Authors: Peter Freeman with Tim Walsh
Publisher: AIRfile Publications
Series Editor: Neil Robinson
Price: £19.99 GBP plus p&p direct from the publisher – here
Review by Geoff Coughlin
Our thanks to Neil and the team at AIRfile Publications for supplying our review sample. Get this great title and others here now at AIRfile Publications
Introduction
You may have seen my review of Volume 1 and this is a great addition to that title, moving on to cover more types and schemes that show just what a diverse range of markings have been carried by RAF training aircraft since 1945.
Quick summary
RAF Trainers Volume 2 offers 84 pages of profiles and 4-views of the bright and often bright colour schemes and markings applied to RAF aircraft used in the Training Role from the end of World War Two right up until 2012.
The aircraft types and numbers used in the training role during these years was vast, and colour schemes just as eclectic, making for a unique and fascinating reference source for modellers and aviation enthusiasts alike.
P&P | UK £2.40 | Europe £5.75 | Rest of World £9.95
What I like
This is written and presented exactly like we modellers will like and appreciate. Many familiar types and a few less so fill the pages with profiles in plan and side views – excellent. Some of the schemes are superb like the one applied to Lightning T.5, XS452, Akrotiri Station Flight, Cyprus, 1975 – pink! Mmmm, but what a great modelling subject. Many HS Gnats and Hunters too in their red/white schemes are of course there, plus many other markings that will have you reaching for your search engine to try to locate appropriate decals for your model project.
Essentially what you have are lots and lots of profiles with captions explaining what you need to know. So, for around £20.00 GBP that’s what you get and for the price represents good value for money.
Other comments and summary
One thing I would have liked is a contents page at the front that lists all the aircraft featured and the page where they can be found. Equally, there’s no index at the back of the title and while these small points slightly niggle, they don’t detract sufficiently to stop me buying a copy. Far from it, this is a good book, covering an important aspect of British military aviation that will appeal to many aircraft modellers and enthusiasts. This is an impressive title and I like it a lot – if you are into RAF scale modelling, it really is a must-have!
Recommended
Geoff C.