The de Havilland Mosquito Part 2: Fighter, Fighter-Bomber & Night-Fighter (inc. Sea Mosquito), by Richard A. Franks (Valiant Wings – Airframe Miniatures 10)
Valiant Wings Publishing are well known for their Airframe & Miniature series of books, which include as much information about an aircraft & the relevant scale model kits in one place as possible, and their latest, second volume on the Mosquito is looking excellent indeed.
This tenth title in the much acclaimed “Airframe & Miniature” series contain more than 210 pages, packed with vital information that no active modeller and Mosquito enthusiast should be without. The first volume (part 1) in the series covered all glass-nosed Bomber & PR versions. This one is about all Fighter, Fighter-Bomber, Night-Fighter and Sea Mosquito variants.
It is an essential companion for anyone tackling the Tamiya (1/72, 1/48 & 1/32 scale), Airfix (1/24 scale - new tool) and even some of the older kits in 1/72nd scale. This series of books offers everything that modern modellers want when they are tackling a specific subject.
Contents include a wealth of historical photographs; period detail images during production and service use; more than 65 isometric views by Wojciech Sankowski (very detailed, with captions and arrows showing the difference between all the Fighter, FB and NF machines to assist you in making them); more than 64 colour profiles by Richard J. Caruana. Many of the photographs are in colour, including some excellent photos of the cockpit and other useful details of the real aircraft. Also included are many diagrams showing internal detail systems, landing gear, flaps, sights, weapons, engines, etc.
We particularly liked the many close-up photos of the various internal and external details of the aircraft (eg many diagrams showing the bomb/rockets loading arrangement with different kind of weapons, alternative bomb loads, different cannons (inc. the 57mm cannon and even torpedo loaded versions!), access panels, bomb sights, etc), which are very helpful to the modeller. Cockpit and canopy are fully covered, giving an excellent perspective inside, including details of the side panels, frame, side console levers, etc. Those who want to expose an open nose will find all radar and armament details there.
As usual the quality of printing, binding, paper, photography and text are first class and this is a book highly recommended to all modellers interested in the Mosquito aircraft.
The de Havilland Mosquito Part 2 contains:
35 pages of historical and development information
25+ pages of technical information (evolution of Fighter, FB, NF versions, Sea Mosquito & other variants)
44+ pages of walk-around images, close-up detail photos and technical diagrams, using photos of preserved examples of the Mosquito from museums and original manuals.
35+ pages of camouflage and markings
30+ pages of model builds and modelling information (including extensive reviews of all kits in all popular scales)
500+ photographs including wartime images (some in colour)
64+ Colour side views and four-views (profiles) by Richard J. Caruana
24 pages with more than sixty 3D isometric views of all Fighter and FB/NF variants by Wojciech Sankowski
Specially commissioned extensive full kit builds by Libor Jekl, Steve A. Evans and Dani Zamarbide of the: 1/72nd scale Hasegawa FB MkXVIII, Tamiya FB VI converted to post-war Czech B-36, 1/48th scale Airfix FB Mk VI converted to Chinese FB Mk26, Tamiya FB MkVI converted to BOAC configuration and 1/32nd scale Tamiya FB Mk VI.
Specially commissioned front cover artwork by Jerry Boucher
A full set of fold-out 1/48th scale plans (8 pages) in heavy/sturdy paper, by R.J. Caruana (very useful to the modeller, especially the full upper view plans!)
Lists of all Mosquito kits, accessories and decals, masks produced in all scales.
The last two pages include a comprehensive bibliography with all Mosquito related material (books & magazine articles)
More than 210 pages in total! And even more if you add the free downloadable PDF file (20 pages) from Valiant Wings website. This file include reviews of older kits before 1998, one more 1/72nd scale built (Hasegawa NF) and more photos of the real aircraft (inc. nose art) plus the latest decals & accessories.
If you are going to build any scale model of the Mosquito in detail you must buy & study this book. Definitely the only book you’ll ever need - a one-stop source. And if you have any Mosquito kit in stock this volume will make you confident enough to start building it immediately!
Orders can be made via the Valiant Wings website (see link below), by phone on 01234 273434 (+44 1234 273434 if calling from outside the UK) or by writing to:
Valiant Wings Publishing
8 West Grove
Bedford
MK40 4BT
The book is also available from all good hobby stores and specialist bookshops.
Price is 18.95 GBP and you can order using the following link:
http://www.valiant-wings.co.uk/airframe--miniature-no10-2313-p.asp
