MA Publications Airkraft Modelling Guide Fighters & Attack Aircraft of the Vietnam War (9780995546080) MA Publications

[Julien]

Airkraft Modelling Guide

Fighters & Attack Aircraft of the Vietnam War (9780995546080)

MA Publications

 

 

The Vietnam war saw the heavy use of aircraft and is one of the most modelled with lots of available kits, and source material. All braches of the US Military fielded aircraft in the war as well as their allies, and both armies of Vietnam. This new magazine style publication from MA publication give us a look at different aircraft use and 19 builds across the two most popular scales of 1/72 & 1/48., plus an odd 1:100 kit,  There are information panels along side each build and a small history section at the beginning of the book (through one photo of Crusaders on a bombing run is actually taken in the 1970s over a range in the US! The builds featured are;

 

1. US Navy F-4J - 1:48 Eduard (Academy kit)
2. F-104 Starfighter - 1:48 Hasegawa F-104C
3. US Navy F-4B - 1:48 Eduard (Academy kit)
4. Arc Light Escort - 1:72 F-102 Meng
5. Army Air - 1:48 Roden JOV-1A Mowhawk
6. Fighter for Freedom - 1:48 VNAF F-5B Kinetic
7. Gunfighters over Vietnam - 1:48 F-8E Monogram
8. Fighting Fishbed - 1:48 MiG-21MF Academy
9. Spook Shooter - 1:72 F-4D Italeri
10. Green Machine - 1:72 A-6E Tamiya (Italeri kit)
11. Hun On the Hunt - 1:48 F-100C Trumpeter
12. Night Intruder - 1:72 B-57B Italeri
13. Fresco Fighter - 1:49 MiG-17 HobbyBoss
14. Sky Spotter - 1:72 O-1 Bird Dog Airfix
15. Scooter Strike - 1:48 A-4 Eduard (Hasegawa kit)
16. Dragons Teeth - 1:48 A-37A Trumpeter
17. Flying Gas Station - 1:48 KA-6D Fujimi
18. Jungle Viper - 1:100 AH-1G Revell
19. Aussie Bomber - 1:48 Canberra Airfix

 

 

It is good to see different kits are used which are readily available, reasonably priced; and in terms of the older kits it is good to see them not forgotten.  The different modellers also use difference techniques and products on the various models so its good to be able to see them, and contrast their use. The reader will then be able to try a couple and see what works for them.  The downside here is that this is a sponsored publication from HATAKA so only their paints are used with the obligatory recommendations. 

 

 

 

Conclusion

This is a well put together publication for the modeller thinking of their next Vietnam war build. There is a good range of kits and techniques on show, as well photos of the real thing. Their is not too much history in this publication as most of it is devoted to the builds. When looking at the builds it also seems that some of the content here has been "recycled" into other MA Publications titles. In particular in this one I see that the A-6 build is in their A-6 Guide, and the F-104 is in their F-104 guide, as not having access to any other publications. Recommended if you want a book on modelling aircraft from Vietnam, though with the caveats that it is a sponsored publication with some of the builds appearing in other titles also. 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of