"Air Combat Legends" and "The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in North Africa"

Model Airplane News, Jul 2005 by Reid, John

Specialty Press

"Air Combat Legends" and "The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in North Africa"

Scale treasures

Two new books from Specialty Press belong on every scale builder's bookshelf: "Air Combat Legends" and "The Focke-Wulf Fw190 in North Africa"; they are excellent references for scale enthusiasts. Both contain outstanding illustrations of various color schemes and hundreds of period photos, along with many full-color 3-view and side profiles.

"Air Combat Legends" deals with mortal enemies in the skies over wartime Europe-the British Spitfire/Seafire and the German Bf 109. It tracks the history and development of both planes and examines the different variations, missions and cockpits, as well as the weapons they carried and the air battles they fought. Each aircraft's exhaustive analysis is supported with great photos and illustrations.

This 256-page hardbound book is edited by David Donald, one of Europe's most respected aviation writers. It contains more than 900 photos/illustrations and is available for only $34.95.

"The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in North Africa," by Andrew Arthy and Morten Jessen, gives a day-to-day account of the airwar over Tunisia and Algeria from the perspective of Fw 190 pilots, much of it taken from diaries and first-hand accounts of both German and Allied pilots. The appendix includes complete loss and victory lists, along with some nice color illustrations of camouflage and markings of various Fw 190s that served in North Africa. After three years of in-depth research, the authors formulated an intriguing, historical story that I found enjoyable to read. This 176-page, hardbound book has more than 150 photos, color artworks, maps and diagrams. It costs $54.95. -John Reid

Specialty Press (800) 895-4585; specialtypress.com.