Airframe & Miniature Series No.5
Publisher: Valiant Wings Publishing
Author: Richard Franks
ISBN 978-0-9567198-7-4
Price: £19.95 RRP (Aug 2013)
Review by: Geoff Coughlin
You can get this superb title here now at www.valiant-wings.co.uk, ADH Publishing and good specialist book and hobby retailers worldwide
Our thanks to Mark at Valiant Wings Publishing for supplying our review sample…
Vital statistics…
- Now 208 pages!
- Packed with vital information that no active aviation modeller should be without
- 40+ pages of technical information
- 20+ pages of walkaround images and technical diagrams
- 5+ 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 Caruana
- 3D isometric views of all variants by Jacek Jackiewicz
- Extensive 1:48 and 1:72 scale kit builds
- Two sets of fold-out 1:48 scale plans
Background info to the series…
This is the fifth title in the Airframe & Miniature (AirMin) Series from Valiant Wings Publishing; others in the series include the Me 262 and Hawker Typhoon amongst others. The author, Richard Franks will be known to many for his Editorial role with Model Airplane International (MAI), part of the ADH Publishing Empire, plus of course other aviation and modelling titles. Also of course for much of the Modellers’ Data File books we continue to see widely at shows and on our shelves.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is an iconic aircraft with the Early series aircraft differing significantly from later models in terms of detail and this title clarifies all those distinguishing features.
Modellers are fairly spoiled for choice when it comes to model kits of the Bf 109 and so this new title will prove popular amongst not only WWII Luftwaffe modellers but also aviation historians and enthusiasts.
Title structure
The book is divided up into two sections, plus appendices – Airframe chapters cover evolution, testing, production and drawing board projects, camouflage and markings plus colour profiles of the Bf 109 from Richard Caruana. Miniature chapters cover kit builds of the major Bf 109 kits in 1:72, 1:48 and 1:32nd scales, detailed isometric views of all prototype and production variants for those wishing to build a collection. Also included are detailed walkaround photographs of examples of the aircraft and the coverage here is extensive. The book is topped and tailed by a detailed reference bibliography and comprehensive kit listings. In addition, there are comprehensive listings of all aftermarket items like resin and etched detail sets, plus decal sets that have been produced. The scale plans to 1:48 scale are a bonus for sure, especially if you plan to rivet your model or are looking to upgrade one of the many kits available at the time of writing.
Modelling focus
As a pure one-stop-shop this title is going to be hard to beat, it really contains all most modellers will need to see in a good model reference title. Many of the period images won’t be new to you if you are well into your subject, but some will be, as will the line drawings and profiles. Richard Caruana is a talented artist and his profiles will inspire you and make you want to go and get that ‘109 model out of the stash and get building.
I am a big fan of quality reference material as many of you will hopefully appreciate as we recently added our 200th set of detailed walkaround images to SMN’s Photo Reference Library. So too in this book, walkaround coverage is given to surviving Bf 109s – plus lots of period photos. In some ways this book reminds me of the excellent Aerodetail titles available from Hobbylink Japan, but the scope of this title is far wider and consequently better value for money.
Kit builds
A decent selection of type kits are built for the book and that is to be applauded – they certainly give you an insight into what building these particular aircraft will bring depending on your choice of scale and kit. The scope and model coverage is very good and shows how this series is developing very well.
The quality of the builds is high and there are some nice weathering touches like weathering to the wings and airframes of most builds featured.
Overall then…
I would certainly recommend this new title as it has plenty of good reference material, images and profiles – and those scale plans to help us get the best out of our Bf 109 projects. I wonder what will be next. Keep up the good work team!
Highly recommended
Geoff C.