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  1. After my dad has finished a Tamiya late war A-8 recently, he already started a Hasegawa late war A-8 that took part in the Operation Bodenplatte on January 1st 1945. He´ll use this Hasegawa A-9 kit DSC_0009 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr using decals from this Kagero TopColors booklet DSC_0010 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr doing this scheme DSC_0011 by Reinhard Spreitzhofer, auf Flickr
  2. IJN Battleship Fuso Kagero Super Drawings in 3D Fusō was the lead ship of the two Fusō-class dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Launched in 1914 and commissioned in 1915, she initially patrolled off the coast of China, playing no part in World War I. In 1923, she assisted survivors of the Great Kantō earthquake. Fusō was modernized in 1930–1935 and again in 1937–1941, with improvements to her armour and propulsion machinery and a rebuilt superstructure in the pagoda mast style. With only 14-inch (356 mm) guns, she was outclassed by other Japanese battleships at the beginning of World War II, and played auxiliary roles for most of the war. Fusō was part of Vice-Admiral Shōji Nishimura's Southern Force at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She was sunk in the early hours of 25 October 1944 by torpedoes and naval gunfire during the Battle of Surigao Strait. Some reports claimed that Fusō broke in half, and that both halves remained afloat and burning for an hour, but according to survivors' accounts, the ship sank after 40 minutes of flooding. Of the few dozen crewmen who escaped, only 10 survived to return to Japan. 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:- Overview Design Armour Power Plant Mechanisms of fire control Radar Equipment Searchlights Aviation Upgrading Conclusion The rest of the eighty five pages are filled with the now well known style of beautifully drawn 3D renderings of every part of the ship. More time and effort seem to have been taken with this volume as there are a lot more detailed renders, including cutaways of the magazines, athwartships of No.2 and No.3 turrets, and of the whole ship horizontally. Naturally there is a wealthy of information for the modeller to use during their build, and having built the 1/350 Fujimi kit I wish I had had this book at the time. Every area of the upper hull and superstructure is dealt with plus the lower hull including the propellers and rudder. The area where I had difficulty in getting right, the funnel and searchlight towers is very well detailed in the book and would have been most useful. As well as the ship renders, there are also close up drawings of the triple 25mm mountings, searchlights and each of the main turret styles For even more detail, especially for the rigging, Kagero have included a double sided A2 fold out sheet with a three view on one side as the ship was in 1944, in 1:350, with additional drawings of the fore and aft views also in 1:350, ships fixtures, such as turrets, funnels, searchlights, single, dual and triple 25mm mounts and radar, which are in a mixture of 1:200, 1:150 or 1:50 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 Fujimi kits in 1:700 and 1:350. Having compared the renderings with my completed 1:350 kit, Fujimi have done a great job on getting it right, and the use of their etched detail sets was worth it. Review sample courtesy of
  3. SS – KampfGruppe Peiper 1943 – 1945 Kagero Publications Written by Massimiliano Afiero and published by Kagero publishing, this book tells the story of the military career of Joachim Peiper, one of the most valiant and decorated officers of the Waffen SS, told through the main battles and campaigns, which involved the units under his command, especially the armoured Kampfgruppen of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, starting from the fighting on the front at Kharkov in the Ukraine, between February and March 1943, passing through the fighting for the salient of Kursk, the intervention in Italy, the new campaign on the Ukrainian front between autumn and winter of 1943-44, fighting on the front of Normandy, the counter-offensive in the Ardennes, until the last fighting on the Hungarian front and in Austria. The analysis of the various battles told through the testimonies of the direct protagonists, the war reports of the period, the original documents, without forgetting the involvement in the war crimes committed by units under Peipers command. Not only is this book is filled with useful information on all the battles the Kampfgruppen was involved in, but each battle is illustrated with numerous maps, diagrams and very interesting photos, including all the different vehicles used, many of the officers from headquarters down, and the more humble troops on the front line. The real interesting photos for the modeller are, naturally the vehicles and there are plenty of unusual camouflage schemes and equipment seen on everything from a SdKfz 251 Half Track to a SdKfz 182 King Tiger. There are also superb scenes just asking to be built as a diorama, plus three pages of colour profiles. Conclusion If you’re into your German armoured units of WWII then this is a must have book, the text is well laid out, although there are some spelling mistakes scattered amongst the text. The period photos are superb, although some are a bit blurred, and some of the annotations don’t seem to describe the picture. But if you want an unusual diorama, or camouflage for your model collection then look no further. Review sample courtesy of
  4. TopDrawings 54 – Junkers Ju.87B (9788365437914) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The Junkers Ju.87B Stuka was a weapon of terror that saw extensive use in the early days of WWII, soldiering on to the end despite needing fighter protection due its slow speed. It has been a popular subject with modellers for years, and that shows no sign of changing any time soon. We have kits in all scales for example from Airfix in 1:72, through the Hasegawa kits in 1:48, and a variety in 1:32 and even 1:24 from various sources. 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 pre-cut vinyl masks in 1:72 and 1:48, which will be a boon to speed the job of masking that greenhouse canopy. 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, but in addition you get a sheet of loose A3 plans of a B-2 printed on one side in 1:48 and on the other, printed in full colour is a 3-view profile of a B-1 by Arkadiusz Wróbel. The first half of the bound plans show the variants up to the B-2 and includes weapons and the engine in 1:48. The four pages of profiles show eight B-1 and B2s, including a tropicalized airframe at the bottom. There are more plans in 1:48 of the aircraft from front and back, as well as the tropicalized B2 seen in the profile section. The final section of the plans shows the evolution of the aircraft through the B series in 1:72, with differences marked out in grey and captions discussing the nature of the changes, which were fairly minor and cosmetic for the most part. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that wants to compare their models against scale plans, to obtain as accurate a model as possible, with the masks a useful bonus if you happen to model in those scales. The 1:72 scale folks will have to do some quick calculations to scale down the plans, but it's good to be able to see the airframe at a good size on the page. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  5. The Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 From Cold War To Modern Day ISBN : 9788395157523 Kagero via Casemate UK The Leopard 1 project was designed to replace the German Army's reliance on us Built tanks following its reformation. Originally a Joint programme with the French who were later dropped the Leopard 1 would enter into service in 1965 with many design changes following. Over 6500 tanks and utility versions were built and supplied to many different European nations, and further afield. The German Army would retire its Leopard 1s in 2003, though some serve to this day in other nations. The Leopard 2 was developed to succeed the Leopard 1 in the late 1970s. This would feature better armour and a more powerful gun. Like the leopard 1 there have been many sub variants since its inception. Again like the Leopard 1 the tanks have been sold to other nations. The main version of the Leopard 2 is now the 2A6. The latest incarnations are the 2A7 (an upgrade of Dutch 2A6s) and the Leopard 2A7+ which has been designed to operate in both low & high intensity conflicts with more emphasis being on mine/IED & RPG protection, and addition of remote weapons stations. This volume is A4 soft back in format and has 115 pages. The first 39 deal with the tanks themselves while the remainder deal with making models of the tanks. There are 4 pages of profiles at the rear of the book. Conclusion Given that the title is Leopard 1 & 2 I was expecting a reference book on the two types not a "modelling book". The first 39 pages deal with the tanks themselves (which is not a great deal given the number of different types and operators) while the remainder deal with making models of the tanks. There is a build of a Tamiya Leopard 2A6 in Polish service, and a Tamyia Dutch Leopard 2A6. Given that we have good kits of all the Leopard 1 & 2 variants plus the Gepard from different main stream manufactures it seems strange that Kagero have included 2 builds of the same kit, even more so as the Title is Leopard 1 & 2 I would have expected to see a build of both types, not 2 of the later. Review sample courtesy of
  6. Romanian Armoured Forces in WWII Library of Armed Conflicts 05 ISBN : 9788395157530 Kagero via Casemate UK Roumania officially opted for a neutral stance at the outset of WWII. However the Kingdom had traditionally looked to the UK and France as it allies in Europe. The developing situation in 1940 with the fall of France and maybe Britain, along with a rise in Fascism led the Kingdom to look for an alliance with Germany, however they were unaware that German had already promised parts of Roumania to the Russians. With things going badly for them at home they officially joined the Axis in November 1940. They would become the largest force from outside Germany to participate in the invasion of Russia. When the Allies started bombing Romania, and with the Russians closing in popular support for the Axis began to fail and King Michael lead a coup d'état in August 1944 to take back control of the country and switch sides to the Allied cause. Despite this the country was largely dismantled after the war. They lost territory to Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union, but regained Northern Transylvania from Hungary. As well as fielding some indigenous designs the Armoured force comprised of mainly captured equipment, or that imported from Germany. There is a wealth of black & white photos of the forces in action and details of equipment they used, most of it indigenous to the country. This indigenous Armour is also examined in the book. The book also examines foreign vehicles use. This volume is A5 soft back in format and an 125 pages. Conclusion This book should provide readers with a better understanding of the Armoured forces of Romania and they equipment they used. The wealth of photographs, together with drawings and colour plates will be of great use to the modeller, and of great interest to anyone studying one of the seemingly less well known Axis powers. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  7. Greek Armoured Cruiser Georgios Averof Kagero Super Drawings in 3D Georgios Averof is a modified Pisa-class armoured cruiser built in Italy for the Royal Hellenic Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. The ship served as the Greek flagship during most of the first half of the century. Although popularly known as a battleship in Greek, she is in fact an armoured cruiser the only ship of this type still in existence. The ship was initially ordered by the Italian Regia Marina, but budgetary constraints led Italy to offer it for sale to international customers. With the bequest of the wealthy benefactor George Averof as down payment, Greece acquired the ship in 1909. Launched in 1910, Averof arrived in Greece in September 1911. The most modern warship in the Aegean at the time, she served as the flagship of admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis in the First Balkan War, and played a major role in the establishment of Greek predominance over the Ottoman Navy and the incorporation of many Aegean islands to Greece. The ship continued to serve in World War I, the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, and the interwar period, receiving a modernization in France in 1925 to 1927. Following the German invasion of Greece in April 1941, Averof participated in the exodus of the Greek fleet to Egypt. Hopelessly obsolete and prone to mechanical breakdowns, she nevertheless spent the next three years as a convoy escort and guard ship in the Indian Ocean and at the Suez Canal. In October 1944, she carried the Greek government in exile back to liberated Athens, after the withdrawal of the German army. In 1952, she was decommissioned, before being moved to Poros, where she was berthed from 1956 to 1983. From 1984 until the present day, she has been reinstated on active duty as museum ship in the Naval Tradition Park in Faliro. After maintenance in late 2017, she achieved seaworthiness state once again, allowing the ship to sail (towed) accompanied by Greek frigate Kountouriotis (F-462) to Thessaloniki Greece where she received more than 130,000 visitors over her 53-day stay. This is one of the few books in this burgeoning series where you can actually go and visit the ship in question. Some might question the fact that she is called the oldest armoured cruiser in existence, and point to the USS Olympia, but the Olympia is actually classed as a protected cruiser rather than armoured. As with the other books in the series there is a potted history of the ship, covering six pages including the following sections:- Overview Design Ships Propulsion Protection Armament Career The rest of the fifty nine pages are filled with the beautifully rendered 3D drawings we have got know so well in this series, covering every part of the ships structure, weapons, boats and sundry equipment. The drawings are really clear and perfect for the maritime modeller to see all the useful details that could help make that masterpiece that we all strive for. This release does include drawings for below the waterline, unlike a lot of other books in the series, so perfect for those of us who build full hull. An A1 folded sheet of line drawings is also included and this contains 3 views of the ship overall, in 1:300 scale, while on the reverse there are bow and stern drawings in 1:300, plus numerous detail drawings of equipment in various scales between 1:50 and 1:100, giving more detail to the information hungry modeller. Of particular interest are the distinctive radio aerials with their spreaders Conclusion Following the now tried and tested formula that Kagero have made their own, this book is superbly produced and with the subject matter being one of the most good looking battleships, it will become a must have for any maritime modellers. It will be interesting to see if anyone will release a kit of this interesting and long lived ship, surely a company like Combrig will give it a go at some point. Review sample courtesy of
  8. USS Astoria Kagero Top Drawings The USS Astoria (CL/CA-34) was the lead ship of the Astoria-class of heavy cruisers (later renamed the New Orleans-class) of the United States Navy that participated in both the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, but was then sunk in August 1942, at the Battle of Savo Island. Kagero have just released this book in their Top Drawing series. The softback book has just two pages containing the history and specifications of the Astoria, with a further fifteen pages of line drawings covering the whole ship from stem to stern. Each sheet contains detailed drawings of various parts of the ships structure, weapons systems, radars, aircraft and other, smaller parts. Each drawing is beautifully done with some fine detail that would normally have been missed in other titles. The drawings have obviously been done from some excellent references which have resulted in a very useful book for the detail addict. Most the drawings are in 1:200 scale with a few in 1:50 for larger detail information, making it perfect for those contemplating a scratchbuild, or super detailing the Trumpeter 1:700 kit. Also included with the book are two A2 sheets of plans. The first sheet has on one side a three view of the ships as she was in 1934, while on the other side is another three view, but as she was in 1942. The second sheet contains views of the hull, main and upper decks and a side view with annotations on where the armament was located, on the reverse side is yet another three view of the ship as she was in 1942, but in full colour. Conclusion While this is a rather slim tome, it is still a useful reference book to have in the library. It is certainly an interesting subject to choose, especially as most of the class were either sunk or damaged during the battle of Savo Island. While there isn’t currently a kit available in my favoured scale, I’m sure it will be useful for those with the Trumpeter kit. Review sample courtesy of
  9. TopDrawings 59 - Heinkel He.111 Vol.2 (9788365437365) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The Heinkel He.111 was one of the most common sights over BoB era WWII Britain, and it remains popular with modellers today. We have kits in all scales for example from Airfix in 1:72, through the new ICM kits in 1:48, and the older 1:32 kits from Revell. 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 what is referred to as a poster, but is actually an atmospheric A4 print of a camouflaged He.111 releasing a V1 bomb during a night mission, painted by Arkadiusz Wróbel. 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 one at the rear are devoted to advertising the rest of the Kagero range, but in addition you get two sheets of loose A3 plans printed on both sides in 1:48 and 1:72 of the H series with the glazed nose replacing the stepped nose originally fitted to the early aircraft. The first half of the bound plans show the variants up to the H-18 and includes Hs.293, Bv.246 and V1 carrying airframes, plus torpedo and balloon-cutter versions. The four pages of profiles show five H airframes, plus an overhead plan on the third page (and another two on the rear cover), after which the plans begin again, taking it up to the H-22 with detail diagrams of various points of interest on the airframe, munitions carried and of course the awesome Zwilling. The final section of the plans shows the evolution of the aircraft through the H series, with differences marked out in grey and captions discussing the nature of the changes. The most unusual of these variants for me was the EDL 131 equipped remote turret that was fitted to some H-22s instead of the partially glazed top gun. I now have a hankering to convert one of my 111s to this mark. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that likes to compare their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, with the print a nice bonus that could be mounted and displayed on a wall to annoy your family. We reviewed Volume 1 here in the summer, which covered the earlier models. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  10. Rogožarski IK-3 Monographs Special Edition in 3D ISBN : 9788365437808 Kagero via Casemate UK By the mid 1930s it was evident that the monoplane designs of the time were going to supersede the current biplanes. This was evident to the then Yugoslav Forces. The Rogožarski IK3 was to be low wing monoplane designed by Ljubomir Ilić, Kosta Sivčev and Slobodan Zrnić as a successor to the high winged Ikarus IK-2. The main armament was to be a hub firing 20mm cannon augmented by two fuselage mounted & synchronised Machine Guns. Due to delays only 6 aircraft were operational by the time German Forces invaded in 1941 out of a planned 48. 2 Aircraft survived the invasion and were destined for the puppet Independent State Of Croatia, however due to subterfuge by the resistance the Germans were fooled into scrapping these. The IK-3 design would later form the basis of the post war Ikarus S-49 following the 1948 Tito/Stalin split. This book from Kagero has 182 pages, 194 colour profiles, 130 archival photos, 28 modelling plans, and a fold out A2 double sided set of plans. The 3D drawings are especially detailed. Conclusion This is very much a complete look at largely forgotten Rogožarski IK3. The aircraft was a good one but produced too late, and in too few a number to make any difference. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  11. TopDrawings 57 – Messerschmitt Bf.110 Vol.1 (9788365437990) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The Messerschmitt Bf.110 was a pre-war design for a heavy fighter, but stayed on as one of the most common sights over BoB era WWII Britain and beyond, soldiering on to the end of the war, especially on the Eastern front despite its shortcomings. We have kits in all scales for example from Airfix in 1:72, older Revell and newer Eduard kits in 1:48, and the older Dragon kit in 1:32. 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 pre-cut vinyl canopy masks for the Eduard kit in 1:72 and 1:48 scales. 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, but in addition you get a sheet of loose A2 plans printed on both sides in 1:48 of the B C and D series as well as lots of wings and fuselage cross-sections and a couple of scrap drawings showing additional details. The first half of the bound plans show the variants up to the mid C range, The four pages of profiles show three notable C-1, C-2 and C-4 airframes, plus an additional D-0 and D-1 on the back cover. The plans continue with D-1, D-2 and D-3 variants with scrap diagrams for other equipment fits, with the final three pages showing the evolution of the aircraft through D-3, with differences marked out in grey and captions discussing the nature of the changes. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that likes to compare their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, also for those with a terrible memory for variations between types, with the masks a useful bonus if you happen to model in those scales. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  12. Russian Battleship Marat Kagero Super Drawings in 3D In the interwar period the battleship "Marat" was considered a symbol of the naval power of the Soviet Union. She was the most-described and filmed ship of the Land of the Soviets. In her 40-year service, rich in events, she survived four wars, but only in one of them - the civil war - she used her main guns in an engagement with enemy warships. In other conflicts, she served as a monitor rather than a battleship, shelling mainly land targets and carrying out counter-battery fire. At the end, she fell victim of the destructive power of German dive bombers. From that moment, she was a battleship only on paper. Mutilated and devoid of propulsion, she was still biting at the Germans from her remaining guns, and after the war, young pupils of the maritime craft appeared on board. Though it sounds absurd, even her reconstruction as a battleship was considered. This misconceived idea was not fortunately realised and the wreck - because it became one in the final period of service - finally went for scrap. This latest release from Kagero flows the now familiar format, and quite thick for one of these titles, with quite a long section on the history of the ship, covering ten pages, including:- From Petropavlovsk to Marat Marat’s Modernisation From Marat to Petropavlovsk Another planned Modernisation Extraordinary Events World War Two 22 June 1941 The Last Years Of Service Listing of Marat’s Commanding Officers during World War Two The next fifty nine pages are taken up with the wonderfully rendered 3D drawings that this series has become known for. Although with this release quite a bit of the lower hull is also shown, particularly the strange shape of the bow, rudder and propellers. The renderings show every part of the ship both in wide angle and close up which show some amazing detail not seen in other publications. With the ship covered there are also numerous drawings of individual bits of equipment, including some fabulous drawings of the secondary turrets, primary and secondary AA weapons, and the ships steam pinnaces. The book also includes a single A1 sheet with five views of the ship in 1:250. On the reverse there are detailed drawings of the secondary armament turrets, rangefinders, 37mm AA guns, machine guns, main turrets and ships boats in scales ranging from 1:50 to 1:200. Conclusion As we’ve come to know what to expect from this series I can’t really say much more, other than if you’re a maritime fan you really should have them all in your reference library. For the modeller you have the superb Zvezda 1:350 kit which this title will be a great resource for your build.. Review sample courtesy of
  13. TopDrawings 56 - Heinkel He.111 Vol.1 (9788365437969) Kagero Publishing via Casemate UK The Heinkel He.111 was one of the most common sights over BoB era WWII Britain, and it remains popular with modellers today. We have kits in all scales for example from Airfix in 1:72, through the new ICM kits in 1:48, and the older 1:32 kits from Revell. 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 canopy masks for the Airfix kit in 1:72, and a 1:48 set of balkenkreuz markings worn on the wings and fuselage of most German bombers. 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 24 pages, although three at the rear are devoted to advertising the rest of the Kagero range, but in addition you get three sheets of loose A3 plans printed on both sides in 1:48 and 1:72 of the B and F series as well as the more familiar P series with the glazed nose replacing the stepped nose originally fitted to the early aircraft. The first half of the bound plans show the variants up to the G-3 "Augsburg" passenger aircraft, which I hadn't previously been aware of. The four pages of profiles show three notable P airframes, plus an overhead plan on the third page, after which the plans begin again with detail diagrams of various points of interest on the airframe. The final section of the plans shows the evolution of the aircraft through gestation and its early years up to the P-4, with differences marked out in grey and captions discussing the nature of the changes. Another profile of a well-known P-2 airframe is printed on the back cover for good measure. Conclusion These books are essential for the modeller that likes to compare their models against scale plans, and wants them to be as accurate as possible, with the masks a useful bonus if you happen to model in those scales. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  14. The Habsburgs' Wings 1914 Vol 1 ISBN : 9788365437792 Kagero & Company via Casemate UK When we think of the Air War of WWI we initially think of The Squadrons of The Royal Flying Corps in battles with the Jastas of Imperial German Flying Corps over the trenches of the Western Front; of the Air Craft of The Royal Naval Air Service operating against the Marineflieger. WWI through was just as the name suggest a World War and the Air War was carried on in many different places. One such forgotten front in aviation terms was the Eastern front, and in particular the Balkans. This book aims to re-address this by looking at Austro-Hungarian Aviation in the Great War. Volume 1 will look at the first Campaigns of WWII. The Book looks at The Birth of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force, and the Order of Battle of military aviation of Austro-Hungary in 1914. It is A5 Hardback in format with 154 pages. There are many black and white photographs of the period along with some colour ones of paintings and the present day geography. Conclusion This publication brings the untold story of early Austro-Hungarian Air operations to light, something which many of us probably have never even heard of. The text is well written and there are plenty of photographs in the book many of which have probably never been seen before. Highly recommended to the WWI fan, and fans of the early days of aviation alike. We await with interest to see what Vol 2 brings. Review sample courtesy of
  15. Guerrilla Nightmare Luftwaffe Stukas at War Against Tito's Partisans in Yugoslavia 1941-1945 ISBN : 9788365437785 Kagero & Company via Casemate UK The Ju-87 Stuka was conceived as a dive bomber in the early 1930s and proved itself in the Spanish Civil war, then later in the Blitzkrieg in Western Europe. However the Battle of Britain would show that the aircraft was vulnerable to the more modern fighters of that time. As such it was moved to areas when the Luftwaffe had less or no aerial opposition. One of these such areas was the Balkans. The Germans were fighting a bitter campaign against Tito in the area, and for lightly armed partisan fighters with no air cover and only light AA the aircraft was truly a nightmare. The aircraft was accurate in delivery of its bomb load and due to its ruggedness could literally be based any where, typically operating from improvised airfields. Despite Allied air operations over the Balkans the Stuka was used right up until the end of hostilities, with one aircraft even being captured and used by the partisans against the Germans. The book looks at all aspects of the operation of Stukas over the Balkans from Supporting ground operations, anti-shipping duties, basing of units; and even towing of Parachute unit gliders. The book is A4 Hardback and 149 pages long. It is illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. At the back are ten pages of colour plates showing profiles of the aircraft involved. Conclusion This publication brings the story of Stuka in one of the lesser remembered fronts of WWII into the fore. The research shows through and we have a book which is well written, plus loaded with photographs which brings the text to life. Highly recommended to the WWII history buff and the aviation modeller alike. Review sample courtesy of
  16. Junkers Ju-88 Kagero Monographs No 64 3D Edition Having reviewed the first two volumes on the Ju-88 HERE and HERE, I thought that this volume would cover other variants, it seems I was wrong, again. Whereas the first volume was mostly about the development and issuing of aircraft to squadrons, the second volume with the aircraft's participation from the phoney war, 3rd September 1939 up to the end of the fighting in France in June 1940. This volume deals with the development of the bomber and reconnaissance versions and their use in the Battle of Britain from 10th July to 30th September 1940. That said it is still a very good book, with lots of information on the actions in which the aircraft was used, losses and general info on the maintenance and servicing at the time. The text, which takes up seventy seven pages of the book, is accompanied by lots of period photographs from France and over Britain including those shot down whilst on missions over the UK. There are some idiosyncrasies in the photographs though, in that they are well out of chronological order, if the order of this series of books is anything to go by. There are photographs of Mistel aircraft, aircraft in Italy and North Africa, but these are not actually mentioned in the text. What is mentioned, and is very interesting, is the actual reports and interviews from the pilots about their missions. The rest of the book is filled with the fabulous 3D drawings that Kagero have become noted for, with some real close up detail of many of the aircraft equipment and fittings. It is these drawings that will probably be of most use to the modeller in helping get the most detail into a model, although the photographs can also help in working out aircraft codes, area of use and the dates in determining to model a particular aircraft. Conclusion The history of the Ju-88 is continued and expanded upon in this volume which, when accompanied with the photographs and 3D drawings makes this book another must have for the Luftwaffe historian and modeller alike.
  17. German Type XXI U-Boat Kagero Super Drawings in 3D One of the most influential designs in the history of the submarine, the Type XXI was to set standards until the introduction of the nuclear boat a decade later. Though both closed-cycle turbines and diesels had been introduced, both still needed development, so a stopgap high-power electric boat was produced, using mostly established technology. With the lower pressure hull packed with high power density cells, the Type XXIs could, for the first time, develop more power submerged than surfaced. Their main propulsion motors were supplemented by low power units for silent manoeuvring. The design was suggested at a conference in Paris in November 1942 as an alternative to the Walter turbine boats which were taking so long to develop, and by June 1943 the preliminary design work was complete. The first Type XXI was built in June 1944. Like that in the Type XVII, the pressure hull of the Type XXI was of ‘double-bubble’ cross section, though externally framed. It was prefabricated in eight sections at a variety of sites, being brought together for final assembly at the shipyard. The external framing increased volume and facilitated the addition of a hydro-dynamically clean outer skin. Construction was all-welded for a target of five boats per week in an ambitious programme to produce an eventual 1,500 units (U-2500 to U-4000). Most other submarine programmes were curtailed or cancelled to this end. The Type XXIs were designed to spend their full patrol time submerged, so the snort was used mainly to run diesels for battery recharge. Habitability was greatly improved, with air-conditioning and air-regeneration apparatus. The only guns were paired automatic weapons set into the forward and after profiles of the elongated fin. A combination of active and passive sonar was used to provide a full torpedo-firing solution without recourse to the periscope. Additional advantages of this type of U-boat were quick deep-diving capability, a fast and silent speed and rapid torpedo reloading. Two proposed but un-built variants, the Type XXIB and Type XXIC, would have increased the number of torpedo tubes from six to 12 and 18 respectively by the insertion of extra sections into the hull. Fortunately for the Allies, the Type XXI never became fully operational before the end of WW2 . Only one Type XXI U-Boat (U-2511) – of the total of 131 commissioned – began with the first operation one week before the German surrender. Several non-operational U-boats were sunk during the evacuation voyages from the ports in northern Germany, which were threatened by Allied troops, to Norway; all by aircraft and in home waters. This is the latest book in Kageros series in 3D format with the first seven pages describing the design, propulsion, armour, armament, and service. The rest of the book is filled with the highly detailed 3D renderings these books have become renowned for, covering every part of the hull, tower, armament, fixtures and fittings. With this title though, there is also a full set of renderings for the interior of the boat as well as separate pages showing the torpedoes, including their interiors, and engines. As usual the drawings are beautifully done with some excellent views for us modellers in showing items you wouldn’t normally notice, or even see. In total there are fifty three pages of renderings, giving a pretty comprehensive insight into the U-Boats shape and equipment. The book also comes with a fold out A2 sheet with multi views of the boat in a rather strange 1:150 and the more normal 1:350 scales on one side, while on the reverse there are line drawings of the interior sections of the boat, in no particular scale. Conclusion While the other books in the series have been superb, the inclusion of the interior renderings raises this book to another level. I’m not sure about the colours used and further research will be required, but I imagine they are pretty close and would be a perfect companion to those modellers building the Revell 1:144 kit with interior as well as the more normal kits of this revolutionary submarine. Review sample courtesy of
  18. Soviet ASW Cruiser Moskva Kagero Top Drawings The work on the design of future long-range active anti-aircraft and anti-submarine ship - as it was initially determined - was conducted by the Leningrad CKB-17 in close cooperation with OKB-938 led by N.I. Kamov. The author of the ship's design, which was given the number 1123 and the code "Kondor”, was A.S. Sawiczew, and from 1967 - A.W. Marinich. The main task of the ship was to search and destroy American nuclear submarines carrying "Polaris” ballistic missiles in the Antarctic Ocean and Barents Sea. The Moskva-class helicopter carriers were the first operational Soviet Navy aircraft carriers, called helicopter carriers by the Soviet Navy. The Soviet designation was Project 1123 Kondor. These ships were laid down at Nikolayev South (Shipyard No.444). The lead vessel was launched in 1965 and named Moskva; she entered commission two years later. Moskva was followed by Leningrad, which was commissioned in late 1968; there were no further vessels built, reportedly due to the poor handling of the ships in rough seas. Both were conventionally powered. The Moskvas were not true "aircraft carriers" in that they did not carry any fixed-wing aircraft; the air wing was composed entirely of helicopters. They were designed primarily as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels, and her weapons and sensor suite was optimized against the nuclear submarine threat. Their strategic role was to defend the Soviet ballistic missile submarine bases against incursions by Western attack submarines, forming the flagships of an ASW task force. 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 every part of the ship. Of most interest is the drawings of the internals of the hanger and missile magazines, which while not much use to most modellers could make for an interesting scratchbuild. It is obvious that a lot of time has been taken to get the drawings this good and accurate. As well as the larger diagrams, all drawn to 1:200 scale, are smaller drawings giving accurate details on most of the ships weapons systems and radars in 1:100 scale. In addition to the booklet, there are two A2 plans. Sheet 1 is in full colour with top, profile and fore/aft views on one side, in a 1:400 scale on one side and similar line drawings on the reverse side. Strangely enough Sheet 2 has the same line drawings as sheet 1, but on the reverse are a pair of side view line drawings, the upper of which is full hull and shows the stowage for the helicopters, while the lower profile is annotated, describing the ships weapons systems, radars and sonar. Conclusion I’ve always liked the rather odd shape of the Moskvas and being the Soviets first real attempt at aviation at sea, they were of interest to a young Royal Navy engineer, as they appeared to be so heavily armed. While this book/booklet is not the thickest around, it does contain lots of useful information that a modeller can use, especially updating eh rather old Airfix 1:600 kit, building the Combrig 1:700 kit, or keeping it in the library patiently waiting for that 1:350 kit that will surely be produced by a major manufacturer. Review sample courtesy of
  19. IJN Destroyer Fubuki Kagero Super Drawings in 3D The IJN’s plans called for 24 Fubuki-class destroyers. These were produced in two groups of ten, the Special Type I and the Special Type II which were distinguished by several technical differences. Type A turret, while the Type II had the Type B turret. The last four ships that were to be produced featured so many changes from the original design that they were redesignated as the Akatsuki-class. Despite the advantages of the Fubuki-class, it was not without problems. The design was overweight from the outset, which caused serious stability issues. There were also concerns with the structural integrity of the design. On September 26, 1935, the IJN fleet ran into a typhoon at sea. Two Special Type destroyers lost their bows, three more suffered severe structural damage, and six others had hull damage. As a result, from November 1935 to 1938 all of the Fubuki-class were sent back to the shipyards for hull strengthening and weight reduction. A ballast keel and an additional 40 tons of ballast were added. To lighten the topside of the ship, whose weight was the partial source of instability, a number of measures were taken: the bridge was reduced in size, smoke stacks were shortened, the number of torpedo reloads reduced, and magazine storage for the main guns was reduced. The result of these efforts was that the displacement was increased to 2,090 tons and top speed reduced to 34 knots, but the stability concerns had successfully been addressed. During the Pacific War, the Fubuki saw extensive service. For example, the Shikinami, which was assigned to Destroyer Division 19, was responsible for finishing off the cruiser USS Houston at the Battle of Sunda Strait during early 1942, participated in the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal from November 12-15, 1942, survived the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in 1943, and was finally sunk by the submarine USS Growler on September 12, 1944. Another Fubuki-class, the Amagiri, was the ship responsible for sinking John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 on August 2, 1943. It was later sunk by a mine in the Makassar Strait on April 23, 1944. As the war progressed, surviving Fubuki were modified to increase their survivability. Anti-aircraft armament was increased first to 2 x 13mm twin mounts, then to 2 x 25mm triple mounts, then to even more 25mm triple mounts, with some destroyers apparently being armed with as many as fifteen triple 25mm mounts. Seven of the destroyers were also eventually fitted with No. 22 radars, but the first was not installed on the Yugiri until November 1943, long after the tide of the war had shifted in favour of the Allies. Eighteen of the class were sunk- six to Allied submarines, seven to aerial attack, three to Allied surface ships, and two to mines. Only one of the destroyers, the Ushio, survived the war (another destroyer, the Miyuki, was sunk in a collision in 1934). 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:- Overview Design, Propulsion and Armour Armaments Service Record 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. I particularly like the renderings of the torpedo launchers and the turrets and ships boats, plus the interior of the bridge with the paraphernalia contained therein. She certainly was a very good looking ship, even with the unbalanced main armament with one turret forward and two aft. For even more detail, especially for the rigging, 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 fore and aft views, ships fixtures, such as bridge, funnels, AA platforms and radar, most of which are in 1:100 or 1:50 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 Tamiya, Pit-Road and Yamashita Hobby kits in 1:700. Review sample courtesy of
  20. IJN Heavy Cruiser Maya Kagero Super Drawings in 3D Maya was one of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, active in World War II with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). These were the largest and most modern cruisers in the Japanese fleet, and were intended to form the backbone of a multipurpose long-range strike force. These ships were fast, powerful and heavily armed, with enough firepower to hold their own against any cruiser in any other navy in the world. Her sister ships were Takao, Atago and Chōkai. Following the defeat in the Guadalcanal campaign, at the beginning of 1943, the Navy Technical Department and The High Command of the Imperial Japanese Navy strived to increase the defensive potential of all their warships. Apart from standard refits of the majority of the Imperial Japanese Navy units, a plan was adopted, which called for reconstruction of two "Takao” class heavy cruisers into anti-aircraft units. Through a coincidence only the Maya underwent such conversion. On 22 October, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Maya was assigned to Sentai-5 with sister ships Atago, Takao and Chōkai together with the battleships Yamato, Musashi and Nagato. At 05:33 on 23 October, during Battle of the Palawan Passage, Maya's sister-ships Atago and Takao were torpedoed by the submarine USS Darter. Atago sank in approximately 18 minutes. Twenty minutes later, submarine USS Dace fired six torpedoes at Maya, mistaking it for a Kongō-class battleship; Maya was struck by four torpedoes portside: one in the forward chain locker, another opposite No. 1 gun turret, a third in No. 7 boiler room and the last in the aft engine room. Powerful secondary explosions followed immediately, and by 06:00 Maya was dead in the water and listing heavily to port. She sank five minutes later, taking 336 officers and men to the bottom, including her captain Akishimo rescued 769 men, and transferred them to the battleship Musashi, which was sunk the following day; 143 of Maya's crewmen were lost with Musashi. Therefore, from the final crew of 1,105 crewmen, 479 were lost. She was removed from the navy list on 20 December 1944 This is the latest book from Kagero in their Super Drawings in 3D, showing the cruiser in her anti-aircraft configuration. Like the previous books it has a brief history and the ships specifications at the beginning. This includes the following:- Operational History Period before outbreak of war The War between December 1941 to July 1942 August 1942 to December 1942 January 1943 to July 1943 August 1943 to March 1944 April 1944 until sinking Operational Commanders Evaluation of Anti-Aircraft Cruiser conversion Authors Note Bibliography The rest of the eighty one pages are filled with the beautifully drawn 3D renderings we have come to expect from this series. 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. There are also some good renderings of the lower hull, especially aft around the propellers and rudder. The fore and aft views really show the quite odd shape of the hull as it splays out from the waterline and the massive anti-torpedo bulges. I particularly like the renderings of some of the AA gun mountings with the crewmembers in place and in an action setting, which might come in handy for a super detailer modeller. For even more detail, especially for the rigging, Kagero have included a double sided A2 fold out sheet with a five view on one side, in 1:350 drawings of the Mainmast, Bridge Tower, Forward Turrets bird’s eye view and a view down the starboard side, and Midships section showing the AA gun deck, in no particular scale. Conclusion This is a great addition to any maritime modeller’s collection and continues this superb series of books. 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 beautiful Aoshima 1:350 scale kit, if you can get hold of one. Review sample courtesy of
  21. IJN Destroyer Shimakaze Kagero Super Drawings in 3D 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 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:- History Description Armament Operational history Wreck The rest of the seventy five 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 light AA weaponry and ships boats, plus the interior of the bridge with the paraphernalia contained therein. She certainly was a very good looking ship, even with the unbalanced main armament with one turret forward and two aft. For even more detail, especially for the rigging, 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 fixtures, such as bridge, funnels, AA platforms and radar, all to no particular scale. 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 beautiful Hasegawa or Fujimi 1:350 scale kits or the Tamiya and Pit Road kits in 1:700. Review sample courtesy of
  22. Vought F4U Corsair Kagero TopDrawings One of the latest books in their TopDrawing series, this fifteen page softback is filled with line drawings and a selection of colour plates. Concentrating on the XF4U-1, F4U-1, F4U-1A and F4U-2 models each drawing is annotated, describing the differences between each model, although admittedly some of the differences, particularly when comparing drawings on the same page are difficult to this untrained eye to make out. The line drawings are very nicely done though, and show all the access panels, panel lines and other details. All the line drawings and colour plates are in 1:48, with the exception of the drawings of the engine, instrument panels and weapons, some of which are in 1:24 and 1:32 scales. The book also comes with an A3 pull out showing the upper and lower views of a F4U-1 and 1A on one side and a F4U-2 on the other. A nice addition is the small mask sheet to be used with 1:72 and 1:48 scale models. Conclusion This is a very nice, well laid out book. As with other books in the series, this one should be used along with other reference material to ensure the accuracy of your model. Review sample courtesy of
  23. German S-38 Schnellboot Kagero Super Drawings in 3D Identified by the British sometimes as an "E-boat" (Enemy boat), the German Schnellboot, or S-Boot, differed considerably from it's Royal Navy counterpart the MTB (Motor Torpedo Boat). The S-boat was built mainly from wood upon metal frames and received a round-bilged hull form. The hull was based on an advanced design principle of the time called the Lürssen effect. This was a design that reduced the wave-making resistance of the boat when at speed. In the case of the Schnellboots, this effect was provided by two small rudders mounted on each side of the main rudder and turned outboard. These rudders force the water under the hull outward, lifting the stern, thus reducing drag, and lowering the wake height, which “requires less energy, allowing the vessel to go faster.” The effect was discovered by the German shipbuilding company Lürssen Werft based in Bremen-Vegesack. The most famous of these Schnellboots was the S-38 version. Although the Kriegsmarine only produced in 100 boats of this type, it captured many ship-loving and modeller’s imagination with its sleek lines, torpedo armament and deadly rear mounted 4cm Bofors guns, it had a length of 35 meters and a displacement, full load, of over 100 tons. Thanks to its 12 cylinders Daimler Benz engines the S-38 was able to reach a speed of 39.5 knots. These Schnellboots were primarily used to patrol the Baltic Sea and the English Channel in order to intercept shipping heading for the English ports in the south and east. As such, they were up against Royal Navy and Commonwealth Motor Gun Boats (MGBs), Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs), Motor Launches, frigates and destroyers. They were also transferred in small numbers to the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea by river and land transport. This is the latest book in Kageros series in 3D format with the first seven pages describing the design, propulsion, armour, armament, and service. The rest of the book is filled with the highly detailed 3D renderings these books have become renowned for, covering every part of the main decks, superstructure, armament, fixtures and fittings. As usual the drawings are beautifully done with some excellent views for us modellers in showing items you wouldn’t normally notice, or even see. Although stated, as showing the S-38, the craft shown in the drawings is actually a S-38b with the Kalotte, (Skull Cap), armoured bridge surround, which gave the crew a certain amount of protection. There are some good comparison drawings showing the different weapons fitted to the S-38b and the S-100. In total there are sixty two pages of renderings, giving a pretty comprehensive insight into the boats shape and equipment. The book comes with a fold out A2 sheet with multi views of the boats in a rather strange 1:75 scale, as well as detail drawings of the various guns fitted, in 1:50 scale. Conclusion This is another great addition to the series. With the Revell 1:72 and Italeri’s magnificent 1:35 kits released, this book will be a real boon to modellers, and also those enthusiasts of these superb boats who fought their war in the narrow seas. Review sample courtesy of
  24. Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (1943-45) The Aviation of the Italian Social Republic ISBN : 9788365437709 Kagero via Casemate UK While there has been much written about the Luftwaffe in WWII, not much is out there concerning their other Allies, even the Italians. This book concentrates on the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) which was the Air Force still under the control of Mussolini after the 1943 Armistice. As at the same time there was the Italian Co-belligerent Air Force, or Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana who flew for the Allies. Its worth pointing out that the ANR amd ACI never met each other in combat. The early part of the book gives a look at the origins of the ANR, the ANR Fighter Groups and their aircraft. As well as using Italian aircraft the ANR were supplied with Bf 109G-6s from the Luftwaffe. The book then looks at Torpedo bomber, and conventional bomber units of the ANR, as well as the transport arm, and other units. Lesser know subjects such as their rank structure and unit markings are also included towards the end of the book. Conclusion If you're interested in the lesser known Air Forces, or the WWII Axis, this is an interesting book that should give you some hours of entertainment, and remain on hand as a reference for the modeller or historian. This is now the third of the "Library of Armed Conflicts" books I have reviewed and it is turning out to be a good series. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  25. Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate Kagero TopDrawings The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate is, in my opinion one of the nicest looking Japanese fighters of WWII. Having built a number of kits, mainly 1:48 I hadn’t realised there were so many differences between the different variants. This, the latest book in their TopDrawing series, shows these differences in clear, well drawn diagrams, all in 1:48 scale, with additional details, such as weapons etc in 1:24 scale. There are 15 pages in total, with four pages in the centre of colour plates with side views of two aircraft per page. To the rear of the book there are two pages dedicated to showing the differences through shading and annotations, from the early Ki-84-013 to the last variant, the Ki-84 Tei. Also included with the book are a set of masks, for 1:72, 1:48 and 1:32 scale kits. There is also an A2 pull out sheet with side a d front views of the Ki-84 Ko and Hei on one side, plus top and bottom views on the other, all in 1:32 scale, plus another pullout sheet, this time in A3 showing top and bottom views of the Ki-84 Ko on one side and the Hei on the other, in 1:48 scale. Conclusion These are great little books for modellers, and while they aren’t exhaustive in their information, they do help show the differences throughout the production run. As with other books in the series, this one should be used along with other reference material to ensure the accuracy of your model. Review sample courtesy of
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