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F-4 Phantom II Warpaint Series No.114 The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II has become both an icon and a legend, with many publications already in print of this famous jet aircraft of the Cold War era. This latest book, in Guideline Publication’s “Warpaint Series”, covers the McDonnell F-4B and F-4J variants, including their upgrades to F-4N and F-4S respectively, with the RF-4B also being covered. These variants were used mainly by the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corp (USMC); plus a small number of refurbished F-4J’s, that were sold to Britain and re-designated F-4J(UK) for the Royal Air Force (RAF). An earlier volume, number 31, covered the F-4K and F-4M versions in British service with the RAF and Fleet Air Arm (FAA). This book follows the well established and popular layout of the Warpaint Series, the covers are produced in A4 portrait format on glossy soft card, with a drawing and photograph of the subject matter adorning the title on the front. The history of these variants of the F-4 Phantom II has been written in well researched detail by Charles Stafrace. This detail that Charles has provided is complemented with full-colour illustrations produced by Richard L. Caruana; each illustration having a short narrative that contains details specific to the aircraft displayed. Charles starts with a short history of how the F-4 concept came into being, with the attempt by McDonnell to upgrade and improve their F-3H Demon as a possible contender for the next USN fleet jet. The detail is extensive, wherein he displays an in-depth knowledge of all the F-3 variants that were designed, trialled and tested before the program was accepted and re-designated the F4H-1F (F-4A). Throughout the 120 pages, including covers, there are over 230 photographs; 202 of which are colour. There are 36 illustrations, showing full-colour profiles of specific airframes, are beautifully produced by Richard L. Caruana. Included among them are three F-4J (UK) versions of No.74 Squadron RAF; plus the now famous F-4B from USS Forrestal, which went unserviceable whilst onboard HMS Ark Royal and had to have her tail repainted before the ship entered Malta in 1972. Illustrations like these should be of great use to builders of Phantom models. This book has quite a few datasheets included throughout, an example being five pages dedicated to the aircraft squadrons/wings, home bases and dates in service. Further lists provide a chronological breakdown of sea-going deployments; by ship and dates etc. This very interesting and informative volume come complete with a large 60cm x 30cm double-sided pull-out sheet of plans that have been produced in black and white, again by Richard L. Caruana, displaying details of the F-4B; F-4J; F-4N; F-4S and RF-4B airframes. Each aircraft plan and profile is drawn to 1:72 scale. Conclusion This is a lovely book, it is full of great photo's and profile illustrations of an iconic aircraft. It has been produced specific to the F-4B and F-4J variants for the USN and USMC, as such this should be welcome by all US Navy/Marine enthusisasts. In addtion, there is additional information and illustrations on the F-4K(UK) for the RAF; therefore this should also be a boon for those interested in 74 Sqn RAF Phantoms. With 120 pages of data, photo's and plans of the phabulous phantom, I have no hesitation in recommending this for the aviation and naval enthusiast's bookshelf. Review sample courtesy of

Panavia Tornado ADV Warpaint No.113 Guideline Publications Developed alongside the Interdictor Strike (ADS) from the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA), the Air Defence Variant (ADV) had a longer radome that covered a more powerful radar, a fuselage extension to facilitate a higher fuel load, and role-specific differences in the avionics systems, which gave it a distinctive look when seen next to the shorter, stubbier IDS airframe. It wasn't intended to be a traditional dogfighter, which was just as well, but it was instead designed as a weapons platform, initially targeting enemies designated by the smaller, more agile Hawks when Soviet bombers were the expected opponents. This book by author Des Brennan covers the birth and development of the airframe in much more detail, as well as providing tons of excellent pictures, many of which are in full colour, plus 1:72 plans in the centre, penned by Richard J. Caruana. The book is in the usual Warpaint format of portrait A4(ish) with a soft card cover and 58 pages plus the four pages taken up by the plans, starting from a genuine 1 and excluding the covers from the count, despite them having two sets of 3-view profiles and additional pictures on them. The real total is closer to 65 pages of content if you exclude the front cover. A short introduction details the birth of the Tornado F.2 in service with the RAF, and the coming of age that saw the much improved F.3 variant reach squadron service, which is the definitive and last variant of the aircraft up until drawdown began in 2011 when it was replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon. Page breakdown is as follows: Introduction Full Production And Frontline Service For The Tornado F.3 Years Of War And Peace With The RAF From Full Colour Markings To Anonymity And Back Panavia Tornado F.2 Plans Panavia Tornado F.3 Plans Exporting The ADV Panavia Tornado ADV In Detail Servicing, Maintenance And Daily Operations Panavia Tornado ADV Kits, Decals And Accessories The pages include a lot of useful pictures with informative captions, as well as details of the squadrons that operated the type, technical details, a list of serials, overseas operators etc., with appropriate photos and drawings dotted around. In the "In Detail" section, even the elusive rear seat instrument panel is pictured along with many, many other close-up photos that will be a boon to modellers. Conclusion The Warpaint series always gets a thumbs-up due to their inability to produce a dud! As someone keen on the Tornado in general, this is an excellent book that will see plenty of use when I finally get around to building any of my many kits of the type. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Westland Scout and Wasp Warpaint Series No.110 The helicopter twins produced by Westland, as the Scout and Wasp, originated as far back as 1956 when Saunders-Roe Ltd. Began its design of a private ventur for a replacement for the Skeeter light helicopter in service with the Army Air Corps but with developed improvements. The Skeeter had a piston engine but the advent of suitable gas turbine engines in France resulted in the development of the highly successful Alouette, by Sud-Aviation, raised the possibility of similar development in Britain. Due to their very losw installed weight plus good vibration characteristics, it was becoming obvious that turbine powerplants would be advantageous for installing in helicopters. During this period, the Blackburn Engine Company arranged licencing agreements with the French to build Turbomecca engines. This made the way clear for a turbo-powered successor to the Skeeter. This latest edition from Guideline Publications covers two similar airframes and will likely be a welcome addition for enthusiasts of Army and Navy helicopters. Written by Adrian Balch, with profile illustrations producedby the well-known artist Richard J. Caruana, the book is full of black & white and colour photos of the Scout and Wasps timeline through their development and operational roles. There are fifty-two pages, including the covers, set on high quality paper and laid out in A4 portrait format. The book covers the full history of the aircraft, from its conception with Saunders-Roe to the final years with the Army and Royal Navy; including aircraft exported to and used by other nations. Adrian provides clear and comprehensive historical information which is both interesting and useful for research and is profusely illustrated with good quality photographs, mostly in colour, showing many variants and colour schemes. There is a single page set of line drawings that have been produced to 1:48 scale which help to identify the differences between the Scout and the Wasp. The photos that intersperse the narrative are clear and of good quality and show some unusual modifications and markings. This should please those modellers who wish to enhance their builds with something a little different from the norm. The book finishes off with a few pages of close-up views, showing detailed views of the aircraft. Conclusion From a personal perspective, I have been waiting for something like this to be produced for a long time and am very pleased with it. If there is to be any downside, on such a lovely edition, it would be the lack of detailed plans of the area under and above the fuselage. Review sample courtesy of

Douglas C-54/R5D Skymaster & DC-4 Warpaint Series No.109 Guideline Publications The Douglas C-54/DC-4 was a four engined transport aircraft and airliner developed by Douglas in the 1940s. A robust simple aircraft it proved to be popular with many airlines and military organisations. Over 1200 aircraft were built, including the Canadair North Star. The book is the latest in the Warpaint series, and is supplied in a soft card binding with 92 pages in between, all of which is printed on glossy stock with colour on almost every page. In between the informative text regarding the development and use of the aircraft are a host of interesting photos of it in its various guises, a great many of which are in colour due to the increasing use of colour film during its service. Most of the book does concentrate on the military C-54 with a section on the DC-4 including the Canadair built aircraft. There are many profiles throughout the book but these are all of military aircraft. Conclusion The Warpaint series have always been a good read, and this one is no exception. It has a great many pictures that are good quality, as well as a set of plans in 1.72 that will be very helpful if you are planning on building a model. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chicksaw/Westland Whirlwind Warpaint Series No.106 Guideline Publications Sikorsky were the pioneers of helicopters or rotary-winged aircraft in the Western world, and licensed their products extensively to British company Westland, where they became well-loved and almost household names. The Chicksaw was the first practical helicopter from Sikorsky, capable of carrying a substantial load due to the Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine that was initially fitted. Later replaced by a turbojet engine by Westland, this gave the aircraft a longer nose, better serviceability, and greater range that broadened its appeal and made for a long career both in the military as well as the private sector. The book is the latest in the Warpaint series, and is supplied in a soft card binding with sixty pages in between, all of which is printed on glossy stock with colour on almost every page. In between the informative text regarding the development and use of the aircraft are a host of interesting photos of it in its various guises, a great many of which are in colour due to the increasing use of colour film during its service. Roughly the first half of the book is devoted to the Sikorsky built variants, and there were a substantial number of those. There are a great many interesting schemes shown in profile, including the highly colourful and more than a little creepy clown faces of the Square Dance Team, which also wore "skirts" of material around their landing gear to carry on the theme for the displays they put on. The rest of the book details the development and use of the license build Whirlwind, an aircraft that saw extensive service with the British military, explainingis why it still has a special place in many people's hearts along with the Wessex, which was another license built Sikorsky product. Westland's licensing still carries on today with the much improved Westland Apache that has substantially more powerful engines than the original design. Again there are a large number of profiles to whet your appetite, and both the Westland and Sikorsky productions have scale drawings aplenty for their respective variants all in 1:72 scale as befits the main scale that you'll be able to find a kit in. Speaking of kits, the text often mentions the modeller, and there is even a kit, aftermarket and decal listing toward the end that shows just how badly a new Whirlwind is needed in 1:48, as most of it is in 1:72. As a 1:48 builder, than makes me sad, as there is only an ancient Revell tooling that dates from the same era as the Chicksaw itself. At the very back of the book are a number of reference photos of parts of the airframe that aren't usually seen from by the casual observer, which will be of assistance to anyone looking to detail their model inside or out. Conclusion A good read, plenty of pictures that are of excellent quality, as well as a large number of plans that will be very helpful if you are planning on building an accurate model. Now, who is going to provide us with a new tooling of the Whirlwind/Chicksaw in 1:48? Review sample courtesy of

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak & RF-84F Thunderflash Warpaint Series No.100 The F-84F Thunderstreak was originally planned to augment the USAF's front-line fighter requirements in the early 1950's; however, engine and aerodynamic teething problems delayed production until 1954. Although the Thunderstreak was not classed as a superior or outstanding aircraft, its performance being overshadowed by the F-86 Sabre, the aircaft was produced in large numbers and served with the USAF and many other nations air forces for many years. The underpowered Wright J65 engine did not give the F-84F the aerodynamic ability to perform as a fighter and was therefore quickly reduced to the fighter-bomber role. As such, it served with the USAFs Tactical and Strategic Air Commands and also with numerous European air forces. It provided a much-needed deterrent during the critical early years of the Cold War and the 1960s, especially with NATO air forces. The book has been well researched by Charles Stafrace; with both the R-84F Thunderstreak and the RF-84F Thunderflash being covered in this 100th edition from Guideline Publications. As is usual with all the previous Warpaint Series, this book is superbly illustrated by Richard J. Caruana. Each profile image shows full colour details of the colour schemes and marking placements. In addition, there are short narratives alongside each image on the respective aircraft and, in some cases, close up details of the nose art or emblem are illustrated. The story and history of the aircraft is supplemented with informative tables of reference data, including production numbers and allocations. Many of the 2,000 plus airframes also served with foreign nations, mainly as part of the NATO deterrent force during the Cold War period. Details of countries allocations and squadrons can be found within the text and additonal tabulated data. Both airframe types are covered, the F-84F Thunderstreak and the RF-84F Thunderflash, and full colour profile illustrations are provided; as with the views above of some RF-84F Reconnaissance fighters. Included within the book are two A3 size general arrangement plans which have been drawn at 1:72 scale; a small section of the RF-84 plan has been reproduced above as an example. The plans are printed back to back; with the F-84F Thunderstreak on one page and the RF-84F Thunderflash on the other. The plans are stapled in place thereby allowing easy removal if required. Some of the photographs, both colour and black-white, are very impressive and could provide ideas for modelling dioramas, as with the refuelling scene above. There are quite a few tabulated lists in this edition, as shown by the list above of aircraft belonging to the Turkish Air Force; this listing also includes the origins of the aircraft transferred. Conclusion The Republic F-84F and its sister the RF-84F may not have been the most powerful, or best looking, aircraft in the USAF's inventory but it did fill a necessary gap; although it appeared too late for the Korean Conflict and was virtually obsolete to be of any use in Vietnam. This book is one that should appeal to those with an interest in early jets, especially those at the forefront of the change from straight-wing to swept-wing types of the United States Air Force. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik Warpaint by Guideline Publications The Il-2 Sturmovik was possibly one of the best ground-attack aircraft of WWII, and even if you don't subscribe to that idea, it still put the wind up a LOT of German ground troops and tankers and gained a fearsome reputation. This book is the latest in the Warpaint series, and is numbered 107 with no sign of any end. It is bound in a card jacket "magazine-style", and has the by now familiar blue top to the cover, which is also printed on the inner side. Inside are 52 pages on glossy white stock, with a set of plans in 1:72 in the centre, showing all the major variants, of which there were many in the 36,000 production run, even a radial engined one! The contemporary photos are in black and white as you'd expect, but there are a fair number of profiles spread over ten pages, including the inner covers. There are also a number of drawings, and quite a selection of the results of the Sturmovik's handiwork, from tanks to aircraft, that while they might not enthuse the aviation purist, they give a very good impression of the punishment that it could dish out. In between the photos and drawings is a pretty concise history of the type from its beginnings in 1937 to its abrupt halt in production at the end of the war when its rough construction and agricultural nature led to its rapid falling out of favour in the cold light of day. At the rear of the book is a two page walk around of the restored example at the museum in Monino, followed by a two page list of what's currently available in terms of kits, aftermarket and decals from the various manufacturers in the usual scales. Conclusion Another worthy addition to the Warpaint series, with plenty to interest both the modeller and aviation enthusiast alike. If you really want to know everything there is to know about the type, you might want a more weighty tome, but for the most part this book should give you a good understanding. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Convair B-36 Peacemaker Warpaint Series No.102 In 1941 the United States had to consider that Britain might lose the war with Germany; most of western Europe had already fallen to the German onslaught and the U.S. viewed the situation that they may have to take up the fight with Germany if Britain fell. The major problem was that America did not have a long-range bomber with sufficient range and load carrying capacity to fly missions to Germany all the way from the USA. Early in 1941 President Roosevelt and his senior military officers looked at the increasing likelihood of fighting on two fronts, with a war against both Germany and Japan becoming inevitable. The USAAF was tasked to investigate designs for a long-range bomber, with the capability of flying bombing missions to German and back from bases in the US. Specifications were sent in April 1941 to aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Consolidated; plus Northrop (who at that time, was an aviation research organisation, looking into the long-range Flying Wing concept) for designs that could achieve 12,000 miles range at a cruising speed of 275 mph, maximum 450mph, and an altitude of 45,000 feet; A bomb load of 10,000lb (pounds) was also specified. Boeing was working at full capacity at this time building their B-17 Flying Fortresses, plus being heavily involved in design work of the B-29 Super Fortress, whereas Consolidated already had an advanced design, based on their preliminary Model 35 specification. As such, it was the Consolidated design that was taken forward for further development. Consolidated presented their design specification for the Model 36 (later to become the XB-36) on 6th October 1941 and a contract was issued to progress on 15th November 1941. The design featured a wing span of 230 feet with an area of 4,772 square feet and powered by 6 Pratt & Whitney 28-cylinder X-Wasp engines. The first mock-up was ready in July 1942, by which time the United States had been brought into the war through Japan's actions at Pearl Harbor, and therefore this aircraft was going to be "born in war"; however, continual design change requirements meant that the prototype XB-36 did not fly until late 1946 and the first production B-36 "Peacemaker" was not accepted into operational service until June 1948, being delivered to the 7th Bombardment Group {Heavy); based at Carswell AFB, Fort Worth. The Book On opening the book you are presented on the first page with a set of four profile images of B-36 colour schemes, beautifully illustrated by Richard J. Caruana. Following this feast for the eyes is the historical and technical descriptive chapters by Kev Darling. The first chapter is both enlightening and interesting, as the narrative plays out the trials and tribulations which caused the B-36 design to take over seven years to finally come to fruition as a fully operational strategic bomber. Throughout the book there are black & white and colour photographs, showing tactical markings and colours that complement the excellent full colour illustrations of Richard's art work. A total of 21 profile drawings are included within the 52 pages, including covers, with some of the profiles showing both sides of the fuselage where details may be different; such as nose-art etc. The centre-page displays a full page plan and profile of a B-36H-1-CF Peacemaker drawn by Richard. This illustration provides virtually all the colour demarcations for a White, grey and natural metal finish and should be of immense help for painting up a model of this aircraft. Well researched and detailed tabulated tables; containing additional data such as technical specifications, production details and operational units, can be found throughout the book. There is also a table defining the kits and their scales, aftermarket parts and decals that have been produced; although I cannot confirm whether these are all still available today. There is also a section on the FICON (FIghter CONveyer) project; the carriage of a straight-winged Republic F-84E, partially fitted into the bomb bay under the fuselage, which would be deployed as a fighter escort if needed. Conclusion The Convair, as the Consolidated-Vultee merger became known, B-36 Peacemaker was a supremely large and awe inspiring aircraft for anyone who got to see it and this book helps to bring over that impression of sheer size and strength; with its six large rearward facing propeller driven engines. Kev Darling provides a fascinating insight into the politics and technical aspects of the struggles to get this behemoth from the drawing board to become on of the United States Cold War bombers. The narratives are beautifully illustrated with full colour drawings from the esteemed artist Richard Caruana and, together, they have brought the story of the B-36 Peacemaker into fully understandable and enlightening publication. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of .

de Havilland D.H.82 Tiger Moth Warpaint Series No.101 The de Havilland D.H.82 Tiger Moth is possibly one of the most recognised and well-known aircraft ever built; mainly as it was used extensively in both military and civilian versions, and many pilots probably started their adventurous flying careers at the controls of one. The Tiger Moth had a world-wide reputation for being simple but tough, so much so that over 200 are still flying today; with quite a few to be seen at air shows etc. The author, Adrian Balch, has obviously spent considerable time and effort in researching for this publication. Not only is the historical perspective well covered but he has found some really interesting photographs, both colour and black & white, to bring the whole story to life. To accompany this, the book is nicely populated throughout with excellent full colour illustrations from the noted artist Richard J. Caruana. As soon as you turn the first page, you are presented with a beautiful 4-view illustration of a colourful Tiger Moth in civilian registry but with camouflaged upper surfaces. The history of this aircraft is fascinating to read and Adrian has included some good reference photos to assist with his narratives. His research has pulled up some interesting observations, which he is not afraid to alert us to. Adrian confirms the confidence of his research in the example, at the top of the page above, in which he points out various anomalies on current Tiger Moth's colours and markings, for a repainted version of a historic CFS Aerobatic Team aircraft There are 44 full colour side profile illustrations from Richard Caruana displayed throughout this book, both military and civilian variants are depicted. These must be a just the inspiration needed for anyone with a model kit they wish to build. Tiger Moths were exported all over the world and there are pages detailing these, such as the view above which also shows tabular data for imported Tiger Moths from the Indian Air Force. A full A3 size page is included that contains general arrangement plans drawn at 1:72 scale. These plans have been drawn by Richard Caruana and go well with his lovely illustrations. Above is a small section of the Tiger Moth plan and only covers a little detail; the full plan being a very useful reference indeed. The plan is stapled in place thereby allowing easy removal if required for referring to alongside your model build. The book is profusely illustrated with good quality photographs, mostly in colour, and they show many variants and colour schemes; such as the civilian registered airframes above. Three pages, of the total forty-six including covers, are devoted to close-up walkaround views of special interest areas; including instrument panels and floats/wheels etc. Conclusion The Tiger Moth is a lovely aircraft and one that once would have been found at most airfields around the country, if not the world, and I am of an age where the Tiger Moth was the most ubiquitious of all the aircraft in my spotter's book! There seems to be a plethora of model kits of the Tiger Moth available in all scales; with possibly the exception of my favourite scale 1:144. Add to this some nicely detailed aftermarket parts, photo-etch and decals, then this book must surely become a much needed reference aid for the modeller; as well as a good read for those who just like the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of .

Avro York Warpaint Series No.98 The latest in the Warpaint Series from Guideline Publications is No.98 the Avro York and I am sure this should be a welcome addition. This quote, from Wikipedia, basically says it all: "The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and civilian roles between 1943 and 1964" The concept of the Avro York came from Avro's design team, headed up by Roy Chadwick, as early as 1941 who recognised a future requirement for large bodied transport aircraft that would have the capability for long-haul flight both for the RAF and for commercial operators post-war. Out of this came the proposal for a four engined aircraft which, due to wartime constraints on materials, would utilise airframe parts already in production with the construction of the Avro Lancaster. The main items used would be wings, tail and undercarriage. It was hoped that both the RAF and commercial companies would see the benefits of this large bodied, long haul transport/passenger aircraft and that orders would soon be forthcoming, however the RAF did not apparently see the need for this and no orders were placed to start with. Later, in 1942, the concept was raised again when a Government led advisory committee (The Brabazon Committee) was formed to evaluate aircraft types which would be suitable for post-war commercial air routes around the British Empire, especially for Great Britain and Europe but also to India and the Far East. The book is set out to the now very familiar layout of an A4 portrait format, with heavy duty paper cover that shows a full colour photograph of a camouflaged York with civil registration of BOAC. The research and textual content of this 52 page volume has been provided by William Harrison and is illustrated throughout with fine full-colour drawings from Richard J. Caruana. Most pages contain descriptive narratives detailing the history, advancements and variants and are supplemented by either photographs or profile drawings of Yorks in various liveries and guises. There are 30 full colour profile drawings, laid out six to a page as shown below, with each profile having a short descriptive narrative alongside. These descriptives provide a snapshot which describes the serial, squadron and location for the aircraft at the particular date described. In addition to the profiles there are two full page sets of drawings that show all four sides of a particular aircraft and these are a real boon for anyone wishing to detail a model of this aircraft. The history of the Avro York is very interesting, especially in the early prototype and production years, when sizeable numbers of aircraft were ordered, reduced and then eventually cancelled. To help visualise this there are tabulated data sections which show, as with the example below, the serial numbers and fates of Avro's York production. Each Warpaint Series volume has had a pull out general arrangement diagram inserted and this edition is no exception. The plan is to 1:72 scale, is printed to A3 format and covers two full pages, a section of which is illustrated here. This book is litterally full of photographs, both black & white and colour, with the division being 34 black & white plus 20 in colour. Additional tabulated data sheets, totalling 30 in all, have been printed throughout the book that provide lists of task, owners, serials and locations etc. There is also a section, again in tabulated format, detailing the kits, decals and accessories which have been produced. This list has been produced by Hannants and therefore it can be assumed that these items are available at the time of printing. The book finishes of nicely with a series of in detail colour photographs, with close up views of pertinent areas which again will be invaluable to anyone wishing to build a model of this fine aircraft. Conclusion This latest edition in the series from Guideline Publications arrives neatly in time to obtain at SMW2104 (or a present for Christmas?). It is a good choice of subject, mainly as it is of one of the lesser publiced aircraft from a British manufacturer; but also as the subject should please both military and civilian aircraft enthusiasts. The information and images surrounding the events during the Berlin Airlift, for example; plus the colours and markings of the various post-war companies should have the modeller diving for the tape and airbrush! These images, both photographic and those superbly illustrated by Richard J. Caruana, are impressive enough and when combined with all the historical information and tables of explicit data then you have a comprehensive record of the Avro York in a single publication. This is yet another book which should become an essential reference work and be kept near to the modelling bench. Review sample courtesy of

McDonnell F3H Demon Warpaint Series No.99 Hot on the heels of my last review from Guideline Publications comes No.99, the McDonnell F3H Demon. The Demon was large, ugly, underpowered and soon superceded as front-line interceptor; however it comes from an era when US military jets, especially naval ones, were adorned with bright hi-vis liveries and markings. As such, models of these would look good in any display case or collection. The F3H was McDonnell's offering of a single seat, short range, carrier-based fighter with the ability to climb rapidly to high altitude in order to intercept incoming enemy bombers; to meet the US Chief of Naval Operations requirements for the 1950's. The first prototypes, designated XF3H-1, were ordered in 1949 with the first flight being achieved in 1951. During these trials periods, considerable changes were made to the designs shape in virtually all areas of the wings, fuselage and tail; and are all described in crisp terms by the author Tony Butler within the book. Most pages within this 52 page edition contain a combination of historical and technical data, which is supplemented by photographs or profile drawings; superbly produced by Richard J. Caruana, and provide the story of the United States Navy's first all-missile-firing jet aircraft interceptor. There are 30 full colour profile drawings, laid out five to a page as shown below, and each profile has a short descriptive narrative alongside. In addition, some illustrations also have an enlarged view of that squadron's emblem and/or motto alongside. These are helpful to the modeller as colour call-outs are described by the names (i.e. Gull Grey) and also by their associated FS numbers. Also to be found within these short texts is data on the particular individual airframe illustrated and included serial, squadron and location for the aircraft at the particular date described. There is also a full colour 4-view profile and plan illustration, to be found within the front cover, providing much detail in the placement of markings and colour demarcations. There are also various tables of data distributed throughout the book, each giving a set of pertinent information relevant to the F3H Demon. As the table below shows, there is also a section on the available model kits; by manufacturer and scale, plus after-market parts and decals. This is useful for the modeller who perhaps wants to find a kit to build using this publication as a guide to colours and markings. The centre page of this book is taken up with a set of general arrangement diagrams; on a single A3 sized page in landscape format and printed to 1:72 scale (although I'm sure this could be enlarged or reduced as required with any good photocopier), and these show the layout and surface detail to a high degree. In past editions of these Warpaint Series I have found that these diagrams are usually printed on a standalone pull-out sheet, with diagrams on both sides, all held within the book by staples. This edition is slightly different as the diagrams are on a single page which means that the pages on the reverse contain text and illustrations that are part of the book and, as such, it would not be simple just to remove the g.a. diagrams (for working at the modelling bench for example) as that would make the book incomplete. This example page, below, from the book shows a typical mix of b&w and colour photo's interspersed with historical narrative plus an inserted table of relevant data. All of this, and other elements throughout the book, help to build a picture and timeline of the F3H Demon's production and service history. In total there are 29 colour and 104 b&w photograph images printed alongside the text. Other diagrams, showing development changes and ad-hoc sketches are also included. Some of the photographs are also interesting for background information, such as the early F4H-1 Phantom seen in the bottom image on this page. A set of additional close in photographs has been included in the "In detail" pages towards the back of this edition. These show extra details, especially on the early prototypes XF3H-1 and F3H-2. Conclusion Suddenly I feel an urge (or is it a Nurge?) to build the F3H Demon! Guideline Publication's latest has arrived just in time to be found on the tables at SMW 2014; or possibly as an early Christmas present? The FH3 Demon was certainly a colourful aircraft and yet still very military; and this edition is a welcome source of information on the Demon; especially for its excellently produced illustrations, both drawn and photographic, that accompany this well researched and detailed history of the first all-missile-firing naval fighter from America's early jet era. This book is one that should appeal to anyone who likes 1950's high visibility jets of the U.S. Navy and is very much recommended. Review sample courtesy of