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Recommendations for general WWI air war books (of interest to the modeler)?


Krachenvogel

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I find myself experiencing a growing interest in WWI aircraft, but I have little knowledge on the subject, and I'm hoping the group here might be able to recommend some good general reference books to get me started. 

 

I'm most interested in the sort of hardware-oriented info that excites model builders and engineers, like:

- Lots of photos / pictures (understanding that there's a lot less of this kind of material even existing from WWI compared to its sequel)

- Details of construction and the relative technical merits of the particular aircraft

- Just enough developmental and/or operational history to put things into context

I'm less interested in a lot of verbiage about deployments and unit histories and that sort of thing ("No 42 Squadron was stationed at the Ennuyeuseville aerodrome in July of 1916, where they flew 24 sorties before transferring to Ennui-sur-Blasé in September of that year..." and on and on).

 

I have James Wilberg's "Eagle of Trieste" vols 1 & 2, which I like, but would enjoy more detail on the aircraft themselves.  I also have a couple of the Windsock books on particular favorite planes, which are full of exactly the kind of content I like, but which are also a pretty darn expensive way to build up a library.  If nothing else, I'd like to get a good overview of the subject that might help guide future reading on my part or call to my attention specific areas of interest that I may want to explore further.

 

Any thoughts?  Thanks in advance for your input.

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I like the Osprey series of books on the '(type of aeroplane) Aces of WW1. 

Another source for more detailed individual types I like is a magazine called 'Aeroplane Monthly'

I search them out on ebay.

Each month the magazine spotlighted a certain aeroplane with a database of several pages devoted to it. WW1 types sometimes were featured

eg. Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter in this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403341219952?epid=1208158353&hash=item5de9029870:g:w6AAAOSwVklgfctq

I like this seller for the magazines as he lists not only the contents but how many pages are on each subject

 

As you are in US you could look through his selection, see what issue then see if you can buy it locally (ie in US)

 

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The Great War Aviation Centennial Series, covering German aircraft manufacturers and now starting on British ones, are likely to be the sort of book you're looking for. But if you think the Windsock publications are expensive (and looking at the prices being asked for out of print/low stock titles, at least, I can't disagree with you), the cost of the Centennial books is, in my opinion, eyewatering. I have three of the 'broader brush' and cheaper titles: a general survey of German aircraft development in WW1 and books on armoured aircraft and specialist night-flying aircraft. The quality of the research is second to none but given that you're looking at a cover price of £30 - £50, the material quality of the (soft cover) books isn't. In terms of the paper and binding, they're pretty much equivalent to bookazines. I guess that reflects the economics of publishing highly specialised works where the potential readership is very small.

 

There are a couple of out of print Putnam books that you might be able to find at a reasonable price:

 

'German Aircraft of the First World War', by Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. It's old (the second edition dates from 1970 and I don't think subsequent ones were revised at all to reflect later research) but a decent overview.

'The Aeroplanes of the RFC (Military Wing)', by J M Bruce (1982).

 

In the 1960s Jack Bruce also wrote a 5 volume set of small books entitled 'Fighters of the First World War'. It covers all British fighters in Vols 1-3 and some French ones in the other two books. A quick check on Abe Books indicates they're available secondhand in the UK at very little cost, they might be more difficult to source in the US. 

 

There's a doorstop of a book entitled 'French Aircraft of the First World War' by James J Davilla and Arthur M  Soltan but the cheapest copy that came up on a quick search is £130.

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Hi,there are also the Harleyford series of books,they only cover each individual aircraft with one page and 5 photos,but there are plans in 72nd scale too (don't know how accurate these plans are though!).The last part of the books though have a load of photos covering engines,cockpits and armaments.Alas these are now OOP,but you can still find them at not too bad a price on auction sites,albeit the dust jackets are not pristine,but they are hardback.I have 4 of their books,one from new in 1969,but the dj has long gone,but IMHO find them fascinating reading and refer back to them on numerous occasion,mainly for the inspiration that they can provide.

 

Dave.

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Have a look in the reviews section of this forum. I really enjoyed:

German Fighter Aircraft of World War 1

and

British Fighter Aircraft in WW1

 

The sound like just the thing you are looking for. I too like information development, construction, engineering, photos etc. and these books are great for that.

 

Cheers

 

John

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On 12/23/2021 at 8:52 PM, Potato Pete said:

The Windsock datafiles might be the sort of thing you're after.

 

https://www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk

 

Don't own any myself but I've always had the impression they are the go-to references for WW1 aircraft

 

Pete

Second that.  Not just the aircraft type-specific ones, but those like "Sopwith Camel Squadrons". That one has plenty of photos and colour profiles, and lots of inspiration.

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Thanks for all of the good suggestions, everyone.  For in-print titles, those Casemate ones look like a good starting point (maybe we'll see similar volumes covering France and Italy some day?), and it seems I'll need to start trawling eBay for some of the out-of-print ones.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

 I highly recommend both R.E.P. Type F in Royal Serbian Air Force and Duks in Royal Serbian Air Force. These feature detailed three view drawings along with many color drawings of all sections of the airplanes. Plenty of information to construct an accurate model. The two books are the first ones in a series. Available from Amazon.

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On 20/01/2022 at 04:02, berman said:

 I highly recommend both R.E.P. Type F in Royal Serbian Air Force and Duks in Royal Serbian Air Force. These feature detailed three view drawings along with many color drawings of all sections of the airplanes. Plenty of information to construct an accurate model. The two books are the first ones in a series. Available from Amazon.

 

That rings a bell !  Reviewed here.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

resized_03374111-34cb-43ec-9556-bdab6c40

 

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Volumes 1 to 3 cover British fighters 4 & 5 French and I’m not sure if they got any further than that.

 

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A brilliant resource including scale plans on 1/48 and 1/72 probably a bit specific but they do a range of WWI books.

 

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This covers literally everything

 

I recommended any of the above they all have scale drawings and photos some have colour illustrations as well.  I got my various copies off eBay, an books and the book depository and I don’t think any of them cost more than a tenner.

 

Separately non modelling but very good period reads, no parachute, open cockpit, Sagittarius  rising or duelling above the trenches. 
 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Marklo
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Nailing down specific subjects helps. But be prepared for a lack of info.

As is the case with G II - G IV Gotha bombers ,more available for the G V 's.

An overall examination of WNW kits shows this as well , some kits full of many details some not so much.

Thanks to WNW as well for their full effort on all of the kits they offered.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 2/1/2022 at 3:32 PM, krow113 said:

Nailing down specific subjects helps. But be prepared for a lack of info.

As is the case with G II - G IV Gotha bombers ,more available for the G V 's.

An overall examination of WNW kits shows this as well , some kits full of many details some not so much.

Thanks to WNW as well for their full effort on all of the kits they offered.

Speaking of WNW their instruction are available on their website and generally I find them an excellent resource.

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