Tamiya TA35218

U.S. Type 353 6x6 2.5ton truck open canopy (designed to be used with Tamiya kits)[GMC)

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How to Build Tamiya's Motorcycles. Our new book on building motorcycles by resident expert on Tamiya Model Magazine Keith Bristow shows you how to achieve the very best results that Keith is known for. Using Tamiya models Keith shows techniques for painting, weathering and superdetailing to create the amazing models seen in TMMI. This book gives all the hints and tips needed for all types of bikes from road to racing and all the techniques are relevant to the latest models. Super high quality photography and easy to follow step-by-step guides make this the unmissable book to have when building bikes or even cars.

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U.S. ARMY Bumper Code Generic Set 1 (Black) [Studebaker US6 G7107 4x4 G7107 with military G7117 1,5T cargo U.S. Type 353 6x6]

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Combat Colours No.9 - Nicholas Millman Mitsubishi Zero - Type 0 Carrier Fighter (A6M) 'Zeke' in World War Two. No.9 in the series charts the colour schemes and markings worn by this iconic Japanese naval fighter which saw service throughout the whole of the Pacific War from 1940 in China, to the final defence of the homeland in 1945. Structured chronologically by variant, it covers the development from the A6M1 to A6M7/8, including the floatplane Nakajima A6M2-N 'Rufe' and the A6M2-K two-seat trainers, with colour profiles, four-views and illustrations. It includes in detail examples of all the main schemes worn by the Zero and their colours [A6M5c]

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Building The Harrier. Model Aircraft Extra #5 Building the Harrier The iconic Hawker-Siddeley Harrier was the first of the so- called Harrier 'Jump Jet' series. It was developed in the 1960s as the first operational close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) capabilities, and the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many that arose in that era, and at its heart was the innovative Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine with its thrust vectoring nozzles. The Harrier was developed directly from the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel prototype aircraft, following the cancellation of a more advanced supersonic Hawker Siddeley P.1154. Originally said to be 'unable to carry more than a matchbox over a football field' the Harrier matured into one of the most potent warplanes of its generation. The RAF ordered the Harrier GR.1 and GR.3 variants in the late 1960s, as well as T.4 trainers versions, and it was also exported to the United States as the AV-8A and TAV-8A, for use by the US Marine Corps as well as the Spanish Navy in the 1970s. Spain sold seven single-seat and two twin-seat Harriers to Thailand in 1998. The Sea Harrier FRS.1, which shot to fame during the Falklands War, was designed to fill the strike, reconnaissance and fighter roles for the Royal Navy, and the innovative use of a 'ski jump' allowed the aircraft to take-off from a short flight deck with a heavier loadout than otherwise possible. After the Falklands War, the Sea Harrier was upgraded to the F/A2 standard and featured the Blue Vixen radar and carried the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. The Indian Navy was the only other user of the Sea Harrier aboard their aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Viraat. The BAe/McDonnell Douglas Harrier II was a second-generation of V/STOL aircraft designed for use by the US Marne Corps, RAF and the Royal Navy and continues in service with the USMC as the McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B and TA-V8B trainer and is also in service with the Spanish and Italian Navies. For the RAF, initial deliveries of the Harrier II were designated as Harrier GR.5 and subsequent upgraded airframes were redesignated accordingly as GR.7 and GR.9. The RAF Harriers saw action over Bosnia and Afghanistan before being retired in 2011. Most of the original US Marine Corps McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B 'day attack' aircraft were upgraded to either the FLIR equipped 'Night Attack Harrier' or the more capable radar equipped 'Harrier II Plus' and have participated in support of Operation 'Southern Watch', Operation 'Allied Force'. USMC McDonnell-Douglas AV-8Bs also took part in Operation 'Enduring Freedom' in Afghanistan from 2001, and the aircraft also participated in the Iraq War in 2003, acting primarily in support of USMC ground units, and in 2011, they flew in support of Operation 'Odyssey Dawn', enforcing the UN no-fly zone over Libya. This fourth book in the MA Extra Series contains fourteen model builds, colour profiles and scale plans, and will be a must for the Harrier aficionado!

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MDFSD9 Scaled Down #9 Fairchild A-10A Warthog/Thunderbolt II. The A-10 'Warthog' owed its birth to two influences - the inadequacies of the Close Air Support aircraft used in Vietnam, and the need to counter Soviet armoured might in Europe. During the Vietnam War the Air Force regarded CAS as their domain but was hard pressed to find an aircraft with both the range and loiter capacity to fulfil this need. They did obtain quantities of the old but excellent piston-powered Douglas A-1 Skyraider originally developed for the Navy, which soon earned the appreciation of the ground-pounders by its ability to carry a huge warload, dish out and take punishment, and remain on station for an extended period of time. Late in the war the USAF shifted the CAS mission to the jet-powered A-7 Corsair II, which had been developed for a US Navy requirement for a carrier-based strike fighter to replace the A-4 Skyhawk. The Corsair was an excellent aircraft, but it was designed for the strike-interdiction role, not for the battlefield CAS mission. The USAF therefore began to put together an AX - 'Attack Experimental' program to develop a dedicated CAS aircraft that could do the job far better than the Corsair, match the Skyraider in warload and endurance, but be substantially faster while being extremely maneuverable. The aircraft would also need to be highly survivable through the use of armour and redundant systems, include twin engines and be armed with a fast-firing Gatling-type gun.

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Lockheed T-33 Thunderbird colours and markings. With its roots in the successful Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter, the Lockheed T-33, popularly known as the T-Bird, became the USAF's standard advanced trainer of the 1950s. Almost 5,700 T-33As were built for the USAF and USN, of which more than 1,000 were transferred to NATO Allies and others to a number of smaller air forces worldwide, and the aircraft were also licence-built in Canada and Japan. The type's operational service spanned well over 40 years, thus reaching an amazing record in longevity. The 'Dozen Set' line of handbooks is aimed especially at scale modellers. Each title describes twelve particular aeroplanes, documented by period photos, and also brings useful detailed shots which can be utilised in finishing the models. The publication has 28 pages, including a total of 49 overall and detailed photographs, 12 pages with colour camouflage schemes and their description. Text in English. A comprehensive decal sheet is added for modellers' convenience. Following aircraft are depicted on each decal sheet: U.S. Air Force (2x), U.S. Navy (1x), U.S. Marine Corps (1x), Royal Canadian Air Force (1x), Canadian Armed Forces (1x), Japanese Ar Self Defence Force (1x), Luftwaffe (1x), Royal Netherlands Air Force (1x), Belgian Air Force (1x), French Air Force (1x) and Spanish Air Force (1x).

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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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Douglas C-74 Globemaster By Nicholas M. Williams, 104 pages (88 in b&w, 16 in color), 141 b&w photos, 35 color photos, 22 illustrations. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 brought U.S. Army Air Corps strategists to the realization that a new global transport was needed to carry large loads over great distances. The Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, California, also quickly saw this need and design studies were begun immediately on an expanded version of the company's DC-4. The "C-74 Project Group" adopted a design philosophy to produce a "no frills" transport able to accommodate at least two of the Army's T-9 tanks, two 105mm Howitzers, or two angle dozers. Douglas contacted the Air Corps early in 1942 to determine their interest and a letter of intent was issued in March 1942 for procurement of the Model 415A, now designated the C-74. A contract of over $50 million was signed in June 1942 for fifty airplanes. To speed its delivery to operational units, the C-74 was designed to be released without the benefits of an experimental or prototype model, all aircraft being designated as C-74s with design features following conventional "state-of-the-art" practice. Originally, powered by Wright R-3350 engines, a decision was made in March 1943 to switch to the new, mammoth Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major. The first C-74 was rolled out in July 1945 from the Douglas Long Beach factory. At rollout, the C-74 was the largest land-based transport in the world with a wingspan of 173 feet, length of 124 feet, and gross weight of 145,000 pounds. Able to carry 125 passengers, the C-74 was called the Globemaster as its 11,100-gallons of internal fuel gave it a maximum range of over 7,000 miles, enabling it to circumnavigate the world with only two refueling stops. In its final form, the C-74 was a remarkably efficient airplane, using a semi-laminar flow airfoil for its wings with a full-span flap arrangement. The pilots were enclosed by two teardrop-shaped, double-bubble canopies that provided them with a 360-degree view. Douglas had every intention of adapting the C-74 into a civil airliner once hostilities had ended. In 1944 Pan American World Airways ordered 26 examples of the civil version, the DC-7, for a route expansion program into Latin America. However, further development of this DC-7 design increased its gross weight to 162,000 pounds and the unit cost to $1.4 million and Pan American cancelled its order in October 1945, opting for smaller transports. The first C-74, 42-65402, made its maiden flight from Long Beach in September 1945, but with the end of World War II, most of the C-74 production order was cancelled and only 14 Globemasters were built. Unfortunately, during contractor demonstration flights the second Globemaster crashed. The fourth C-74 was subsequently diverted for static tests and its components tested to destruction at Wright Field, Ohio. Beginning in September 1946, the remaining twelve C-74s were flown for the next nine years by the Army Air Forces' Air Transport Command and the U.S. Air Force's Military Air Transport Service. Once in service, the C-74 Globemaster, based first in Memphis, Tennessee, then Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida, finally at Brookley AFB, Mobile, Alabama, set many records for tonnage carried. In November 1949, a C-74 flew the Atlantic to England with a record 103 passengers aboard. One Globemaster set several records during the Berlin Airlift, averaging over 38,000 pounds of cargo and setting a new Airlift Task Force utilization record by flying 20 hours in a 24-hour period. Until one C-74 was converted to the prototype C-124A and the Globemaster II became available, the C-74 was the only Air Force transport capable of carrying outsized cargo. After the C-74's retirement from service in 1955, several were purchased surplus and began flying for a contract air carrier, Aeronaves de Panama, hauling prize cattle from Denmark to the Middle East, horses to Singapore, and ships' parts and vegetables throughout Europe. Unfortunately, after the tragic crash in 1963 of one C-74 in Marseilles, France, the airline suspended operations and its C-74s eventually were scrapped. Today, no examples of this record-setting transport exist. This monograph of the C-74 Globemaster is written by Nick Williams, an award-winning author of over two dozen articles published in the Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society and publications in the U.K. Nick has written two previous books in Steve Ginter's Naval Fighters series as well as his 1999 book published in the U.K., "Aircraft of The Military Air Transport Service 1948-1966". His new book on the C-74 is the result of nearly fifty years of research, containing comments from several of the C-74's engineers as well as former Douglas and Air Force pilots.

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Aircraft in Profile - British Classics Volume 1 Issue 1 . By Gary Hatcher Aircraft in Profile is a monthly section occupying the centre pages of Scale Aircraft Modelling magazine providing an initial 'first step' in researching an aircraft type, and is aimed at those readers who have had little previous interest in its subject, rather than those with expert knowledge. The section outlines the history and development of its chosen type providing a context for a modelling project, while the plans and drawings are designed to expand upon this and we hope we hope will be of use or interest to both modellers and aviation enthusiasts alike Volume one collects six 'Classic' British subjects following a number of requests to provide the material in book form. 72 pages

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Douglas A-20 HAVOC IN ACTION Doyle. The Douglas A-20 Havoc was a light bomber, attack, and intruder aircraft of World War II. Used by the American Army Air Forces, nearly one-third of the aircraft served with the Soviet military, while many other A-20s fought with the RAF. Taking its first operational shape on the eve of the outbreak of the war in Europe, the 7B prototype actually crashed with a French observer aboard, kicking off a scandal in still-isolationist America where military aircraft were not to be exported. U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt pressed for a change in that restrictive rule and the French, impressed by the plane's rugged dependability and maneuverability, proceeded to place orders for 100 of the aircraft, albeit with modifications that resulted in the DB-7 version. Even before shipments began in November 1939, Paris had increased its order by another 170 aircraft. Many of those, however, found their way into the British RAF, which flew them under the nickname Boston, after the fall of France in June 1940. The U.S. Army Air Corps issued its first contracts for the aircraft they called the A-20 and A-20A, in May 1939, these were only delivered during the months from late 1940 through much of 1941. A dozen A-20As had recently arrived in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese surprise attack destroyed two of them on the ground. Modifications of the design continued and it was after the U.S. entry into the war when the A-20C version, produced by Douglas and Boeing, first were accepted. Of the first 515 A-20Cs, 108 were retained by the U.S. Army Air Forces, while 407 were shipped off to the Soviet Union. Numerous versions of the aircraft followed. About half of the A-20G were sent to the Soviet Union, as were many of the A-20H. In fact the Soviet air forces had more A-20s than the USAAF. Illustrated with 192 vintage photographs and detailed line drawings. 80 pages. (now out of print so be quick!)

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From Submariners to Tank Killers Marine-Panzerjagd-Regiment 1 and the Fighting near Hamburg in April-May 1945 Author: Axel Urbanke ISBN: 978-3-941437-53-1 Pages: 192 Photos: 157, 48 of them in colour Illustrations: 15 color maps Format: 24 x 28,5 cm - Large format, Hard cover plus dust jacket At the beginning of April 1945, it became clear that the surrender of the Wehrmacht was only a matter of days or weeks. But despite this hopeless prospect, the German troops still put up fierce resistance to the enemy. Most of the front-line soldiers had long since given up hope of an already illusory final victory. Other goals now had priority. The way to the west had to be kept open for columns of refugees; steps had to be taken to ensure that civilians and wounded comrades could be evacuated by sea; and a path to the west had to be cleared for their own troops. The great spectre on the Eastern Front was that of being overrun by the Russians and then being subjected to their reprisals. Very few interested people today know that a stubborn fight against the British and Americans was also necessary on the Western Front in order to achieve these goals. So in April, the Germans were playing for time, because every day that the Wehrmacht troops in the West delayed surrender saved the lives of thousands, even tens of thousands of people in the East. But Hitler was still alive and making his unrealistic decisions in Berlin. To oppose his orders in those days could quickly mean death. In this situation, Hamburg, a city of millions, made preparations for a "defence to the last round of ammunition". Disaster loomed. Due to a lack of troops, at the beginning of April, the High Command of the Wehrmacht increasingly resorted to sailors whose ships had been sunk, were damaged, or are no longer able to sail due to a lack of fuel. Among these men were about 2,000 submariners who had been waiting in the Elbe metropolis for the completion or repair of their U-boats. Now, instead of putting to sea in their boats to fight the enemy, they stood up to the British with Panzerfaust anti-tank weapons as part of the 1st Naval Anti-Tank Regiment. Under the level-headed battle commander of Hamburg, they put up such a measured resistance that time was gained to finally surrender Hamburg without a fight and, by stopping the British at the Elbe, keep the Baltic ports open to refugees for about 14 days longer. This book is an exciting piece of contemporary history that provides a somewhat different view of the events of that time. Follow the submariners' fight in the Harburg Hills and on the Elbe, which has never been summarised until today and which saved the lives of tens of thousands of people. Important note for submarine enthusiasts: Photos of Type XXI and Type XXIII submarines are known to be very rare. This book contains 31 unpublished color photos of the construction of these boat types and their commissioning at Blohm-und-Voss and Deutsche Werft AG in Hamburg. The photos were taken as part of film recordings made by war correspondent Walter Frentz on behalf of Hitler. Frentz was to film all of the modern new weapons in the summer of 1944. During filming, he privately made color slides. The color recording is therefore a small sensation that can finally be seen 78 years after it's creation.

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AM-20: The Avro Lancaster (including the Manchester) Part 1 - Wartime Service - A Complete Guide to the RAF's Legendary Heavy Bomber by Richard A. Franks This covers the Avro Manchester and Lancaster B Mks I, II, III & VI in RAF (inc. RCAF/RAAF) service in WWII The Avro Lancaster Part 2 will cover postwar variants, use by foreign air forces, civilian types, both Lancaster and Lancastrian, and trials and test-bed machines. This volume will published later this year. Full details of its contents will be announced in due course. The Lancaster has been a popular aircraft type with modellers and has recently been the subject of several new toolings in all scales, especially in 1/32nd and 1/48th. Our latest book will go some way towards unpicking the different variants and detail differences that apply to the type. It will contain at least 272 pages packed with vital information that no active modeller and RAF Bomber Command enthusiast should be without. They each contain: 60+ pages of technical information 60+ pages of walk-around images and technical diagrams 8+ pages of camouflage and markings 25+ pages of model builds and modelling information 200+ photographs including wartime images Colour side views and four-views by Richard J. Caruana 3D isometric views of all variants by Juraj Jankovic Specially commissioned extensive full kit builds by Steve A. Evans Specially commissioned front cover artwork by Jerry Boucher Bonus set of scale plans [B.I/III B.III]

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Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash. Fraught with engine and aerodynamic teething problems that resulted in its missing the Korean War for which it was intended, the F-84F Thunderstreak, initially seen as languishing in the shadow of the more well-known and proven F-86 Sabre, matured to become a formidable fighter-bomber that served not only with the USAF's Tactical and Strategic Air Commands, but also with numerous European air forces for many of which it also offered the first experience in swept wing jet fighter operation. It provided a much-needed deterrent during the critical early years of the Cold War and the 1960s, especially with NATO air forces, where it normally replaced its straight-wing predecessor, the F-84 Thunderjet. No fewer than 2,711 examples of the Thunderstreak were built, so that for a time it was the fighter most in widespread use in Europe, becoming the backbone of the Alliance's combat element. In contrast, its service with the USAF was rather short-lived when newer fighters such as the F-100 Super Sabre and F-4 Phantom with superior and supersonic performance supplanted it in service. However, with the outbreak of the Vietnam War, when these modern fighters and the USAF's other more valuable combat aircraft were deployed to Southeast Asia, the USAF recalled the Thunderstreak for another spell of frontline service in defence of mainland United States. It was only the French who used it in anger when it carried out strikes on Egyptian targets during the Suez Crisis of 1956. Sharing the Thunderstreak's main characteristics including its vices and virtues, its offshoot, the RF-84F Thunderflash, was considered to be the best photo-reconnaissance fighter of its time, capable of carrying six cameras in its abundant nose in 15 different combinations. The Thunderflash, too, was exported to most of NATO's air forces, as well as to the Republic of China Air Force where it carried out routine overflights over mainland Communist China in a hostile environment. The French, too, used it in a firing war, again in Suez, while the Turkish Air Force similarly employed it during its brief war with Greece in 1974. Again, the advent of such types as the RF-101 recce Voodoo and the RF-4C Phantom replaced it in USAF service, while the F-104 was the type that most replaced it in NATO air arms. But both the Thunderstreak and Thunderflash remained in service for a long period in some of the European air forces, the last Thunderflash being retired from the Greek Air Force in 1991. This latest Warpaint title gives an account of these two types' service, with detailed lists of serials, squadron service, production and variants in 80 pages of text accompanied by no fewer than 190 colour and B&W photos, eight pages of colour artwork by and foldout scale drawings, describing the development and operational career of these remarkable aircraft. This book is written by Charles Stafrace and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.

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Convair (Consolidated Vultee) B-36 'Peacemaker' Conceived when the Americans thought that the stuttering British candle would be snuffed out by Germany, the Consolidated Vultee, Convair, B-36 was intended to take the air war to Europe from the Continental USA. Fortunately Britain hung on and caused the cancellation of the invasion due to the stalwart efforts of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. As global war developed the B-36 programme was put on the back burner as other needs were more pressing. Eventually the B-36 would resume this time as a high altitude long range nuclear delivery platform. Numerous versions entered service with USAF covering both the bombing and reconnaissance versions, both undertaking overseas deployments in support of their intended missions. Continued production of the B-36 caused a great rift with the U.S. Navy whose first super carrier was cancelled to pay for more B-36's that the Admirals regarded as redundant. It would be the emergence of the reliable turbojet engine that would spell the end of the B-36 as a front line aircraft as both the Boeing B-47 and B-52 bombers would quickly see the types demise. Outside the needs of Strategic Air Command there were other uses for the B-36 airframe, one would be used to transport a B-58 Hustler fuselage/ wing assembly for structural testing, another would become the NB-36 and carried a working nuclear reactor aboard whilst the final throw of the dice saw the type developed into the YB-60 eight engined bomber in competition with the B-52. The basic design threw up one more off shoot, the XC-99 transport that saw a new fuselage married to the original wings and fittings plus the original tail feathers, as a unique one off the XC-99 survives in preservation. This book is written by Kev Darling and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.

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Douglas A3D Skywarrior. by Charles Stafrace Never glamorous and not receiving the recognition showered on its deck mates, the shipboard Douglas A3D Skywarrior will be remembered by U.S. Navy fans and historians for many reasons, most of all because it figured prominently in the Cold War crises of the late 1950s and early 1960s, culminating in the Vietnam War that dragged on until the mid-1970s. The Skywarrior will also be remembered for its longevity, the first examples having shared deck space with FJ Furies aboard Second World War-vintage carriers in the 1950s, and the last examples mingling with F-14 Tomcats on nuclear-powered Nimitz Class carriers in 1987. However, this magnificent aircraft, affectionately known as the 'Whale', achieved fame in roles different from that for which it had been designed. After its strategic nuclear bomber role faded owing to changed U.S. Navy and Pentagon policies, the Skywarrior excelled in other roles entrusted to it such as aerial tanking and electronic jamming, electronic and photoreconnaissance, vital tasks which it carried out faithfully in the first line of battle for several years from 1965 onwards. Indeed, the RA-3B version was also used during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm. Some examples were converted into bombardier trainers and VIP staff transports, while others found their way to experimental establishments and aerospace companies as testbeds for various systems and weaponry until 2011, resulting in many strange nose shapes and radomes. The Skywarrior will be recorded, too, as being the heaviest jet aircraft to ever operate from any U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. It served with several types of squadrons - VAH, VAQ, VAK, VAP/VCP, VQ and VR. All versions and squadrons, both shipboard and land-based, are listed in this new Warpaint series by Guideline Publications, written by Charles Stafrace and illustrated by Richard J Caruana. Apart from the usual detailed text that describes each version and its operational service, several other tables are included in this profile, including production serials, versions lists, squadron use and Appendices giving detailed data on each Skywarrior cruise, specifications, and the 1962 type re-designation of U.S. Navy aircraft. No fewer than 200 B&W and colour photos, many of which are being published for the first time, illustrate the various versions of this versatile aircraft.

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Grumman F9F Panther When the US Navy decided to enter the jet age it was no surprise that it turned to Grumman for its first carrier borne jet fighter bomber with a recon option. The first design produced by the company was a mighty beast, more akin to a bomber than a fighter. Unfortunately American jet engine development was concentrating mainly on the turbojet, a slow process as little was really known about manufacturing such a powerplant. Back to the drawing board and Grumman designed a small straight winged single engined machine that would be powered by a centrifugal engine. However, America was going through an 'American stuff only' period therefore an overseas powerplant was put of the question, or was it? The problem would be solved by having the Rolls Royce Nene license manufactured by Pratt & Whitney as the J42. As insurance the Allison J33 was selected to power one batch of aircraft although all were converted to the J42 later. The resulting aircraft would be designated the F9F Panther and would enter squadron service at a fairly steady pace although this quickened once the United States found itself embroiled in the Korean War. The Panther proved itself to be a tough bird although there was the odd mix 'n' match that resulted in a blue tailed fly! The remaining Panthers would finally leave USN service in the early 1960s. The only overseas operator of the type was Argentina who also used them as carrier aircraft. This book is written by Kev Darling and is superbly illustrated by Richard J. Caruana.

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Douglas C-47 Skytrain/Dakota By Adrian M. Balch When the prototype Douglas DC-3 " actually a DST Douglas Sleeper Transport first flew from Clover Field, Santa Monica, California on Sunday 17 December 1935, Donald Wills Douglas never imagined that the production run would total more than 10,000, with more licence built in Russia and Japan, let alone many would be still be flying 86 years later, the C-47 being perpetuated by turbo-prop conversions, seeing the type probably still flying to see its 100th anniversary! Arguably the most famous transport aircraft of all time, the DC-3 and C-47 has been operated by just about every country in the world in service with their airlines and military air arms. This Warpaint has not skimped on the colour schemes and markings used by military operators, the C-47 being named by the USAAF as the Skytrain and the RAF and Commonwealth countries as the Dakota, both names being adopted worldwide. This lavish and extensive Warpaint by author Adrian Balch includes over 300 photographs of military C-47s, nearly all in colour, accompanied by 10 pages of colour profiles by artist Sam Pearson making this the most comprehensive reference to colours and markings for modellers and historians on the type to date.

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Vickers Viking, Valetta & Varsity In Military Service. By Adrian M. Balch £19.00 56 pages The Vickers VC.1 Viking was a British twin-engine short-range airliner derived from the Vickers Wellington bomber and built by Vickers-Armstrongs Limited at Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey. After the Second World War, the Viking was an important airliner with British airlines, pending the development of turboprop aircraft like the Viscount. The Valetta was a military derivative of the Viking developed in transport and training variants for the Royal Air Force, while the Varsity was a versatile twin piston-engined aircraft developed from the Viking and Valetta but with a tricycle undercarriage and ventral pannier for bomb-aimer training, among other changes. It was brought into RAF service in 1951 for crew training as a replacement for the Wellington T.10. This Warpaint relates the history of all three types, focussing on the military operators, as per the series title. It is profusely illustrated by 125 top quality photographs, nearly all in colour, from the author's extensive photograph archive and supported by excellent colour profiles and plans by Sam Pearson.

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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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Hannover 'Hawa'! Volume 2. Harry Woodman and Ray Rimell complete their coverage of the Hannover biplanes with more rare photos, superb scale drawings and three pages of new Ronny Bar artwork! The second 'Hawa' volume concludes our detailed coverage of the 'Hannoverana' seies with more archive photos,several previously unpublished,and all-new Mick Davis GAs in 1:48 and 1:72 of both the CL.III and CL.IIIA variants.The new DATAFILE's content has been extended to include the CL.IV and CL.V types for which latter 1:48 scale drawings by the late Ian Stair are also presented. With a detailed look at the Argus powerplant [with colour close-ups]; three more pages of fabulous colour profiles by Ronny Bar;extended camouflage and markings notes from Ray Rimell; plus several pages of detailed airframe and fittings sketches from the 1918-published Hannover handbook, this is yet another great reference package!

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