Squadron Flyer (Yes, it's that time again)

Well then, here's a review of the #6109 P-38J&L issue. It was a gift so I don't know how I'd (fairly) balance cost and value.

It's around 110 pages broken up into three major sections

p1-31 Brief introduction, flowchart of the J, L, and conversion sub-models Side view line drawings of each subtype (mostly in 1/72. some 1/48 scale) Starts with J-1, J-5 and into the M, droop snoots and pathfinders. Table data of production block serial numbers. Table data on top P-38 aces with 3-4 pages of b&w photos of some of them.

p36-83 Walkaround color section of several birds - many of a J-20. Includes a few shots of a droop snoot nose (I believe was part of a conversion/restoration). Nice sharp color photography we'd all have love to have seen in use around

p84-110 Color plates - full and partial side view illustrations along with some full topviews. Very nice.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: The sources cited in the bibliography include:

Swanborough's Military Aircraft since 1909 A couple of William Green's well known WWII pubs from the 60s Profile's P-38 issue. Squadron's P-38 volumes (In action and walkaround) Bert Kinzey's Detail & Scale P-38 pub (Vol 2) (eventually pub'd by Squadron) All of the AJ Press P-38 monographs Aero Team #5

HPM Magazine, Air International

They list 6 websites - of the three that were easy to type this one checked out:

OPINIONS:

Accuracy shouldn't be a problem as it's a very terse read. It also omits the tonnage of grainy period b&w photos that I usually skip over when I'm using a book as a model ref. I prefer walkarounds, plane or isometric exploded view line drawings with some capsule information to help me understand what I'm looking at. Others may disagree. I just don't have the photo analytical skills some seem to possess.

As for the historian side of my interests, this book didn't broaden my knowledge in P-38Js, Ls and their derivatives (nor do I suspect that was its intent)- but than again I've read all the books in their bibliography plus some they didn't mention - a few by Jeff Ethell come to mind. I'm nobody's P-38 expert though - especially in the minutiae. As a model ref, it should prove useful when the forked tailed devil comes up again on my workbench.

Dunno how it stacks up as a purchase, but as a gift it's a grand addition to the library. ;-) And addition is a good word for it. It complements the references listed in the bibliography. It is in no terms a broad enough treatment to displace any one of them.

So what's the retail on the Mushrooms?

WmB

Mine rolled in in today's mail, Baltimore, Maryland.

Bill Shuey

Mad-Modeller wrote:

Me to...have yet to crack it open...but soonly...

All of the Mushrooms are priced at $19.96. Thanks for the review. I'm mostly interested in the PZL P.11c and P.23A.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

None here, only a state away.

in article snipped-for-privacy@nextline.com, Mad-Modeller at snipped-for-privacy@nextline.com wrote on 5/5/05 1:37 AM:

Depends on the author--Alex Crawford's one on the Gladiator is the best source since Mason's monograph in '63, and is well updated. Sometimes the colors can be a little off, but no one relies on profiles exclusively anymore.

Mad-Modeller wrote:

FWIW I just received the Mushroom publication on the Supermarine Walrus and Stranraer (anybody know how the hell you pronounce that?). If you are into the CA kit for the Walrus, one of the true "character" British aircraft or the older Matchbox kit for the Stranraer this is an excellent pub. It has a short history of both types with some very nice period pictures and then a fairly comprehensive collection of pictures of surviving museum specimens. And of course some color profiles. Well worth the $20. Interesting history-Supermarine Aircraft. The company was formed by an aviation enthusiast and member of parliament named Noel Pemberton Billings to produce aircraft for Naval applications. Supermarine concentrated primarily on floatplanes and flying boats. Their skills resulted in them being the primary builders for the Schneider Cup seaplane and floatplane racers. The experience they gained in high speed seaplanes resulted in an attempt at "crossover" into fighter aircraft. The Spitfire must really be viewed as an aberration being very, very far from Supermarine's real field of expertise. It should be noted that the Spitfire experience didn't repeat itself. The Spiteful was overtaken by the rise of the jet engine, the Attacker was less than successful and the Scimitar. In defense of Supermarine, the Royal Navy was deeply involved in the Scimitar design and as an English acquaintance put it: "Only the Royal Navy could put two Rolls-Royce Avon's in an aircraft and keep it sub-sonic"!@ How Mushroom pics their "series" assignments I haven't a clue, but what I have of their books I am quite satisfied with.

Bill Shuey

Mad-Modeller wrote:

FWIW I just received the Mushroom publication on the Supermarine Walrus and Stranraer (anybody know how the hell you pronounce that?). If you are into the CA kit for the Walrus, one of the true "character" British aircraft or the older Matchbox kit for the Stranraer this is an excellent pub. It has a short history of both types with some very nice period pictures and then a fairly comprehensive collection of pictures of surviving museum specimens. And of course some color profiles. Well worth the $20. Interesting history-Supermarine Aircraft. The company was formed by an aviation enthusiast and member of parliament named Noel Pemberton Billings to produce aircraft for Naval applications. Supermarine concentrated primarily on floatplanes and flying boats. Their skills resulted in them being the primary builders for the Schneider Cup seaplane and floatplane racers. The experience they gained in high speed seaplanes resulted in an attempt at "crossover" into fighter aircraft. The Spitfire must really be viewed as an aberration being very, very far from Supermarine's real field of expertise. It should be noted that the Spitfire experience didn't repeat itself. The Spiteful was overtaken by the rise of the jet engine, the Attacker was less than successful and the Scimitar. In defense of Supermarine, the Royal Navy was deeply involved in the Scimitar design and as an English acquaintance put it: "Only the Royal Navy could put two Rolls-Royce Avon's in an aircraft and keep it sub-sonic"!@ How Mushroom pics their "series" assignments I haven't a clue, but what I have of their books I am quite satisfied with.

Bill Shuey

Stranraer is pronounced Stran-rar as if the e was not there.

I like the quote about the Scimitar - it seems very apt to me!

Gord> >