Valiant Wings Publishing Airframe Extra No.10 The Battle of Midway 1942 - Valiant Wings Publishing

[Julien]

Airframe Extra
No.10 The Battle of Midway 1942

ISBN: 9781912932054

Valiant Wings Publishing

 

Many modellers these days seem to like building subjects based on a theme, which can often be historical events. This series of books from Valiant Wings will look at specific areas, and events in the history of aerial warfare with this in mind. Each title will cover the history and details details of these event. This volume contains period photographs, and colour artwork from Richard J Caruana. More importantly to the modeller each will contain kit builds; this one has builds in 1/144, 1/72, & 1/48. These are from modellers; Steve A. Evans and Libor Jekl. The book is A4 soft cover format, very well printed with clear text, good artwork and clear build photographs.

The tenth book in this series covers the Battle of Midway. This occurred only 6 months after the attack on Pearl Harbour, the plan by Japan to decimate the rest of the US Navy in the Pacific. Due in a large part to US Intelligence breaking Japanese code the US Navy knew where the battle was to take place. While the US Did loose 1 carrier the Japanese lost 4, and were not in a position to replace these. The battle is generally considered to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific. 

 

 

The colour artwork features many aircraft taking part from both sides.

 

 

 

 

The six models featured in this volume are;

 

• 1/48th SB2U-3 Vinicator (Academy)
• 1/72nd B5N2 Kate (Airfix)
• 1/48th TBF/TBM-1 Avenger (Italeri)
• 1/72nd SBD-3 Dauntless (Hasegawa)
• 1/144th A6M2b Zero (Sweet)
• 1/72nd F4F-4 Wildcat (Airfix)

 

Conclusion
This is a great ninth book in the series from Valiant Wings. They are to be congratulated for producing this series of books with the modeller directly in mind. Highly Recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[metromanbw]

Not the turning point.  Huge, yes - but Japan still conducted offensive ops after this.  Guadalcanal with it's associated carrier battles was the decisive event since it (1) forever decimated their naval aviator ranks, forcing the carriers back to home waters or Truk sans airwing  And (2) had the Marines lines around Henderson been overrun and Lunga retaken Rabaul could have transferred aircraft to regain local air superiority.   Emilys and Mavis' conducting recon, etc from Tulagi area towards Noumea and Espiritu Santo would unveil USN movements.   Imagine SoPac facing Zuikaku, Shokaku, Junyo and other carriers whilst in support range of the airfield formerly known as Henderson...   whole different game - this is what makes the 'Canal the decisive/pivotal event in the Pacific theater.  I still like the book, wish they'd spent less time on practice scale kits.

[Julien]

12 hours ago, metromanbw said:

, wish they'd spent less time on practice scale kits.

The kits is one of the whole points of the book series.