The Focke Wulf Ta154 Moskito, Airframe Detail No.6, by Richard A. Franks (Valiant Wings)
Valiant Wings Publishing has released the sixth volume in its Airframe Detail series, covering the german “Wooden Wonder” or “The Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Moskito: A Technical Guide”. This 66-page volume is authored by series editor Richard A. Franks, and illustrated by Richard J. Caruana.
Following the usual format for this series, the book consists of three main sections, plus an introduction and appendices:
1.Technical Description
2.Camouflage & Markings
3. Kit Build (1/32 HpH kit)
The appendices feature a run down of available kits and accessories, as well as a concise bibliography on the type.
Introduction
A 16-page history of the type, illustrated with captioned, action photographs and schematic diagrams. All the prototypes and early production aircraft are mentioned (A/B/C Series & Ta254 subtypes), including technical data/specifications.
Technical Description
This is the longest section of the book: 29 pages. The content is a mix of original factory drawings and period photographs. All areas of the real aircraft are covered: Cockpit Interior, Forward Fuselage & Canopy, Mid and Rear Fuselage, Main Undercarriage, Nose Wheel, Vertical Fin and Rudder, Tailplanes, Wings, Engines, Cowlings & Propellers, Armament, Sighting, Fuel System, Coolant System, Radio & Radar. We particularly liked the diagrams showing the exact location of internal detail like the access ladder, canopy structure, side consoles, etc.
Camouflage & Markings
This section comprises eight pages, reflecting the fact that very few examples of the type were built, and it never entered service. There are, however, 14 nice colour profiles by Richard Caruana, along with a selection of period photographs. Page 55 contains a set of markings and stencil placement guides.
Building a Ta 154
The third and final section (7 pages) contains the build of the high-end resin kit in 1/32 scale from HpH Models. Steve Evans provides an excellent build and many helpful hints about a complex kit, and the resulting model is superb. Few kits have ever been offered of the Ta154, worth building by today standards; the Dragon’s 1/48th kit is one of them, and another one in 1/72nd scale by Hasegawa.
Appendices
The three appendices occupy the last three pages of the book, and cover known kits, accessories, and decals, along with a comprehensive bibliography.
In Conclusion…
An excellent one-stop technical reference for the Focke Wulf Ta 154. The type never saw operational service, but for its attraction to WW2 aviation enthusiasts & Luftwaffe modellers it is worth to buy the book. As a Technical Guide, this publication's detailed coverage is also worthwhile. Highly recommended!
You can order it by visiting the Valiant Wings website here.
