Zvezda ZVE6264

Fleet Air Arm camouflage schemes and markings

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Army in Focus 1. 72 pages and it has 70 photos, 26 of them original color-photos. THE FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!!! Heer im Focus No 1 72 pages, 70 photos - thereof 26 in colourFarbe, 5 colourprofiles, 5 coloured emblemes, 1 coloured document, 9 coloured maps Photos with a Story: The 18. Panzer-Division in the Eastern Campaign" Part 1 22 June 1941-The Attack across the River Bug Were Submersible Tanks Actually Used? Camouflage Schemes: Striped Camouflage; Often Used but Still Rare Scenery: A Picture that Gets Under One's Skin Patrol from the 61. Infanterie-Division under Fire - A unique photograph from the Tikhvin Front Sign Jungles: The "T-34 Sign Jungle" in the Centre of Minsk Camouflage: Helmet Camouflage-Mobile Cabbages Emblems: The Emblem of the Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505 in Detail - A Colour Drawing on an Original Document Reveals Every Detail Vehicles of the Wehrmacht: A Wanderer Convertible with Civilian Number Plate Motorcycles: They Were Indispensable! Fates: An Example of Identifying a Location and a Graveyard Based on a Photograph Wearer of the Knight's Cross: Oberst Michael Bauer - The Knight's Cross Holder from Herzogenaurach Signs: The "Frontline Shower Bath" Unusual: The "Lili Marleen Barracks" in a Russian Village Slapstick by the Train of the 18. Panzer-Division

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Building the F-4 Phantom. The iconic McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was originally developed for the US Navy and entered service in 1960. Proving highly adaptable, it was soon adopted by the US Marine Corps and the US Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their air arms. The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2, and can carry more than 18,000lb of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War, where it served as the principal air superiority fighter for the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps and became important in the ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance roles later in the war. The aircraft continued to form a major part of US military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, being gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle, Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18 Hornet. The F-4 Phantom II remained in use by the US forces in the reconnaissance and Wild Weasel roles in the 1991 Gulf War, finally leaving service in 1996. It was also the only aircraft used by both the USAF Thunderbirds (F-4E) and the US Navy Blue Angels (F-4J). The Phantom was also operated by the armed forces of eleven other nations, and Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in several conflicts, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms, acquired before the fall of the Shah, in the Iran Iraq War, and both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy used the FG.1 and FGR.2 versions using Rolls-Royce Spey engines. As of 2019, sixty years after its first flight, the F-4 remains in service with Iran, Japan, South Korea, Greece, and Turkey. The aircraft has most recently been in service against the Islamic State group in the Middle East. This third book in the MA Extra Series contains fifteen model builds, colour profiles and scale plans, and will be a must for the Phantom-Phanatic!

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Re-released! Fairey Swordfish Colour and Markings with decals (13) The Swordfish biplane " the legendary 'Stringbag' " was designed in 1934 to meet the Air Ministry's requirement for an aeroplane in the Torpedo-Spotter-Reconnaissance (TSR) category. Produced in substantial numbers by the Fairey and Blackburn companies, it became a real workhorse of the Fleet Air Arm fulfilling search and anti-shipping roles, destroying enemy surface vessels and U-Boats and carrying out escort duties with convoys. By 1944 almost 2,400 Swordfish had been completed. The publication has 28 pages, including a total of 44 overall and detailed photographs, 13 pages with colour camouflage schemes and their description. Text in English. A comprehensive decal sheet is added for modellers' convenience. Size of the 1/48th scale decal sheet.250x200 mm. This edition also includes a bonus " an extra decal option, the thirteenth in a dozen, while additional colour profiles are also included to cover another aeroplane. Detailed information about stencil decal placement can be found on our website (www.4pluspublications.com) as a result of our extensive research. Following aircraft are depicted on each decal sheet: Fleet Air Arm (11x), Royal Air Force (1x) and Royal Canadian Navy (1x). K6009/912 822 NAS H.M.S. Furious 1938; L7672/A4F 820 NAS H.M.S. Ark Royal 1939; L9720/4A 820 NAS H.M.S. Ark Royal 1941; P4084/Y8L 765 NAS RNAS Lee-on-Solent 1940 on floats; V4448/B 833 NAS Op Torch Gibraltar 1942 in US markings; HS645/B 824 NAS H.M.S. Striker 1944; NF243/S 816 NAS RNAS St Merryn 1944; NE951/S1 S Flt 860(Dutch) NAS MAC-Ship MV Gadila 1944; LS225/B4 836 NAS MAC-Ship Empire MacAlpine 1943; NF343 NH-Q 119 Sqn RAF Bircham Newton 1945; NR944 RCN RCAF Shearwater Nova Scotia 1946; NF399 912/AO Stn Flt RNAS Arbroath 1948; LS454 733 NAS Brit East Indies Fleet, RNAS Trincomalee 1946. 1) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.I 2) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.I 3) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.I 4) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.I floatplane 5) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.I 6) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.II 7) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.II 8) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.II 9) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.II 10) Royal Air Force - Mk.III 11) Royal Canadian Navy - Mk.III 12) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.III 13) Fleet Air Arm - Mk.II

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Vought SB2U Vindicator by Steve Ginter with Joe Weathers, Jr. 248-pages, 89-color photos, 22-duotone photos, 506 b&w photos and 25-drawings. The Vought SB2U Vindicator Scout Bomber was the Navy's second production carrier monoplane to fly after the Douglas TBD and for a time was the fastest aircraft in the Navy's inventory. The extremely clean aircraft was a unique blend of the old stick-and-rudder fabric covered construction and that of the new all-metal monoplanes that followed. About half the aircraft was metal skined and half fabric covered and each fuselage structure was individually hand made from steel tubing. The SB2U was built in three models. The very simular SB2U-1 and SB2U-2 for the US Navy, and the long range SB2U-3 for the Marines. Aircraft were also supplied to France and the United Kingdom and are covered in the book. Equipped with folding wings and capable of carrying a 1,000 lb bomb, they were in service from 1938 to 1943. By the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Navy Vindicators had all been assigned to the Atlantic fleet, but the Marine SB2U-3 were on the East Coast and at Pearl Harbor and aboard the Lexington for delivery to Midway. The VMSB-241 Vindicators at Midway saw the planes only combat on 4-to-6 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway and Henderson Field was named after the squadron CO who lost his life during the squadron's attack on the Japanese fleet on 4 June. Maj Hendersons replacement Maj Norris was also lost on 4 June during the squadron's 2nd attack. On 5 june, Capt Fleming was also lost during his attack on the cruiser Mikumo, for which he received the Medal of Honor for his actions. This book has extensive first person narative from Vought test pilots and USN/USMC pilots as well as the French V-156-F commander gathered by Joe Weathers in 1966 through 1974 when their minds were still sharp and their memories strong. All of which are gone today. A truly interesting read.

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"Able Mable" Martin AM-1/1Q Mauler By Bob Kowalski 152-pages, 326 b&w photos, 4-color photos, 48-drawings, and 15-squadron insignias. "Able Mable", the Martin AM-1/1Q Mauler, was the product of a 1943 Navy contract for two prototype bomber torpedo (BT) planes. Two other contractors, Curtiss and Fleetwings also received prototype contracts. In 1944 after the testing of these prototypes and a new entry the Douglas Skyraider, the Navy placed production orders for the Martin Mauler and the Douglas Skyraider. Even though the Skyraider proved more suitable for carrier operations, 139 AM-1s and 18 AM-1Qs were produced and served with five attack squadrons and one composite squadron before being relegated to the reserves. With its huge R-4360-4W 28-cylinder 3,000 BHP engine, the Mauler performed like a fighter and had the power to out lift any other single engine aircraft in the world at the time. In addition to its heavy-lift capabilities (10,648 lbs of fuel, 4-20mm guns with ammo, 3-torpedos and 12 250 lb bombs) the unique finger-type dive brakes on the AM-1 gave it extremely accurate and rock-steady dive bombing performance deemed best in the world by navy test pilots. Its Awesome performance made it a challenge at times particularly around the boat and earned it the enduring nickname of "Awful Monster".

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FROM BATS TO RANGERS A Pictorial History of Electronic Countermeasures Squadron Two (ECMRON-2) Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (VQ-2) by Angelo Romano and AMHC (AW) John D. Herndon, USN, Ret. This Pictorial History of US Navy's Electronic Countermeasures Squadron Two (ECMRON-2 or VQ-2), later designated Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (FAIRECONRON TWO or VQ-2) by Angelo Romano and AMHC (AW) John D. Herndon, USN, Ret. is the second title of the new U.S. Navy SQUADRON HISTORIES by GINTER BOOKS. The photo coverage of the history of the Electric Bats, also known as the Rangers, is comprehensive, both in terms of photography and in terms of historical content. Much of the squadron's mission was top secret, as were many of its cold war missions, but the authors were able to utilize official (declassified) documents and first-hand accounts to write this book. For completeness, it is also a history of the U.S. Navy Electronic Intelligence gathering activities going back to WWII, beginning with the creation of the Cast Mike (Counter Measures) Project in 1942 and the deployment of early XARD receivers aboard aircraft like the Consolidated PBY Catalina and PB4Y Liberator. After WWII, the Navy started to use the Privateers as dedicated ELINT platforms and assigned them to two special units operating jointly with the National Security Group. One of these units, designated Port Lyautey Patrol Unit (NPU), was based at Naval Air Activities Port Lyautey, in French Morocco. It was first assigned modified PB4Y-1s and later, the Martin P4M-1Q Mercator. The NPU teamed with the Naval Security Group's Naval Communications Unit 32 George (NCU32G), which provided the ELINT equipment installed on board and the crew to operate them, mostly for covert operations around Europe and the Mediterranean. When the NPU reached its full complement of four P4M-1Qs, the unit and NCU32G, needed to have an administrative identity for budgetary and logistics purposes. Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWO (VW-2), based at NAS Patuxent River, was therefore selected to be its "mother" squadron. On 1 May 1953, NPU Port Lyautey became VW-2 Detachment A (or DET ABLE). In 1955, the Navy decided to establish a dedicated squadron for the unique mission rather than continue with a detachment: Electronic Countermeasures Squadron TWO (ECMRON TWO) was established on 1 Sep 1955. ECMRON TWO was assigned the alphanumeric designation "VQ-2". Its mission was to conduct electronic-search in support of fleet operations to obtain adequate and timely information on enemy radar, communications, and other emissions in support of fleet operations. The Squadron inherited the P4M-1Qs from VW-2 DET A and acquired a Lockheed P2V Neptune for utility purposes. On 1 Jan 1960, EMCRON TWO was redesignated Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (FAIRECONRON TWO) but still retained the alphanumeric designation "VQ-2". In 1956, VQ-2 received its first Douglas A3D-1Q Skywarrior, followed in 1957 by one A3D-1. In 1958, the Squadron received the Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune to augment the P4M-1Qs. The more capable A3D-2Q/EA-3B arrived in 1959 followed by the big Lockheed WV-2Q/EC-121M Constellation in 1960. The first Lockheed EP-3E ARIES arrived in 1971 and the squadron continued to fly this aircraft until disestablishment in 2012. The VQ-2 history and all worldwide events surrounding it are very well described and documented. This 242-page book contains 180 B&W and 444 color photos, most never published before. Thirty-seven superbly detailed aircraft color profiles show the evolution of the color schemes and markings and the different aircraft types and sub-types, providing very useful information for the benefit of both modelers and aviation historians. The inclusion of many squadron patches completes this masterpiece. THE AUTHORS Angelo Romano Angelo has authored six books: Wings from Coral Sea (Golden Wing Publications, 1986), Naval Fighters (Osprey, 1990), Naval Air Weapons Meet 1956-1959 (Model Publishing, 2006), First and Foremost - An illustrated History of Carrier Air Wing One - CVW-1 Part One 1934-1957 (Model Publishing, 2006), CVW-1 Part Two 1957-1973 (Model Publishing, 2008), and Black Knights Rule! (BKR) - A Pictorial History of VBF-718 / VF-68A / VF-837 / VF-154 / VFA-154 - 1946-2013 (Ginter Books, 2014). John D. Herndon AMHC (AW) Retired U.S. Navy John joined the U.S. Navy in 1978, Assigned to VQ-2 a total of 13 years E-1 to E-7, deployed to six Aircraft carriers in support of the EA-3B aircraft. Additionally deployed to locations all around the world in support of the EP-3E aircraft, Maintenance Control, Aircraft Division and Detachment Leading Chief Petty Officer. Retired out of VQ-2 his last tour which ended in 2000, went on to civilian life, employers ATA and American Airlines and finally the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector, currently the Boeing 787 Fleet Program Manager overseeing United Airlines safety compliance. Very involved over the years in collecting VQ-2 information/ history, assisted in raising funds and restoring a VQ-2 EA-3B Aircraft in Fort Worth Texas Ranger 15 BuNo 146453.

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US NAVY SQUADRON HISTORIES No. 304 Title: Electronic Aggressors Subtitle: US Navy Electronic Threat Environment Squadrons - Part Two 1978-2000 218 pages, 499 photos (mostly color), 31 color profiles, 33 patches, 41 tables and graphs. Author: Angelo Romano Short Desc: A Pictorial History of Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG), Fleet Tactical Readiness Group (FTRG), Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron THIRTY-THREE (VAQ-33), Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron THIRTY-FOUR (VAQ-34), Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron THIRTY-FIVE (VAQ-35), and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ELEVEN (VQ-11). Long Desc: This book is the second in a two-part series and describes the FEWSG structure and mission in detail. FEWSG provided threat training which stressed the US Navy's ability to respond, from applying anti-jamming fixes, to understanding the weaknesses and what assets and tactics were usable for defense. FEWSG (later redesignated Fleet Replacement Training Group - FTRG), and its complement of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons (VAQ-33, VAQ-34 and VAQ-35), were so much more than Cold War training assets. They represented another Navy EW intellectual center, a cadre of personnel who monitored opposition capabilities in order to accurately mimic the threat. In order to accomplish that goal, ingenuity and improvisation was required. As a result, the community prized unconventional thinkers, people who tried to use common equipment to achieve uncommon ends. Starting with the operators who saw the advantage of modulating jamming with the propellers of the Skyraiders, FEWSG operators pioneered EW tactics. Those personnel then percolated back into the fleet, bringing with them an ability to innovate tactics and get more from installed electronics. Plenty of historical photos illustrate in detail the Squadron activities both at sea and ashore. These two books are dedicated to the women and men of the Electronic Aggressors.

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SMOKIN' TIGERS A Pictorial History of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron ONE (RVAH-1)by Michael Grove and Angelo Romano On 1 Nov 1955, Heavy Attack Squadron ONE (HATRON ONE or VAH-1) was established and temporarily based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida. On the same day, CDR P.F. Stevens assumed the command of the squadron. He was a highly decorated patrol-bomber pilot during World War II. In 1956, VAH-1 underwent an intensive training schedule in anticipation of the receipt of the new jet, Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior. Designed with an eye toward the Heavy Attack mission, the A3D was an atomic bomber, fully capable of carrier operations. On 31 Mar 1956, the squadron received five A3D-1s, thereby becoming the first fleet unit to take delivery of the jet-powered nuclear bomber. The squadron's initial deployments were to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic area onboard USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) and USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62). Following their return from their Apr-Aug 1962 cruise, the SMOKIN' TIGERS began transitioning to the North-American A-5A Vigilante. On 22 Jan 1963, the first A-5A was accepted for service by the squadron at NAS Sanford, Florida, and in March of that year, VAH-1 became the first squadron to win a monthly bombing contest while flying the A-5A. The squadron also completed one deployment with the heavy attack version of the Vigilante on the INDEPENDENCE during Aug 1963-Mar 1964, participating on several NATO and Sixth Fleet exercises. Upon returning to Sanford, VAH-1 began transitioning to the RA-5C, with squadron skipper CDR J. W. Taft delivering the first example from the North-American plant at Columbus on 10 July 1964. On 1 Sep 1964, the squadron was redesignated RVAH-1. The SMOKIN' TIGERS logged their first combat deployment to Southeast Asia during May-Dec 1965, completing 308 combat missions. Over the course of the next 13 years, RVAH-1 alternated between the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, completing three additional combat cruises. Like all RA-5C squadrons, it shifted homeports from Sanford to NAS Albany, Georgia, in 1968, and in 1974 moved to NAS Key West, Florida. The second fleet squadron to operate the Vigilante, RVAH-1 disestablished on 29 Jan 1979. Pages: 120 Size: 8.5 X 11 (inches) Format: Soft bound Illustrations: 140 color and 93 B&W photos, 73 color profiles, 10 drawings and 24 patches.

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Douglas R4D-8/C-117D Super Gooney by Steve Ginter with Norm Tayler & Amgelo Romano. 15-color and over 300 b&w photos and text cover its usage as a transport, VIP carrier, station hack, a trainer with VT-29, and its usage in Antarctica with VX-6 from 1952 into the 1980s. The DC-3S was a Douglas venture to add capability and life to the post war fleet of surplus DC-3s, C-47s and R4Ds. It was an remanufactured aircraft with a stretched fuselage, new taller and wider tail group, new square tip outer wings, larger engines and fully enclosed main gear housings. It did not find favor with the airlines which instead turned to Convairs and Martins, but found a home in the Navy and Marines. 96 aircraft were eventually re-manufactured as R4D-8s and 4 as R4D-8Zs. 136 pages, 15-color and over 300 B&W photos of history and drawings.

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Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider Part Two, U.S. Navy Squadrons. By Steve Ginter. 272-pages, 13-color photos, 589 b&w photos, and 138 patches. The Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider Part Two covers Skyraider Fleet and Utility squadrons with text on each squadron and photos and squadron patches/insignia when available. Because the Skyraider's service life bridges from post WWII, through the Korean War and into the Vietnam War, the AD/A-1 squadrons went through all the confusing redesignations and disestablishments of the 50's. In some cases the same squadron designation was applied three times during the life of the Skyraiders in the Navy. This volume covers 95 squadrons that flew this amazing aircraft.

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Colour Conundrum Compendium No.3 84 pages By Paul Lucas Guideline Publications is pleased to announce the third 'Colour Conundrum Compendium'. This volume collates two groups of articles, the first dealing with the RAF's 'exotic' Tropical Land and Sea Schemes and colours from 1933-1945, while the second deals with the unusual RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Schemes and colours from 1939-1945. As with Compendium No.2, this volume contains new material that has not been previously published in Scale Aircraft Modelling. These two new Conundrums contain material that dovetails into the Tropical Land and Sea Schemes section in such a way that the result is a volume containing more information on the development and possible use of these schemes than has ever appeared in any one place before on three themes: the RAF in the Second World War, the Post War Fleet Air Arm, and related products of the United States' aviation industry that are intertwined with both the other subject areas. To this has been added a completely new chapter on the B-17Cs of 90 Sqn in 1941, which along with the 4 pages of updates presenting new findings on some of the subjects, makes for an additional 12,000 previously unpublished words. Quoting extensively from primary sources, the articles also provide valuable insight into the organisation and administration of the air force, and the many thousands of documents and memos that passed from office to office behind the scenes, providing background and understanding that add depth and focus to a model, as well as an opportunity to understand why a specific colour scheme may have been either selected or rejected. With original research based on surviving records in the National Archive at Kew the aim of these articles is to throw fresh light upon some old questions, to challenge some long held views on aircraft camouflage and markings, and to pose new questions that had arisen as a result of the research to which the answers were not yet known.

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Lockheed F-104 Starfighter David Doyle. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter first flew in 1954, Starfighters then broke the world altitude record in May 1958 and the world air-speed record nine days later. It was the first aircraft to hold both records simultaneously. Many of the Starfighter's records stand today. With a powerful XJ79 engine and futuristic design by famed Lockheed engineer Clarence ��½Kelly Johnson and his team, a YF-104A passed Mach 2 in 1956. The F-104 was born from combat against Communist MiG-15 jet aircraft during the Korean War. Known as a ��½missile with a man in it and ��½an engine with wings, Starfighters trained astronauts such as Chuck Yeager on the edge of space, fought over Vietnam, and were lethal Cold War interceptors capable of firing air-to-air nuclear missiles. During its 50-year career, it was used by no less than 15 nations from Jordan to Taiwan, Italy finally retired its fleet in 2005. It is poised to be reborn as a civilian satellite launcher in 2018. More than 160 vintage photos, many in original color, numerous line drawings and new color profiles, this new volume chronicles the remarkable military career of this aircraft. 80 pages.

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AE-04 Airframe Extra. The Battle Of Taranto-Judgement Day. -Covers the events leading up to, during and after the Fleet Air Arm's assault on the Regia Marina. -Historical narrative by Patrick Branly -Numerous period images -Colour profiles by Richard J Caruana -Specially commissioned kit builds -1/48th Special Hobby Fairey Fulmar & Italeri Fiat CR.42 by Steve Evans -1/72nd Airfix Fairey Swordfish and Azur Martin Maryland by Libor Jekl and Italeri Cant Z.501 'Gabbiano' by Steve Evans

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AA-18 Airframe Album No 18 - The Fairey Firefly - A Detailed Guide to the Fleet Air Arm's Versatile Monoplane by Richard A. Franks We are delighted to announce the next title in the Airframe Album series from Valiant Wings Publishing. This series of books offers everything that modern modellers want when they are tackling a specific subject and includes Period diagrams Data from flight manuals Data from spare parts catalogues Fully detailed 3D isometric views of prototype and production machines Full colour profiles and concise camouflage and marking notes Our eighteenth title in the Airframe Album series will be an essential reference for any FAA enthusiast tackling the Trumpeter (1/48), Special Hobby and older kits in 1/72nd scale and will be an ideal companion to our Airframe Album titles covering the Hawker Sea Fury and de Havilland Sea Hornet. Contents will include all the elements listed plus: A wealth of historical and walkaround photographs and detail images of the type Period detail images during production and service use Isometric views by Juraj Jankovic of all prototype, production and test airframes Colour profiles by Richard J. Caruana At least 128 pages in total Lists of all Firefly kits, accessories, decals & masks produced in all scales Detailed build of the Trumpeter 1/48 Firefly Mk I by Steve Evans Publication is scheduled for mid-late May, ISBN is 978-1-912932-28-3

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World Airline Fleets The Magazine for the airline enthusiast issue 224 April 2007

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Sopwith Pup by Matthew Willis (Hall Park Books Limited) By Matthew Willis The Sopwith Pup, as it is unofficially but universally known, was one of the first true British fighter aircraft, and one of the most significant of the First World War. It played a key part in maintaining control of the skies over the Western Front during and after the RFC's toughest period, Bloody April, 1917. Its superb flying qualities kept it competitive as ever-faster and more powerful opposition appeared, and it played an unglamorous but important role in the defence of the UK against zeppelin and heavy bomber attacks, and was fundamental to the development of ship-based aviation. With the very well-established categories of military aircraft that are familiar today, it is hard to comprehend the world in which the Pup was born, where these clear delineations did not exist. Certainly the idea of the fast, agile single-seat fighter was barely thought of when the Pup's outline was first chalked on the floor of the experimental workshop at Sopwith's Kingston-upon-Thames premises in 1915. The new aircraft was known as the 'Sparrow', was powered by a 50hp Gnome rotary. Test pilot Harry Hawker took the aircraft to Brooklands and amazed trainee RFC pilots by flying it under the bridge across the Byfleet Banking. It was fully aerobatic and capable of a speed just shy of 85mph despite the low engine power. It is unclear whether Sopwith intended the machine to form the basis of a military aircraft but in any event, its performance and handling, even on such low power, must have recommended it for that purpose. The 'Sparrow' therefore became the progenitor of the aircraft that would become the 'Pup'. It was around the time of the prototype's first appearance that the Pup seems to have gained its popular name. Brigadier-General SeftonBrancker, then the RFC's Director of Air Organisation, is reputed to have remarked, on seeing the prototype Scout beside its larger sibling at Brooklands, 'Your 1 Strutter has had a pup!' For all its value as a front line fighting aeroplane, the Pup had a potentially even greater impact on the development of naval aviation; in particular, the sometimes tortuous path of launching aircraft from, and returning them safely to, ships at sea. Moreover, the Pup became one of the more successful operational aircraft in this fledgling area of combat. This is the first WWI title in the series and includes all the usual Warpaint features historical text, modellers glossary, colour artwork by Richard Caruana and a three page colour walkaround by author Matthew Willis.

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Douglas F4D/F-6 Skyray and F5D Skylancer by Tony Butler. The Douglas F4D Skyray (always known as the 'Ford' because of its designation) was intended to be the US Navy's first supersonic fighter, though in fact it was really a transonic aircraft. A very handsome machine it had a relatively short career but equipped quite a number of units both with the Navy and the US Marines. It was flawed and fell short of being a true all-weather fighter, but it had excellent manoeuvrability and an impressive rate of climb and it provided many pilots with their first experience of jet aircraft. The altogether sleeker F5D Skylancer was a true supersonic successor and provided a considerable advance over the Skyray, but it fell victim to cost cutting and only a few examples were completed, some of which were used for research. This book is written by Tony Buttler and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.

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Cessna T-37 A/B/C 'Tweet' and the A-37A/B 'Dragonfly' By Kev Darling When USAF went searching for a new jet trainer in the early 1950's to replace the Lockheed T-33, it came as a great surprise to all when Cessna, best known for producing light aircraft, actually won the competition. Little did anyone realise that the T-37, the new training aircraft's designation, would stay in service for fifty years. Along the way the fleet had many rebuilds and is reckoned to have conservatively trained over 500,000 pilots to wings standard. Along the way it garnered many nicknames including 'Tweet, Tweety Bird' and the 'Screaming Dog Whistle'. Had the conflict in Vietnam been avoided this might of been the end of the line for the multi coloured trainer. As America became more involved with the conflict in South East Asia USAF was on a buying spree for all of the latest all singing, all dancing fighter attack aircraft. However, despite their supersonic capability and state of the art avionics these mighty behemoths were not suited to the close air support role. The answer would be to recall some stored early T-37's from the boneyard at Davis-Monthan and in consultation with Cessna turn the 'Tweet' into an attack aircraft. Few high tech gizmo's were needed although the new fighter would sport a minigun in the nose. Pylons were added under the strengthened wings, tip tanks, from the T-37C, were added and engines with a bit more grunt were fitted. The designated unit destined to fly the A-37A 'Dragonfly ' was the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Such was their dedication that a shack on the bombing range was used a measuring point for bombing accuracy. They knew they had succeeded when one pilot blew up the Shack exclaiming the 'SHACK' call over the radio very loudly. The A-37A was soon followed by the 'B' model that was vastly improved and went onto serve globally for many years especially in Latin American countries where a few linger on. This book is written by Kev Darling and is supported with artwork by John Fox.

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Grumman F6F Hellcat. Even before Pearl Harbor the U.S. Navy realised that it would be hard for its existing fighters, the F2A Buffalo and F4F Wildcat, to deal with Japan's shipboard fighters, especially the A6M Zero. The situation was such that in June 1941 the U.S. Navy placed orders with Grumman 's 'Iron Works' for the F6F Hellcat before the first prototype had even flown. It was the right decision for Grumman 's new fighter, although much larger and heavier than the Zero, proved to be the latter's nemesis, so that the American fighter's better fire-power, sturdiness, range and speed more than matched the Zero's agility. Its entry into service was also timely, for the much- awaited F4U Corsair suffered from a flawed carrier deck capability, so that the Hellcat remained the main carrier fighter of the U.S. Navy throughout the rest of the Second World War and established air superiority in the Pacific. Indeed, in barely two years of war it destroyed no less than 5,271 enemy aircraft of the 6,477 claimed by the U.S. fighters, attaining a fantastic kill-to-loss ratio of 19.1:1, and fully deserving the nickname of 'Ace-Maker'. It certainly was the most important Allied shipboard fighter of that world conflict. The Hellcat was used also by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, during the war, while in the postwar period it saw service with the French Aeronavale, which used them in Indochina, as well as with the Uruguayan Navy, the latter flying them until 1961. [F6F-3 F6F-5 F6F-3N F6F-5N]

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Short 184 (Windsock Datafiles) This 40 page monograph on the classic Short 184 seaplane is crammed with over 112 rare archive photos from Jack Bruce's unrivalled collection. The type has some claims to fame:No.842 was the first aeroplane to torpedo an enemy vessel in anger;another,8359,was at Jutland and segments of it survive to this day at Yeovilton's Fleet Air Arm Museum.This packed reference contains 1:48 and 1;72 scale drawings spread over eight pages,several pages of close-up detail photos and there are colour also colour notes with three rear cover profiles by Ray Rimell-plus exhaustive appendices and production data.

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