is usually found under the Polish for these. The chapters break down as follows: Puławski's concept fighter Puławski's imitators around the world Puławski's fighter planes with in-line engines Puławski's fighter planes with radial engines The PZL P.24 fighter plane The PZL P.24A and P.24C in Turkey The PZL P.24B in Bulgaria The PZL P.24E in Romania The PZL P.24F, P.24G and P.24H in Greece The PZL P.24J and the export program Production of the PZL P.24 An evaluation of the PZL P.24 A technical description of the PZL P.24 The wing The fuselage Control surfaces Undercarriage Armament Engine Painting Plans & differences between marks (17 sheets in 1:48 plus loose A3 sheet in 1:32 printed on both sides ) Photographs of the aircraft in service Visualisations by Tassos Katsika (76 pages) Colour profiles (6 pages) There is a substantial amount of text in the first part of the book which gives a lot of detail on the development, entry into service with its various operators and the subsequent action that it saw during WWII in their service. The photographs are of great interest to anyone with a historical bent, and coupled with the captions there will be plenty of reading time after which you'll be an instant expert on the type, and ready to dig into the 3D computer renderings that take you deep into the heart of the machine, peeling it away like layers of an onion. The detail shown here is extremely impressive and would be an absolute boon for the modeller with an eye for it that perhaps wants to strip away some of the skin to reveal what's underneath. Conclusion This little aircraft isn't all that well-known outside of where it served, so it's good to see it getting a little prominence with this release. It is a good one-stop-shop if you would like to get to know it a little better, and broaden your knowledge a little bit in the process. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Gloster Gladiator Monograph 3D Edition (9788365437860) Kagero via Casemate UK The Gladiator was Gloster's (late) winning entry for the competition to find the next frontline fighter that Supermarine submitted the 224 that later became the Spitfire after a ground-up redesign. The War Department went to the safer option and commissioned production of the aircraft that was to become the Gladiator, the RAF's last biplane fighter that although outclassed even at the start of WWII it still saw extensive service in areas where its lack of speed and manoeuvrability wasn't so fatal. Its designer Henry Folland was a firm believer in evolution over revolution and the Glad was an update of the Gauntlet that was already underway at the Gloster design works. It was still a biplane but efforts had been made to streamline the design by removing some of the interplane struts and other streamlining efforts. The Hurricane and Spitfire were in development at the time so the Gladiator's future was almost immediately a shorter one as there is a huge leap in performance when you dispense with one set of wings, especially if you pair the airframe with a Rolls-Royce Merlin. The Book This is #65 in the Monographs in 3D line, and it of course covers the Gloster Gladiators Mk.I, Mk.II and the Sea Gladiator. It is perfect bound in a card cover extending to 215 pages, so it's a weighty tome. It was written by Adam Cotton and 3D artwork by Marek Ryś. Introduction Evolving the last of the line The Gladiator enters the arena The Mk.I anatomy in detail Gladiator Mk.II The Sea Gladiator The last days of peace The Sea Gladiator joins the fleet The phoney war Norway – The token sacrifice The Sea Gladiator in Norway The Battle of France and Battle of Britain Malta, the legend of Faith, Hope & Charity, and the wider Mediterranean North Africa Onward to Greece East Africa and Aden Foreign users RAF camouflage and markings End Notes Visualisations by Marek Ryś (87 pages) Isometric camouflage schemes and profiles (28 pages) There is a substantial amount of text in the first part of the book which gives a lot of detail on the development, entry into service and the subsequent action that it saw during WWII in RAF, FAA and foreign service. The photographs are of great interest to anyone with a historical bent although some are a little saddening as they depict ruined airframes, one of which is the last of the famous three Faith, Hope and Charity looking a bit sorry for itself in a quarry. Coupled with the captions there will be plenty of reading time after which you'll be a bit of an instant expert on the type, and ready to dig into the 3D computer renderings that take you deep into the heart of the machine, peeling it away like layers of an onion. The detail shown here is extremely impressive and would be an absolute boon for the modeller with an eye for it that perhaps wants to strip away some of the skin of their model to reveal what's underneath. This will be especially of interest once the 1:32 kit from ICM arrives with your favourite model shop. Conclusion The Glad is a well-loved aircraft amongst the residents of Britmodeller, perhaps because of its origins, or maybe because we love an underdog. There are a few kits in each of the major scales from the diminutive Mark.I kit in 1:144 through the Airfix kits in 1:72, and the Roden kit in 1:48. There have been a few limited run kits in 1:32, but ICM are going to fix that this year, as mentioned above. Can't wait! Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Challenger 2 PhotoSniper #30 (9788365437853) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK Following WWII and the success of the Centurion, the Chieftain was eventually brought in as its replacement, and while it had some excellent features it was ageing technology that held it back and it took a long time to reach maturity. As it grew older the MOD began looking for a replacement and after the failure of a large sale of a new design to Iran, the Shir design was repurposed into the Challenger with some changes of course and advanced elements incorporated from another Vickers design. It was always a stop-gap and pretty soon a replacement was being considered with substantial improvements in the firing control system that was much needed. The first Challenger 2 was put out for evaluation in 1991 and found to be a bit of a dog, having many problems that took a long time to remedy, leaving the higher-ranking officers that remembered the same issues with the Chieftain with a bitter taste in their mouths. Eventually though, the issues were cleared and the Chally grew up to be a fine vehicle and is arguably one of the best Main Battle Tanks (MBT) in the world today. The Chieftains and Challenger 1s are now long gone and the Chally 2 is destined to be in service for a long time to come, with upgrades happening to the basic chassis as the need arises. They have proved to be a robust and capable platform that has served the British Army and Oman well and has an enviable combat reputation. The Book This is the latest PhotoSniper book from Kagero, #30 of the series. It is perfect bound in a card cover with 82 pages of text and almost 200 photographs, written by Dick Taylor who clearly has a lot of love for the subject matter. It is printed on satin finished paper with most of the photographs in colour and captions that inform and entertain in equal measure. Some of the photos are of a candid nature showing tankers going about their daily chores such as maintenance and repair and many appear to have come from private collections. The text is broken down into chapters as follows: Chapter 1 Design & development Chapter 2 Challenger 2 described Chapter 3 The Armoured Regiment & Squadron Chapter 4 Operational Use & Variants Although the title implies that it is a photograph-centred book, there is still plenty to read in between the pictures and their captions and that should keep the reader engaged for longer than a simple book of photos. The pictures are impressive on their own however with lots of modelling-friendly detail pics as well as a great deal of inspiration for dioramas and vignettes. There are also a good few pictures of the bridge-layer variant the Titan, and the engineering Trojan, plus the Driver Training Tank (DTT) which has the turret removed and is replaced by a cowling that bears a passing resemblance to the superstructure of an old pleasure cruiser boat. On the very back page (which I haven't counted in the total) is a discount code for a 30% discount on the similarly themed PhotoSniper #27 "Before the birth of the MBT", also by Kagero. Conclusion This book is for anyone interested in the Challenger 2, and as one of those people it makes for an interesting and informative read. The pictures are great too and it makes me want to retrieve my Tamiya kit from the loft, wherever it might be. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Renault FT & M1917 PhotoSniper 3D (9788366148048) Kagero via Casemate UK The diminutive Renault tank that is often known somewhat incorrectly as the FT-17 was the first true tank of the form that we know today, having a separate turret that could rotate 360o to fire in all directions. It arrived late in WWI and was so successful that it was to stay in service in some locations for up to 25 years and even America was a customer, building their own under license as the M1917 until they could produce their own tanks of a sufficient standard. With upgrades along the way it managed to take part in the early days of WWII in French service although it was hopelessly outclassed by even the early-war German tanks and fell to their guns with alarming regularity, with many being abandoned by their unfortunate crews. In their usual "that's mine now" manner, the Nazis pressed the little tanks into service but away from the front lines as defensive vehicles for airfields, arms dumps and other high value targets of the Resistance. The FT also saw service with a number of other countries and was copied by some others with greater or lesser divergence from the original. This book is a thick tome from Kagero and is number 29 in their PhotoSniper 3D line. It is 180 pages perfect bound into a card cover and is written by Jacek Szafrański and Samir Karmieh. It is broken down into sections, as follows: Introduction A Brief history of the tank with photos of it in service with many of its operators. Walkaround A 65 page photographic description of both the FT-31 and FT-17 variants of the vehicle, all in colour. 3D Visualisation The balance of the book is devoted to a huge quantity of computer generated images of the tank, including cross-sections and internal equipment such as engines, guns and suspension. The photographs in the introductory section are mostly from interwar and WWII situations and are presented in high quality black and white with captions to match. The walkaround section is based upon preserved examples in museums and of course the photographs are crisp and in full colour. As with all museum vehicles, take care not to assume that everything is in the correct place, as sometimes museums get it wrong or go with what they have through expediency, however if using the photos as highly detailed supporting information you won't go far wrong. Conclusion A very useful book for anyone that has this model in their stash, whether it is the 1:35 Meng, 1:16 Takom kit, or one of the smaller scale renditions that have been around for some years. The level of detail exposed is second to none, and will assist with building and detailing any kit of this ground-breaking tin can. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

The Battleship HMS Rodney Kagero Super Drawings in 3D No.70 HMS Rodney was the only other ship aside from HMS Nelson in the Nelson Class of Royal Navy Battleships. This class stood out from other ships of the day as they had all of their main armament forward of the main superstructure, and that armament was nine 16" guns. The design of the vessel was due to the limitations set out by the Washington Treaty of 1922 and the maximum displacement of 35,000 tons. By placing all three turrets in one place the armour could be concentrated there and not ship wide. The Rodney was to be named for Admiral George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney. Rodney was famous for defeating the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782, and the Spanish at Cape St Vincent in 1780. The Rodney was laid down at Cammell Lairds in Birkenhead in December 1922 and launched in 1925. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in in 1927. The Rodney was plagued by problems throughout her careers and had numerous refits to try and correct these issues, and heavy use she was paid off in 1946 and scrapped in 1948. During WWII she earned battle honours for Norway, The Atlantic, The Bismark (she made history here by being the only Battleship to torpedo another) while firing 340 16" shells!, Malta Convoys, The Invasion of North Africa, the Sicily & Salerno, followed by the English Channel, Normandy and finally the Arctic, This is the latest book in Kagero Publishing’s superb series of Super Drawings in 3D. This book looks at the ship as she was after the 1942 refit. As with the previous books it has a brief history and the ships specifications at the beginning. This includes the following:- Overview Design Propulsion Armaments and fire control Armour Service Conclusion The rest of the 89 pages are filled with the now well known style of beautifully drawn 3D renderings of every part of the ship. It is obvious that a lot of time has been taken to get the drawings this good and accurate, and there is a wealthy of information for the modeller to use during their build. Every area of the upper hull and superstructure is dealt with plus the lower hull including the propellers and rudder. There are a lot of close up renders of most of the equipment fitted, such as the PomPom & mounts, 16", 6" & 4.7” turrets, ships boats, funnels, Walrus seaplane and main turrets, as well as the longer view, showing how this design differed from all other battleships. As is the norm with this series, Kagero have included a double sided A2 fold out sheet with a three view on one side, unusually in 1:350, with additional drawings of the ships fixtures, such as turrets, main directors, torpedo tubes, AA turrets, ships boats and radar, in either 1:50, 1:100, 1:150 or 1:350 scales. It would be a nice extra if these books had a pull out profile of the whole vessel in colour. Conclusion If you love British battleships and like to model them as accurately as possible then this book is most definitely for you. I have always had a personal like of the Ship as she was built at the shipyard where I served my apprenticeship, and when I helped doing some work in the archive I was able to look at original drawings for the ship. Highly recommended, Review sample courtesy of

The Russian ASW Guided Missile Cruiser Petropavlovsk Kagero Top Drawings No. 74 via Casemate UK The Russian ASW Guided Missile Cruiser Petropavlovsk was a Kara Class Guided Missile Cruiser in Western Classification though the Soviets classed them as Large anti-submarine warfare vessels. The Kara Class was itself an enlarged Kresta II Class vessel with new Gas Turbine Engines replacing steam turbines. Even though designated ASW ships they have a formidable anti-aircraft capability as well. They are 173m long with a beam of 6.7m. Their primary ASW weapon is two quad SS-N-14 Silix missile systems. This solid fuel rocket system was a response to the US ASROC system could deliver a torpedo or nuclear depth charge at ranges of upto 50km. The system unlike the US one also has multipurpose torpedo's which can be used against surface vessels. Two additional RBU-1000 and two RBU-6000 are also carried. For the anti-aircraft role two twin SA-N-3 Goblet, and 24 SA=N-6 Grumble missile systems are carried. The vessel also mounts 2 twin 76mm guns, 4 30mm CIWS systems and finally two racks of 5 533mm torpedo tubes. An sub hunting helicopter can also be carried, All in all these were very capable ships, All of the class have now been paid off. One of these ships the Ochakov was used in anger, though in a strange way. In 2014 with the Russian invasion of the Ukraine she was sunk as a blockship in Donuzlav bay to prevent the Ukrainian gaining access to the Black Sea. This is the latest book from Kagero in their Top Drawing series, and like the previous books it has a brief history and the ships specifications at the beginning. The rest of the 15 pages are filled with beautifully drawn diagrams of almost every piece of equipment on the ship. Unusually for this series there aren’t any drawings of the hull, the largest section being covered is the superstructure. The main reson for the book are the the two double sided A2 foldout sheets, the first of which has a three view line drawing of the complete ship on one side, the other side containing similar views, but in full colour. The second sheet also contains three view line drawings of the ship, The opposite side of sheet 2 also contain line drawings of the ship, the top drawing of the hull only, the next, top down view of the hull, but also showing the internal spaces of he first level of the superstructure. The bottom drawing is a waterline drawing with annotations for the majority of the equipment visible above the main deck. The drawings also show the differences between entry into serivce and the changes to their final years. Conclusion This is another good book in the series. The pullout sheets are also wonderful to see. This is certainly a very useful book for all modellers. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

The 1989 Coup d'Étát in Paraguay Latin America at War #11 ISBN : 9781911628699 Helion & Company via Casemate UK Like many countries in Central America the Republic of Paraguay has seen its fair share of conflict. However 1989 was a critical year for Paraguay, it was in this year that the 35 years of Dictatorship from General Alfredo Stroessner was finally overthrown in what was a violent coup d'état. Prior to 1954 the country had a procession of unstable governments following the Civil War of 1947. After this General Stroessner began a series of events which would lead to his coup d'état in 1954. Now while there were some economic benefits to the country the people also suffered environmental and human rights abuses under this regime. They were an active participant in "Operation Condor" the US backed campaign of Political repression and state terror which took place over Central & South America. In the mid to late 1980's efforts to block the opposition were having lesser effects, and combined with Stroessner's failing health lead and political infighting in his own Colorado party led to a coup from General Andrés Rodríguez. The Army tried to arrest Stroessner however his 700 strong guard fought back. Following the deployment of Tanks on the street, and shelling of his HQ by Army Artillery and Naval vessels they eventually surrendered. The official death toll of 31 was deemed far below the over 200 which it actually was. Stroessner would leave for political exile to Brazil where he died in 2006. General Andrés Rodríguez became President and brought sweeping reforms to the country, as well as elections. He would serve as an elected President till 1993 and became the first leader in a long time to leave the office at the end of his term. The book looks at the forces on both sides of the conflict, some history of the region and how the main battles were fought. This volume is A4 soft back in format and 80 pages. There are black and white photographs throughout with 2 main colour maps, and 6 pages of colour profiles. Conclusion This book should provide readers with a more complete understanding of this important part of Paraguay's history. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Red Assault Soviet Airborne Forces 1930-1941 ISBN : 9781912390793 Helion & Company via Casemate UK When you think of Airborne forces thoughts might go to The Parachute Regiment, The US Screaming Eagles or even the Fallschirmjager; but not generally to Soviet forces. This may seem strange as the Soviet Army was using Airborne forces before any of the western powers, and even the German Army. In fact Herman Goring proposed the use of Paratroops after seeing Soviet exercises. The Soviets started as far back as 1930 with experiments which grew into an attack doctrine where following bombers airborne forces would drop onto the enemy on their own ground and subdue them. The book looks at early Soviet operations, types of equipment and weapons, as well as many weird and wonderful ideas that the 1930s could come up with regarding airborne operations. Of use to the modeller is a great deal of information about the aircraft used for these operations. In the end despite have the advantage in time over other countries the Soviets used these troops mainly as normal foot soldiers during WWII. A few drops were carried out in the desperate defence during operation Barbarossa, and later in the war (not covered by this book) operations did take place in 1942 and 1943, however for the most the Soviets lost their early advantage in this are by using these troops as little more than ground infantry. The book is slightly smaller than A4 (248 x 180mm) and 343 pages long. There are over 400 B&W photos. The author has gone to great lengths to obtain original memoirs from museum and private archives, many of which have never been published before. Conclusion This book gives a great insight into early Airborne operations in the Soviet Union, the equipment and thinking of the time (even if some of it was a bit bizarre). Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Heaven High, Ocean Deep Naval Fighter Wing At War Casemate Publishers. 9781612007557 After several limited deployments by individual ships, sailing with the US task forces and with the naval task winding down throughout the European Theatre the Royal Navy started to focus on the Pacific from around the August 1943 Quebec conference of Allied leaders. It wasn’t until the second Quebec conference the following year that Britain voiced its intent on playing a part in direct operations against Japan. Formed on the 22nd November 1944, the British Pacific Fleet became the largest and most powerful deployed force in the history of the Royal Navy. The US Admirals were against such a forces expressing that they could not supply the BPF with the supply train it would need, so the RN ensured that, apart from fuel oil, which became a shared resource, the fleet was totally self sufficient. The core of the fleet was built around the six Illustrious Class armoured carriers, ensuring that four would be on task at any one time. This book takes the story of one of these carriers, namely HMS Indomitable, and the 5th Fighter Wing from April 1944 to the end of the war in August 1945. While the book gives a more personal account of why the author came to write the story of his father’s part in the BPF, being that of a Hellcat pilot with 1844 squadron. The story is interposed with anecdotes and excerpts from letters from the men who flew and maintained the aircraft from Indomitable’s deck. It does take a bit of concentration when reading though, as you don’t want to miss anything of the rather ad hoc training regime to the almost blow by blow account of the battles the FAA had with the Japanese. It’s words from the men though really brings it all to life, along with the fantastic collection of period photographs some this reviewer has seen before, but the majority are new. Actually seeing the faces of the young men sent to fight for King and Country makes you feel proud, but tinged with sadness that so many never made it back home. Conclusion As with the Far East campaign on land and in the air, the Pacific Fleet appears to have been forgotten by all except the families whose parents and Grand -parents fought in the theatre, or those with a keen military interest. This book will hopefully address this, which even if in a small way to show what the RN accomplished in such a short time, and to keep those who fought and died in our thoughts, never to be forgotten as they continue to serve, on their never ending patrol. Review sample courtesy of

Red Wind Over The Balkans The Soviet Offensive South of the Danube Sept-Oct 1944 ISBN : 9781910777800 Helion & Company via Casemate UK There is a feeling that the whole Balkan Campaign is slightly overshadowed in the west as it began fairly badly for us and was left out of the limelight of the Italian and Normandy campaigns, and even the battle for Germany. The book looks at two major Soviet offensives conducted during September and October of 1944. The first of these was the occupation of Bulgaria following the Soviet declaration of war with Bulgaria on 4th September 1944. The Invasion began on the 8th. Due to the Bulgarian Army overthrowing the government and joining the Allies this operation was a fairly simple and bloodless one. The second operation which was linked to the first one was the Belgrade offensive. This operation was to liberate Belgrade and try and encircle the German Forces in the Southern Balkans. The book describes the heavy battles in this operation which caused the German forces to withdraw from not only this area but Greece and Albania as well. The book is slightly smaller than A4 (245 x 170mm) and an impressive 694 pages long. There are over 400 B&W photos, 197 tables, 16 pages of colour vehicle profiles; and 24 colour maps. The author has gone to great lengths to obtain original documents from The Russian and Bulgarian archives. As well as the details of the battles attention is paid to units involved, their markings, unit insignia and even camouflage used. Conclusion As well as complete details for the operations and their battles attention is paid to units involved, equipment, their markings, unit insignia and even camouflage used. This is a truly detailed study of these operations for which the author should be commended. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

The Long Range Desert Group - History & Legacy ISBN : 9781911628880 Helion & Company via Casemate UK Not everyone has heard of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), however most will have heard of the unit they went on to inspire the SAS. Unlike the SAS the LRDG was primarily a reconnaissance and intelligence unit. The were formed in the Western Desert in June of 1940 by Major RA Bagnold from volunteers who at the time were primarily from the New Zealand forces stationed there. It was a small tight knit unit that operated for the most behind enemy lines supplying much needed intelligence to Army HQ, they did though engage in some offensive action, one notable one was the attack on the Italian airfield at Barce after a journey of 1155 miles! Here they destroyed or damaged 32 Italian bombers. This book is not a pure history of the LRDG ( there are these in Casemate's stable of titles if you want one) but a look at what it must have been like. The authors took to modern day Egypt in period Jeeps to look at the situation on the ground and to follow in the footsteps (or Jeep tracks) of the LRDG. While doing this they look into what the LRDG were doing and how they managed to accomplish it. It is strange to learn the LRDG actually acquired its first Jeeps from ones the SAS had abandoned in the desert. The book not only includes original black and white photos, but colours ones from the modern expedition including LRGD wrecks still in the western desert. Original LRDG training notes as well as modern tips for extreme travellers are included. The book in A5 Hard back and 130 pages long. Conclusion This book will give the reader an understanding of what it was like to operate in the western desert as the LRDG did. This is much more than a straight "history" of the LRDG, it looks into what was actually involved in these deep missions into the desert and kind of men it took to undertake them. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

ORP General Tadeusz Kościuszko Kagero Top Drawings No. 65 ORP General Tadeusz Kościuszko, the former USS Wadsworth (FFG-9), is one of two Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates in the Polish Navy. She is named for Tadeusz Kościuszko, an American Revolutionary War hero and hero of Poland's struggle for independence. General Tadeusz Kościuszko is home-ported in Gdynia Oksywie, and has participated in numerous NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea. Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY75 program, Wadsworth, was laid down on 13 July 1977, launched on 29 July 1978, and commissioned on 28 February 1980. Decommissioned on 28 June 2002, Wadsworth was handed over to Poland the same day, to become the second ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class in the Polish Navy inventory, the former USS Clark having been handed over in March 2000. This is the latest book from Kagero in their Top Drawing series, and like the previous books it has a brief history and the ships specifications at the beginning. The rest of the eighteen pages are filled with beautifully drawn diagrams of almost every piece of equipment on the ship. Unusually for this series there aren’t any drawings of the hull, the largest section being covered is the superstructure. Also not seen before are a series of photographs of the actual ship covering eight pages which give a different dimension to the book as they are great not only for detail but also for the colour scheme and even more importantly for the modeller, weathering. Also included are A2 foldout sheets, the first of which has a three view line drawing of the complete ship on one side, the other side containing similar views, but in full colour as she was in 2018. The second sheet also contains three view line drawings of the ship, but as she was in 2015, and it’s very interesting comparing the two sheets seeing what change in her last refit. The opposite side of sheet 2 also contain line drawings of the ship, the top drawing of the hull only, the next, top down view of the hull, but also showing the internal spaces of he first level of the superstructure. The bottom drawing is a waterline drawing with annotations for the majority of the equipment visible above the main deck. Conclusion This is another superb book in the series and I particularly like the use of the photographs as they are a great help to the modeller. The pullout sheets are also wonderful to see, especially the changes between 2015 and 2018. This is certainly a very useful book for all modellers who would like a slightly different Perry class ship in their collection. Review sample courtesy of

HMS Prince of Wales Kagero Super Drawings in 3D No.69 HMS Prince of Wales was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy, built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England. She was involved in several key actions of the Second World War, including the May 1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait against the German battleship Bismarck, operations escorting convoys in the Mediterranean, and her final action and sinking in the Pacific in December 1941. Prince of Wales had an extensive battle history, first seeing action in August 1940 while still being outfitted in her dry-dock, being attacked and damaged by German aircraft. Her brief but storied career ended 10 December 1941, when Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse became the first capital ships to be sunk solely by air power on the open sea, a harbinger of the diminishing role this class of ships was subsequently to play in naval warfare. The wreck lies upside down in 223 feet (68 m) of water, near Kuantan, in the South China Sea. This is the latest book in Kagero Publishing’s superb series of Super Drawings in 3D, although this one is definitely thicker than the previous releases. As with the previous books it has a brief history and the ships specifications at the beginning. This includes the following:- Overview Design Propulsion Armaments and fire control Armour Service Conclusion The rest of the ninety three pages are filled with the now well known style of beautifully drawn 3D renderings of every part of the ship. It is obvious that a lot of time has been taken to get the drawings this good and accurate, and there is a wealthy of information for the modeller to use during their build. Every area of the upper hull and superstructure is dealt with plus the lower hull including the propellers and rudder. There are a lot of close up renders of most of the equipment fitted, such as the PomPom mounts, 5.25” turrets, ships boats, funnels, Walrus seaplane and main turrets, as well as the longer view, showing how clean the design was even though she had so much equipment onboard. As is the norm with this series, Kagero have included a double sided A2 fold out sheet with a three view on one side, unusually in 1:350, with additional drawings of the ships fixtures, such as turrets, main directors, torpedo tubes, AA turrets, ships boats and radar, in either 1:50, 1:100, 1:150 or 1:350 scales. Conclusion I wish I had owned this book when I built the old Tamiya 1:350 kit, it would have enabled me to give the sort of detail it deserved, maybe will be able to do it justice in the future build now. If you love British battleships and like to model them as accurately as possible then this book is most definitely for you. Review sample courtesy of

RMS Adriatic II of the White Star Line Helion and Company (9781912390557) Welcome on board ‘Adriatic'(II) - White Star Line wonder ship! Explore this magnificent steamship through old picture postcards, many of them rare and unpublished. Journey back in time to 1907, to gaze upon the majestic RMS Adriatic II as the White Star flagship, then travel through her eventful career to her last days as a veteran cruise liner. So the blurb goes on the Casemate website. Not being into the merchant fleet in general and liners in particular I hadn’t heard of the Adriatic or her noble career. But having read this softback book and looked upon the many postcards contained within, you can get to feel how wonderful it would have been to sail on her in her prime. The author, Ben Smith, is a complete White Star aficionado and it is he who has collected these postcards that form the backbone of this forty page book. With a forward by the great-grandson of T. H. Ismay, the owner of the White Star Line at the time of the Adriatic’s sisters being built. Unfortunately he didn’t live to see the Adriatic herself joining the fleet. The postcards reveal a ship that was loved by many and enjoyed by many more in her long a illustrious career. Each postcard is annotated with information on where and where the ship was at the time and interesting little titbits of information and anecdotes. Conclusion For anyone interested our maritime history or the White Star Line ships in particular, this book is a marvellous little treat and the author should be congratulated for searching so long to gather the postcards together. Review sample courtesy of

Japanese Destroyer Suzutsuki Kagero Super Drawings in 3D No.68 Suzutsuki was the third ship from the series of the most powerful Akizuki destroyers, designed specifically as anti-aircraft defence. The Akizuki-class ships were originally designed as anti-aircraft escorts for carrier battle groups, but were modified with torpedo tubes and depth charges to meet the need for more general-purpose destroyer. Her crew numbered 300 officers and enlisted men. The ships measured 440 ft 3 in overall, with a beam of 38 ft 1 in and a draft of 13 ft 7 in. They displaced 2,701 tons at standard load and 3,700 tons at deep load. The ships powerplant was rated at a total of 52,000 shaft horsepower for a designed speed of 33 knots. The main armament of the Akizuki class consisted of eight Type 98 100-millimeter (3.9 in) dual purpose guns in four twin-gun turrets, two superfiring pairs fore and aft of the superstructure. They carried four Type 96 25-millimeter anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts. The ships were also armed with four 24.0 in torpedo tubes in a single quadruple traversing mount; one reload was carried for each tube. Their anti-submarine weapons comprised six depth charge throwers for which 72 depth charges were carried This is another great book from Kagero in their Super Drawings in 3D, and the second on an Akizuki class ship. Like the previous books it has an introduction with a brief history of the ship and the its specifications at the beginning. This includes the following:- Introduction History Suzutsuki Design and propulsion Hull Superstructure Armament Service The rest of the Eighty one pages are filled with the now well known style of beautifully drawn 3D renderings of every part of the ship. It is obvious that a lot of time has been taken to get the drawings this good and accurate, and there is a wealthy of information for the modeller to use during their build. Every area of the upper hull and superstructure is dealt with plus the lower hull including the propellers and rudder. The outstanding renders in this title include the torpedo tubes that also show how the reloads were carried and loaded, the depth charge thrower station and the interesting way the linoleum deck covering was held down by brass strips in large rectangles rather than straight across as a lot of kits of Japanese ships show them. But throughout the book it’s the little things that will stand out for the modeller, such as how the smaller vents and chimneys are arranged and even the awning stanchions are erected and arranged, for those modellers who would like to build the ship with a different look, particularly nice in a seascape. For even more detail, Kagero have included a double sided A2 fold out sheet with a five view on one side, unusually in 1:200, with additional drawings of the ships funnel, bow superstructure, midships superstructure and stern superstructure, each with either five or six views, all, again in 1:200. Conclusion This is another superb book in the series and a great addition to any maritime modeller’s library. The detail included is excellent as usual, with the superb renderings that are so clear that they will be a delight for the superdetailers. The modeller appears to be spoilt for choice when it comes to obtaining a kit of an Akizuki class, so if you have/want one, and want to go to town on it, then this book is for you. Review sample courtesy of

TopDrawings 62 Japanese Destroyer Shimakaze (9788366148024) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK Shimakaze was a one-off super-destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She was armed with six 5 inch dual-purpose guns and conventional anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weaponry. More importantly, she was the only Japanese destroyer to be armed with 15 torpedo tubes, each capable of firing the deadly 24 in Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo. The ship was a test bed for an enormously powerful, high-temperature; high-pressure steam turbine that was able to develop 79,240 shp, this made her one of the fastest destroyers in the world: her designed speed was 39 kn but on trials she made 40.9 kn. Ordered in 1939 under the 4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, Shimakaze was laid down in Maizuru Naval Arsenal in August 1941 and completed on 10 May 1943. Japan had intended to lay down 16 similar destroyers, with long-term plans the 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme for a total of 32 to equip four destroyer squadrons, but a lack of industrial capacity prevented them from being built. In June 1943, Shimakaze participated in the evacuation of Japanese troops from Kiska Island towards the end of the Aleutian Islands campaign. She was present in June 1944 at the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In October 1944, the destroyer was present at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, although she played no role in the battle except for picking up survivors from the sunken battleship Musashi. While serving as the flagship of Destroyer Squadron 2 under the command of Rear Admiral Mikio Hayakawa, she was attacked and sunk by American aircraft from Task Force 38 on 11 November 1944 during the Battle of Ormoc Bay. Shimakaze was discovered by a Paul Allen-led expedition aboard RV Petrel in Ormoc Bay on December 1st, 2017. She was a mangled wreck but the three quintuple torpedo tube launchers confirmed her identity. Photographs from the wreck also debunked the assertion that she had one of her turrets removed in an early 1944 refit. This softback book, in their Topdrawing series is a mine of information for the maritime modeller. Although only consisting of twenty two pages this is very similar to the 3D Drawing series but without the range of colourful renderings, but the book is filled with line drawings. This actually makes it easier to see what’s what as you’re not distracted by the colour schemes. Each line drawing is very nicely done, concentrating on different sections of the ship. Interspersed between the larger drawings there are numerous smaller diagrams of individual pieces of equipment, such as the turrets, torpedo tubes, depth charge positions, ships boats, and light AA weaponry. The foldout A2 sheet opens up to reveal three view line drawings of the ship on one side and detail line drawings of various parts of ship and equipment, all of which are in 1:200 scale. Conclusion These books, while not as visually exciting as the Super Drawings in 3D, they do give the modeller an enhanced view of the ships structure and equipment. If used in conjunction with the associated 3D book on the Shimakaze you will be able to make your models as accurate as possible. Whether you're building the 1:350 kits from Hasegawa or Fujimi, or the 1:700 kits from Pit-Road or Tamiya. Review sample courtesy of

Russian Destroyer Spravedlivyy Kagero Super Drawings in 3D Spravedlivyy is one of twenty seven Project 56 destroyers all built between 1954 and 1958. The preceding Neustrashimy class was deemed to large and expensive for series production. Thus the Project 56 class were slightly smaller but still quite capable ships. NATO gave them the code name Kotlin. Spravedlivyy was one of eight of the class to be modified to carry the navalised version of the SA-5 Goa surface to air missile in 1962, although not mentioned or rendered as such in this book. In 1970 she was transferred to the Polish navy in 1970. All the class had been decommissioned and scrapped by 1990. This is the latest book from Kagero in their Super Drawings in 3D, and like the previous books it has a brief history and the ships specifications at the beginning. This includes the following:- Introduction History of the ship in the Soviet Navy Service in the Soviet Navy Conversion to Project 56A Purchase by the Polish Navy Design Propulsion Armament Artillery Compliment Flying the Polish Ensign The rest of the Eighty one pages are filled with the now well known style of beautifully drawn 3D renderings of every part of the ship. It is obvious that a lot of time has been taken to get the drawings this good and accurate, and there is a wealthy of information for the modeller to use during their build. Every area of the upper hull and superstructure is dealt with plus the lower hull including the propellers and rudder. I particularly like the renderings of the torpedo launchers and the larger scale drawings of the main turrets, AA battery and ships boats, plus the ships radar arrays and rigging. She is most definitely a classic Soviet design. For even more detail, Kagero have included a double sided A2 fold out sheet with a three view on one side, unusually in 1:200, with additional drawings of the ships fixtures, such as turrets, main directors, torpedo tubes, AA turrets, ships boats and radar, in either 1:50 or 1:100 scales. Conclusion This is another superb book in the series and a great addition to any maritime modeller’s library. This series is a boon to any ship modeller and is turning into a magnificent collection of titles. The detail included is second to none, and the renderings are so clear that they will be a delight for the superdetailers, particularly if building the great looking Combrig 1:700 kit. Review sample courtesy of

US Army Vehicle Markings 1944 (9781612007373) Casemate UK There are certain vehicle markings everyone is familiar with, the White US Star for one. However there are may more markings on military vehicles which the casual observer knows nothing about at all, from unit code letters, to tactical markings, through to bridge weight, and even during this time period debarkation codes for the invasion of Europe. Using a combination of historical photographs, and colour diagrams this publication looks at all the markings seen on US vehicles o the period. The book also looks at the camouflage used on these vehicles. The Book is split into the following areas; 1. Arsenal of Democracy - Looking at the US diverse production of all vehicles for the military. 2. The Communications Zone - That area away from the front line in operations, including re-supply and support units. 3. Organization of the US Army - Looking at the specific equipment allocated to units of the US Army. 4. Common Markings - From registrations, to National ID markings and usage markings. 5. Unit Markings - Army regulation AR-850-5 defined the markings for units. Also looks at USAAF vehicles, and tactical markings. 6. Camouflage - This looks at different camouflage patterns suggested. The book is hardback 254mm x 203 mm and 160 pages long. Iti s full of black & white photographs, a few colour ones and may colour diagrams of vehicle markings. The printing is first class. Conclusion This will be an invaluable resource for the modeller of US Army vehicles during this time frame. Very Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

TopDrawings 71 Special Edition – Macci MC.202 (9788366148222) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK Known at the Folgore, which is Italian for Thunderbolt, the MC.202 was the most common Italian fighter aircraft of WWII, and was considered by many to be pretty much the best they had. The MC part of its name stems from its designer Mario Castoldi, who designed it around a licence built DB601 engine that was constructed by Alfa Romeo once it reached series production. It remained fairly much unchanged overall, with a short list of upgrades that centred around pilot protection, improving the aircraft's offensive armament and adding filters to improve longevity in hot, dusty environments. We have kits in most major scales of this elegant aircraft, although we're not spoiled for choice in some scales, sadly. The TopDrawings series majors on scale plans, which is the main thrust, but also includes a little background information, some pertinent profiles, and often a bonus of decals or masks targeted at the subject matter in hand. With this edition, you get a set of masks for the 1:72 Hasegawa kit for the wheels and canopy in pre-cut vinyl. The book is written in English on the left of the page, with Polish on the right, which translates to top and bottom for the captions to the various drawings within. The book itself has 28 pages bound in a card cover, and the rear cover is devoted to additional colour profiles of a Series VII and a Series III in "smoke ring" camouflage. Held loosely within are two loose A2 sheet printed on both sides with plans of the Series VIII, airframes in maintenance situations and on the second sheet, which is printed glossy paper, the major structures of the airframe plus more plans of the Series III and VIII, all in 1:24. The first half of the plans show the initial prototype MC.202 and series I, II and III, followed by the IV, VII, VIII and IX. After this the colour profiles are printed on four pages, augmented by the aforementioned two on the rear cover. After the break there are a host of detail drawings covering weapons, common parts in the wings, tail wheel variations, the two types of engine mounts, instrument panel changes, the two gunsights used, the engines in different scales, prop profiles, and the three canopy designs in chronological order. Then the usual side profiles showing the changed areas between each successive series marked out in grey, which surprisingly for a relatively unchanged aircraft takes four pages. The last few pages covers front, rear, overhead and lower plans in 1:72. Throughout the book, there are numerous smaller diagrams that show differences in wing leading edge shape and the addition of leading edge tanks; weapons pods carried under the wings and a drawing of the cowling from below. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that enjoys comparing their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, with the large scale prints and masks a bonus if you're a modeller in 1:72. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

TopDrawings 73 – Chance Vought F4U Corsair A, C, D, P Mk.I-IV (9788366148215) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The distinctive Gull Wing design of the Corsair made it one of the stand-out fighters of the Pacific theatre, helped greatly by the fact that it was also an excellent aircraft. With its Twin Wasp engine and massive propeller, which required the gull-wing design so that it was less likely to strike the deck on take-off and landing, it was fast, manoeuvrable and carried sufficient armour and armament to give a good account of itself against the Japanese Zero, a goal in which it was aided by the dwindling pool of experienced pilots available to Japan toward the end of WWII. Initially fitted with a "bird cage" canopy with limited visibility, it was later given a better blown hood, which coupled with an 18cm increase in the height of the pilot's seat and a 15cm lengthening of the tail wheel strut, gave the pilot better visibility both in the air and on the deck, which when taxiing around with a 13'4" prop was pretty important to the deck crews. We have kits in just about every scale from 1:350 upwards, with most major manufacturers getting in on the act, as other people's Corsairs don't make money for them, and it's a popular subject. The TopDrawings series majors on scale plans, which is the primary thrust, but also includes a little background information, some pertinent profiles, and often a bonus of decals or masks targeted at the subject matter in hand. With this edition, you get a handsome A4 glossy print of a pair of US Navy Corsairs carrying out a rocket attack on some poor unfortunates, which was last seen on the cover of their Monographs #56. The book is written in English on the left of the page, with polish on the right, which translates to top and bottom for the captions to the various drawings within. The book itself is bound in a card cover and has 20 pages, and the rear cover devoted to additional profiles of two F4U-1Ds and a loose A3 sheet printed on both sides with overhead plans of the -1C and -1D airframes on one side and the British Mk.I and Mk.IV on the other. The first half of the plans show the variants from the -1C, -1D and the British Mk.I. After this the colour profiles of a -1D, Mk.II and a -4 are printed on four pages in colour, augmented by the aforementioned two on the rear cover. After the break there is another set of plans of the Mk.II, Mk.III and Mk.IV, with some head/tail-on plans into the bargain. The final three pages show side profiles with the changes between the variants visible, showing just how ungainly the bird cage canopy really was. Throughout the book, there are a number of smaller diagrams that show the two types of rocket the Corsair typically carried and prop profiles. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that enjoys comparing their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, with the print a nice bonus that has drama and poignancy at the same time - I've already put it up in my workshop as it happens. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

TopDrawings 69 Special Edition Hunt Class Destroyer HMS Badsworth (9788366148147) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The Hunt Class destroyers were designed by the Royal Navy in the late 1930s. These were primarily designed as Escort vessel for convoy duty and were smaller and more lightly armed than conventional destroyers, they were also slower. The design was actually based on the Bitten Class Sloop. 86 Hunts were built with 72 being commissioned into the Royal Navy and 14 being transferred to allied Navies. HMS Badsworth (L03) was in the second batch of Hunts to be built. She was launched from Cammell Lairds yard in Birkenhead in March 1941, and was commissioned into the Navy in August 1941. The ship took part in convoys in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Arctic. The ship had a torrid time striking a mine in Malta in 1942, and after repaired, again of Algeria in 1943. The vessel was then selected for transfer to the Free Norwegian Navy and renamed the Arendal. The ship would take the Crown Price of Norway to Oslo on his return to a free Norway, and then returned to the UK to transport the remain of 400 Norwegians who had died in the UK during the war. The ship would later escort more vessels to Norway, and even repatriate German POWs to Bremerhaven. She was relegated to training duties before being stood down in 1961, then to be scrapped in 1965. The book is written in English on the left of the page, with Polish on the right, which translates to top and bottom for the captions to the various drawings within. The book itself is bound in a card cover and has 27 pages, and the rear cover devoted to additional profiles in colour.. There are 2 sets of plans in the book both B2 in size, and both double sided. The first shows full profiles, as shown on the back page; one side is in full colour, the other being black and white line drawings. The second set of plans shows many scrap view of the armament and fittings. Throughout the book, there are numerous smaller diagrams that show various parts of the ship, armament and other fittings. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that enjoys comparing their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, with the profiles quite enjoyable. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

A Carrier At Risk Argentinean Carrier Operations 1982 - Latin America @ War No.14 ISBN : 9781911628705 Helion & Company via Casemate UK Convention would have it that the Argentinean Carrier ARA 25 de Mayo remained in port following the sinking of The General Belgrano by HMS Conqueror and did not contribute much to the conflict. However that would not seem to be completely true. It seems the carrier did conduct anti submarine operations in the South Atlantic which have gone largely unnoticed until now. The history of this carrier though goes back a long way before the Falklands campaign and to the other-side at that. The carrier was built by Cammell Laird shipbuilder in Birkenhead during WWII as a Colossus Class Carrier. Named HMS Venerable she only manged 3 years service in the Royal Navy. After this she was sold to the Royal Netherlands Navy and renamed the HNLMS Karel Doorman. Following a fire the Carrier was sold to the Argentine Navy as they already operated the ex ARA Independencia another Colossus Class Carrier the ex HMS Warrior. The ARA 25 de Mayo was commissioned in 1968, through out her life she was refitted many times. Despite fitting new steam catapults and arrestor gear the vessel it was found that these were not enough to operate the Super Etendard and the carrier was limited to A-4 Skyhawks for strike aircraft. S-2 Trackers were also carried for anti-submarine and observation duties. With the Argentinean invasion of the Falkland Islands in May 1982 the carrier supported the initial landings on the Islands. The carrier was then deployed to the North of the Islands. The carrier did attempt to launch an attack on the task force after her trackers found the fleet but light winds prevented the loaded Skyhawks from taking off. HMS Splendid as Swiftsure class Nuclear submarine was to patrol the area North of the Island and tasked with finding the carrier, and to sink her if necessary. The book looks at this time where the British were searching for the carrier, and it in turn was searching for the searchers. Conclusion This book will give the reader an understanding of Argentinean carrier operations in the South Atlantic. With over 100 photos, colour maps and profiles; combined with first hand accounts from both sides the book is highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

TopDrawings 72 – Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (9788366148147) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The P-47 Thunderbolt, more commonly known as the Thud or Jug because of its large size (up to 8t take-off weight), was one of the USA's main fighters, and was both powerful and fast, a perfect combination for escorting bombers as well as its other role as a highly capable ground attack aircraft. It began with the XP-47A, which was cancelled in favour of the B, which meant that no A saw service. Constant upgrades due to wartime experiences saw it thought to the D model, after which was a jump to G, which was essentially a C made at the Curtiss plant. Toward the end of the D series the bubbletop design was put into service, but this book deals with the razorback, as the earlier models became known. We have kits in just about every scale from 1:144 upwards, with most major and some minor manufacturers getting in on the act, as other people's Jugs don't make money for them (there's probably a smutty joke in there, so go nuts). The TopDrawings series majors on scale plans, which is the main thrust, but also includes a little background information, some pertinent profiles, and often a bonus of decals or masks targeted at the subject matter in hand. With this edition, you get a set of additional plans on A3 paper. The book is written in English on the left of the page, with Czech on the right, which translates to top and bottom for the captions to the various drawings within. The book itself is bound in a card cover and has 28 pages, with the back two pages devoted to an ad for other editions, another thick glossy A3 page to the other books in the Kagero range, and the rear cover devoted to additional profiles of a bare-metal D-23-RA and a loose A3 sheet printed on both sides with plans of the C and D-22 airframes. The first half of the plans show the variants from the B-series prototype with and without the contra-rotating prop that didn't see service, the in-service B, C, C-2, C-5, G-1, D-23, G-16 two-seater, the D and the D-4. After this the colour profiles are printed on four pages in colour, augmented by the aforementioned two on the rear cover. After the break there is another set of plans of the D-5, 6, 10, 15, 22 and 23, with front and rear profiles of the 22. The final five pages show side profiles with the visible changes between them, and the solitary two-seater, the G-16. Throughout the book, there are numerous smaller diagrams that show cross-sections of the fuselage, weapons, prop profiles, canopies, instrument panels, fuel tanks, and engines, with an example of a maintenance ladder and mechanic for a little diorama inspiration. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that enjoys comparing their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, with the profiles quite enjoyable. The bubbletops are dealt with in TopDrawings 50, which you can see here. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Spain in Arms - A military history of the Spanish Civil War 1936-39 ISBN : 9781612006376 Casemate UK The Spanish Civil war was fought between 1936 and 1939. This was fought between the Republican side loyal to the Second Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists. Even though the war ended in 1939 it left a legacy in Spain which is felt even to this day. Much has been written about the war however this book looks at it from eight major conflicts. The author has obtained and studied texts from German, Italian and Russian sources, as well as previously secret British intelligence intercepts about Italian air operations, and in addition British and French Archives. As well as the history of the conflict itself the book aims to place this conflict within the historical context of both WWI and WWII. Of interest is the look at the extent of foreign intervention and how it may have been exaggerated in history. The book is A5 hardcover in format and 212 pages long, It is has 20 maps and 20 black and white photos. Conclusion The history for this bloody conflict is examined through eight major campaigns and it aims to dispel many of the half truths stemming from propaganda which still exist from this conflict. As the culmination of 60 years research the book shows this in its quality and depth. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of