Henschel Hs123 – A Technical Guide, by Richard A. Franks, Airframe Detail No.7 (Valiant Wings)

The seventh title in the Valiant Wings’ “Airframe Detail” series, The Henschel Hs123, is an essential companion for anyone tackling the Montex/Alley Cat 1/32nd resin kit, the new GasPatch, or older AmTech/Esci/Italeri/Revell kits in 1/48th, or the A-Model, Avis, Fly and venerable Airfix examples in 1/72nd scale.

The Introduction consists of an 11-page history of the type, illustrated with many action captioned photographs.

Contents include:

11 pages of a brief History of the real aircraft

Period detail images during production and service use

A wealth of historical photographs and technical diagrams (23 pages)

Data from flight manuals and spare parts catalogues

Colour profiles by Richard J. Caruana (17 pages)

Concise camouflage and marking notes (18 pages)

Lists of all Hs123 kits and accessories produced in all scales

Excellent kit build of the 1/48th Hs123 (GasPatch Models) by Steve Evans (7 pages with step by step detailed photos)

In total 66 pages plus covers

We very much liked details (photos & diagrams) about the cockpit, undercarriage, armament, ETC50/70Kg bomb racks, ammunition box access panels, Revi gunsight, the “English” type control column with circular handle (!), engine & cowling details, two and three blade propeller types, external fuel tank installation, ground handling equipment, and many more.

The five appendices occupy the last four pages of the book. The first three appendices cover known kits, accessories, and decals, most of which are in 1/72 scale and 1/48 scale. The 1/32 scale kits are also listed, these being either vacuform (Combat, Schmidt Vacu-modellbau) or resin (Montex, re-released by Alley Cat). The final appendix is a brief bibliography, which is very useful for those doing extensive research into the type.

This is an excellent one-stop technical reference for Henschel's Hs 123 biplane fighter-bomber and a very detailed photographic/technical drawings record. Especially the drawings section provides more than enough information to satisfy detail fans and scratch-builders. Overall, an excellent book which is Highly Recommended!

You can order it -fast & easy- by clicking at Valiant Wings website here. In Greece you can also find (and order) it here.

ISBN 978-1-912932-04-7 

Retail Price is 13.95 GBP