Guideline Publications Panavia Tornado ADV Warpaint No.113

[Mike]

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

[stringbag]

Looks interesting Mike; and a well timed release coinciding with the new Revell  F3

 

Chris.

[Mike]

It's a cracker Chris - and I bet the release was no coincidence

[Harley John]

That looks very good. Think I know what my Christmas Book tokens will be spent on.