Model Aviation Books

I think that this is the definitive kit plane reference for those contemplating building the same.

The book is well written in an easy to understand style and provides a great insight into what's involved. It covers all aspects of construction and also includes a lot of honest, upfront details about the real costs involved.

I also purchased a copy of "Choosing your Homebuilt" and while this provides much of the same information it does so in a much more superficial manner compared to this book. The only advantage of Ken Armstrong's title is the flight reviews, which although useful are somewhat dated with many of the listed manufacturer's no longer in business...

Therefore if your budget allows purchase both, but if I had to choose just one it would have to be a copy of the "Kit Airplane Construction"

This is a great book for anyone considering building their own airplane, it goes into great detail about every facet of building your own plane, and excellent book!

An amazing amount of information for the homebuilder. Very well written, entertaining and up to date.

This is another great addition to my library. Very informative, I really like the case studies.

The book helped me most in the following areas:

1) What is involved in kitplane construction - risks and benifits, even the benifits of purchasing a used certified aeroplane.
2) Showed me how to think in terms of aviation building with safety as a priority.
3) Covers info from the kit purchase stage to the test flight.
4) Emphasized that it is helpful to understand all forms of construction (metal, wood) no matter what kind of aeroplane you are building. The book covers composite, metal, metal monocoque, wood construction.

This is a must buy for people who are wondering what it takes to build a kitplane and are undecided about whether they should build one.

As the other reviewers state, this is the book to get on free flight indoor model airplanes. The author illustrates / draws for a living; his well crafted and instructive drawings are better than photographs in showing you how to build such models.

I agree with the other reviewer that Novice or Limited Pennyplane is by far now a better class to build and fly for your first competition class model.

As others comment, some aspects are a bit dated but it is still the best book. I own two copies.

This is a fantastic book. Although it's getting old, it's probably the best book ever written about building indoor duration models. It may also be the best book ever written about model aircraft.

The author obviously put an enormous amount of effort into it, and it will be very useful to anyone who wants to begin building these fragile and beautiful models.

The book is almost an inch thick, and contains detailed instructions on almost every step involved in building indoor models. If you've never built a completely successful rubber-power model plane before, this book might be a really good place to start. The first chapter starts with a beginner's model. Subsequent chapters cover more advanced topics, up to the world-championship F1D class. You could easily go from any skill level to being able to build any model in the book, using only the instructions and plans given in the book.

Although the book concentrates on rubber duration, there is also a chapter on scale models and one on hand-launched gliders. There are many illustrations and they're excellent (I think the author is an architect).

The only thing wrong with this book is that it is now getting old. For example, chapters two and three which describe the easy-bee class, were obviously written at a time when the class was was less competitive than it is today. Nevertheless, the building and flying information given in the book is pretty timeless. People who want more up-to-date information should probably buy Lew Gitlow's more recent book as well.

Ron William's book Is an incredible resource for indoor flyers. Indoor models have seemed mysterious even to many outdoor flyers, but this book shows how to go from a simple Delta-Dart like glider to world class F1D planes weighing around 1 gram. Although the Aircraft types are a bit dated (Easy-Bee is now rather difficult, F1D planes are now much smaller and covered in plastic, Superthin plastics replaced many other coverings...)The building techniques are the same, and so are the formulas for loading and prop-form carving. Contest flyers should also get Lew Gitlow's newer book "indoor flying models" but William's Book is a truly indespencible resource.

Ron Williams' book is a pleasure that I've gone back to many times, both to enjoy his prose and his clear drawings and to answer questions and come up with ideas on my current project. A dog eared copy from the library was responsible for my entry into this hobby. Williams covers several types of indoor flying, with plans and instructions for a number of models, ranging from the easiest beginner's model to challenging F1D models with a couple of feet of wingspan that only weigh as much as a dollar bill. Both the prose and the artwork are clear and elegant; you might be tempted to copy some of the drawings to hang in your workshop. The book is showing its age slightly; it has no mention of Tan II, and the EZB designs aren't anywhere near as light as we have today, but it still serves as a wonderful introduction and reference. Williams also didn't seem to realize how easy Limited Pennyplane is, recommending instead EZB as the first serious model. Despite these small flaws, I recommend this book without hesitation, and I'm trying to get another copy to give to newcomers. This book should be republished!

This paper airplane book (and John M. Collin's other book "Return to the Fold", who he co-authored with Don Garwood and Thay Yang) is by far the (two) best book(s) that teaches how to fold paper airplanes. The graphics and text are clear and easily comprehended. What's more, you don't need scissors, glue or even the ready-made, glitzy, instruction sheets included in other books. Indeed, as you advance through the book, the folds become more and more difficult and require some practice, but once you learn the proper way of holding your fingers and applying the right amount of pressure, the folds naturally fall into place. It's like magic. After that the process becomes intuitive. And the planes ACTUALLY fly!...They do!

This book is sweet over 40 designs 3 authors 1 is a sciencetist he scientifically designs another is a Plane archetech and he designs them too last ont is a archetech an he makes the scientist's and the plane architech's ideas

I bought this book because I have a few others by Thay Yang (didn't know the other authors until this book).

This book has just over 40 airplane designs, starting from simple ones that anybody can fold leading up to fairly complex planes that require some practice or origami knowledge. This book is well worth finding a copy of since it covers ALL skill levels of folding. There is a wide variety of techniques used in this book, so it is great for learning new methods to design your own airplanes.

Folded fighter planes that actually fly? I guess that is any kid's dream. Well, I guess you can still say that I am still a kid, (I'm only 14) but and I love the many planes that can be folded from this book. With many precise illustrations and detailed folding instructions, making a full squadron of planes reminicent of F-4 Phantoms and F-106 Delta Darts is at your control. Truly a great book for any paper pilot.

Crusader scribe Peter Mersky turns his talents to the F-8's Vietnam War stablemate, the A-4 Skyhawk, in this Osprey 'Combat Aircraft' volume, #69 in the series. For much of the war the 'Scooter' was THE light attack platform, 42 USN and USMC operating various A-4 models. The A-4 community compiled a combat record second to none but at a cost: over 170 pilots were killed in action or became POWs. This inspiring story is well told in this 2007 Osprey volume.

Mersky's book reads like a who's who of the light attack community circa 1964-72: warriors like Bryan Compton, Wynn Foster, Marv Quaid, TR, Mike Estocin, Denny Weichman, Ned Carroll and hard-charging squadrons like the Spirits of VA-76, the Warhorses of VA-55, VA-212 Rampant Raiders, VA-94 Mighty Shrikes, VA-163 Saints, etc. Little space is devoted to the different 'Scooter' models flown; Mersky's book being devoted to exciting missions flown by skilled professionals.

There's an old saying in military aviation: 'Fighter Pilots Make Movies, Attack Pilots Make History.' Peter Mersky's book is an excellent, well-illustrated tribute to the many history-making pilots who flew Navy and Marine Corps A-4s in the Vietnam War.

****
*For an wonderfully-written, first-hand account of flying combat with VA-212, check out Stephen Gray's excellent RAMPANT RAIDER book.
*For full details of all A-4 Vietnam War MiG engagements, see my MIG KILLERS OF YANKEE STATION book.

The A4 was the backbone of the US Navy and Marine Corps' light strike force for much of the first half of the ten-year struggle in south-east Asia. However, the Skyhawk did not receive the press coverage in the latter conflict that the more glamorous F4 did. While Phantom II crews sporadically battled North Vietnamese Migs, A4 pilots hurled themselves daily at heavily defended targets up and down the southeast Asian peninsula, often paying a heavy price in lives and aircraft. Flying into vast thickets os anti-aircraft bursts mixed with huge surface-to-air missiles took great courage and skill, an to do so repeatedly during a carrier's tour of duty on the line bespoke a depth of dedication and character that can only be wondered at. Although other books on the Skyhawk have appeared over the years, they have usually discribed the jet's overall career. This book. however, focuses exclusively on the A4's most intense period of action in Vietnam and Laos.

There were high hopes for the latest in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series (#69). High enough that our board of directors allowed the official seal of the Skyhawk Association to be used on the front cover. The hopes were met. Peter Mersky wrote an outstanding book that will be on the must-have list of all A-4 fans. While longish, US Navy and Marine Corps A-4 Units of the Vietnam War, the title accurately describes the contents.
As Mersky says in the introduction, "Although other books on the A-4 have appeared over the years, they usually describe the Skyhawk's overall career. I wanted to focus on the jet's most intense period of action." He succeeded brilliantly. Any veteran of the skies over SE Asia will get the chills reading the descriptions of that air war.
Interviews and reports from many Scooter pilots form the meat of the book. This reader noted twenty-seven men he knew personally. Most members of the Association will be able to do the same. Every A-4 squadron that went to WestPac or in-country is covered. (Find one that's not and YHS will buy the next round.) Mersky has succinct descriptions of the phases the war at appropriate places.
The book is profusely illustrated with black and white photos throughout, a section of color pictures, and Osprey's forte, color profiles. In this case, thirty-two Skyhawks from different squadrons and various years superbly--and accurately--drawn by Jim Laurier. The cover painting by Mark Postlewaithe artfully catches the raw thrill of ground attack. (Note: Amazon.com, still shows a preliminary cover as an example.)
No book is perfect, but all this reviewer can find to complain about (other than the crack about, "...the equally [as the A-1] elderly A-4B.") is the separation of captions from the color section and the profiles. However, that's the way it is in all the Combat Aircraft series and if it keeps the price down...
Writing of MiG encounters, Mersky writes, "'Scooter' pilots were, after all, attack aviators, earth movers, breakers of dykes(sic)." He knows the Skyhawk spirit and it shows.

The full story of the A-4 Skyhawk remains to be told, partly because "Heinemann's Hotrod" remains flying throughout the world. But for a handy reference of the "Scooter's" primary combat use, this latest entry in Osprey's series will be around for years.

As depressing as Vietnam War history can be, Mersky avoids lapsing into a litany of almost daily losses for little military benefit. While losses were heavy (more A-4s were shot down than any naval type), he places Navy and Marine Corps operations in broader context of the waxing and waning combat operations from 1964-73. He demonstrates where A-4s were successfully employed, including the use of early precision guided weapons such as Walleye.

Tailhook aviators will find many familiar names here, including Everett Alvarez, Jim Stockdale, Wynn Foster, Mike Estocin, TR Schwartz, and others. But the day to day warriors also are acknowledged, such as Cdr. Denis Weichman who logged more than 600 A-4 missions.

As always in Osprey publications, illustrations abound. There are 95 black & white photos plus 13 color in addition to 32 excellent Jim Laurier profiles and Marky Styling's line drawings.

All in all, a fitting tribute to those who manned up and launched in the classic Skyhawk, doing as good a job as possible for a government that was, at best, indifferent to their fate.

Yet another Great Osprey Book filled with photo's and information on a Personal level from Pilots and Crew

Carl Molesworth's VERY LONG RANGE P-51 MUSTANG UNITS OF THE PACIFIC WAR provides a riveting combat history joining others in the 'Aviation Elite Units' series; this focusing on the pilots who called themselves the 'Tokyo Club', and who flew through monsoons and more to attack a heavily defended target at the heart of Japan's capitol. Black and white and some color photos liberally embellish the battle and technical descriptions.

This was a fine summary of the little known activities of the VLR (Very Long Range) fighter units. The difficulties encountered by the pilots and their aircraft are well described.

The P-51 and P-47 pilots who flew VLR missions to Japan in 1945 must have had cojones of steel! Imagine flying 650 miles in a single-engine fighter over the unforgiving Pacific Ocean, battling hordes of Japanese interceptors over the Homeland and then making the return trip, all the while hoping that wonderful Merlin engine upfront wouldn't miss a beat! The story of those epic - and butt-busting - missions is well told in this Osprey volume, #25 in their 'Aviation Elite Units' series.

Award-winning author Carl Molesworth chronicles the VLR missions flown by the pilots of the 15th, 21st and 506th Fighter Groups of the 7th Fighter Command starting in April 1945. The initial escort missions were fiercely opposed by IJNAF and IJAAF interceptors; later missions, less so due to the Japanese decision to conserve their resources to combat the expected U.S. invasion of the Homeland. But when the Japanese refused to come up to fight, the P-51s just went down on the deck, strafing Japanese targets at will.

By war's end, the P-51 pilots had scored 452 air and ground kills at a cost of 121 KIAs or POWs. Because of the sporadic nature of the air combat, few pilots scored the magic five kills to make ace. Nevertheless, these missions required an extraordinary physical and mental effort from the pilots involved and Molesworth's book stands as a tribute to those indomitable airmen.

As with other Osprey titles, this one is illustrated with over 100 photographs. The book benefits however from eight pages of absolutely gorgeous color side-views by Jim Laurier. Laurier's work is top-of-the-line; his artwork is so sharp you can even count the rivets.

Recommended.

Another fine modelling publication from the French furm of Historie & Collections. Great reference for building & detailing early A model FW 190's. Great step by step color photos & use of intermediate & advance building technics.

As a person re-entering the modeling hobby after many years, I was very intimidated by the huge leaps that have been made in the quality and accuracy of plastic models. This is the first book I have seen that really explains, with clear pictures and step-by-step instructions, how to get the tremendous detail and realistic paint and weathering schemes that turn a model into a work of art. If you are like me and easily confused by the instructions that assume you already know what you're doing, this is the book for you. I'm still intimidated by the quality of the models in this book, but at least I feel like I have a clue as to how it was done. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to build beautiful models, but doesn't want to spend 20 years learning by trial and error. I can't wait to see the next one in the series.

I have been modeling since 1959, and without a doubt this is the BEST example on how to do anyhting, not just a model. The format the authors use is near-perfect. I am a Nurse and Combat Firefighter -was in Iraq as such- and a Private Pilot: this is THE way a how-to should be done and I am not exaggerating one bit when I say I would unashamedly do it their way. Where's the FW-190D/TA-152 sequel?

In 1996 Classic Publications published Robert Forsyth's excellent - near definitive - history of Adolf Galland's Me 262-equipped JV 44. In 2008 Osprey Publishing lured Forsyth back to take another crack at Galland's Circus. The result is JAGDVERBAND 44, a comprehensive, well-illustrated unit history that supplements Forsyth's original book while standing on its own as an excellent overview of the Luftwaffe's most illustrious squadron.

The details of JV 44's life and death, as detailed in JAGDVERBAND 44, are fairly well known. Set up to demonstrate that the Me 262 could be the superior fighter Galland had always claimed it was, JV 44 led a nomadic existence in the rapidly disintegrating Reich. Moving from base to base, drawing aircraft and personnel -including top aces like Steinhoff, Lutzow and Bar - from a variety of sources, Galland and his meager staff grappled with effective tactics. The squadron went into action in late March 1945.

Forsyth certainly packed a lot of information in the book's 120-odd pages. Along with insightful details on many of JV 44's "stars," he recounts the logistical effort of trying to set up and operate the unit, the various missions flown not to mention the unbelievable political intrigues swirling around JV 44 as the Third Reich disintegrated.

Likewise, JAGDVERBAND 44 is brimming with illustrations. It contains 130 photographs of pilots and aircraft along with six pages of marvelous Jim Laurier artwork depicting the units's Me 262s, FW 190s and even a Siebel 204!

Having said all that, I would have given Forsyth's book 4 1/2 stars if that was possible. JV 44 was set up to prove the Me 262 was a superior fighter. Although Forsyth recounts the missions flown by the unit, he makes no effort in the book's final pages to analyze what the unit achieved and whether they did, in fact, prove the Me 262 was a superior fighter. Other sources indicated JV 44 downed 45-50 Allied aircraft; is that JV 44's legacy?

In any case, JADGVERBAND 44 is compelling history and one of Osprey's better 'Aviation Elite Units' entries. Luftwaffe enthusiasts will want to snap this one up. Highly recommended.

having never got hold of the hardback original (and probably never will :( )
This was an excellent surprise after the rather average efforts from some previous luftwaffe centered titles.
Though a light coverage its a fantastic read and easily enjoyable while still getting all the details and numbers out.

Also the profiles paintings are the finest I've seen in any osprey Luftwaffe title,
including the most accurate versions of the 4 known protection flight Doras I know of.

If anyone is cautious of Osprey titles from past experiences...leave that behind and BUY this book.

It has been 12 years since the inaugural Classic hard back on JV 44 was published and 14 years since author Robert Forsyth wrote it, so as the author himself said to me recently - over a pint - " it was nice to 'revisit' the unit..". This new Osprey book is a slimmed-down version of that original work, containing the essential 'hardcore' information, and should hold appeal to those who don't have/can't get the original. That said the author was fortunate enough to be put into contact with a previously 'lost' member of JV 44 (a rarity in itself) who has related some interesting 'new' stories about the unit and provided a number of previously unpublished photos (two of Galland and Steinhoff) and a very rare unit photo taken at Briest in February 1945.
All told this lastest Osprey Elite comes highly recommended- which is more than can usually be said for Osprey's Luftwaffe titles - being an extremely well-written excursion into territory that will be unfamiliar to most. A special word for the superb profile artwork - some of the best I've seen in this series...

If you're building the Monogram/Revell B-17 in 1/48 scale, you need this booklet. The detail shots, both of the exterior and interior, are excellent. They are all in color. The interior shots have multiple shots in each area of the aircraft (nose, cockpit, radio area, waist guns & tail gun). Well worth it.

Having thoroughly enjoyed both Lock On #16 (Mi-24W HIND E Gunship) and #20 (A-6E, KA-6D Intruder/EA-6B Prowler), I decided to check out the rest of the series to see if they had any of my other favorite aircraft. To my delight, Willy Peeters (author of #20) has done one on the B-17 Flying Fortress (my son's all-time favorite). This book is a great 36 page full color tour of the interior and exterior of the B-17G. It's a welcome addition to Larry Davis' B-17 In Action (Squadron/ignal Publication) which is mostly in b&w. Peeters does an excellent job of explaining what it is you're looking at in each of the captions. A solid effort in this impressive series.

Having thoroughly enjoyed both Lock On #16 (Mi-24W HIND E Gunship) and #20 (A-6E, KA-6D Intruder/EA-6B Prowler), I decided to check out the rest of the series to see if they had any of my other favorite aircraft. To my delight, Willy Peeters (author of #20) has done one on the B-17 Flying Fortress (my son's all-time favorite). This book is a great 36 page full color tour of the interior and exterior of the B-17G. It's a welcome addition to Larry Davis' B-17 In Action (Squadron/ignal Publication) which is mostly in b&w. Peeters does an excellent job of explaining what it is you're looking at in each of the captions. A solid effort in this impressive series.

Jon Stanaway's 475TH FIGHTER GROUP joins others in the 'Aviation Elite Units' series to focus on a superior fighting force, the pet project of an air force chief which made headlines from its entry into combat in August 1943 until the war's end. Vintage black and white photos compliment color plane specs and history in a detailed survey of special interest to military aviation collections.

One of only two USAAF fighter groups formed in-theater, the all Lightning-equipped 475th FG set a blistering scoring pace following activation in May 1943, eventually outscoring all other 5th AF fighter groups except for its arch-rival, the 49th FG. Credited with 552 victories, its ranks included two of the top aces in the Pacific including the legendary Tom McGuire. The combat history of this illustrious group is nicely covered in this Osprey volume by noted aviation historian John Stanaway.

The 475th was 5th AF CO George Kenney's pet project, who raided existing 5th AF fighter groups and 7th AF units in Hawaii for manpower. Initial missions, flown against Wewak and Rabaul, got the 'Satan's Angels' off to a flying start but the group really hit its stride when Charles MacDonald became CO in November 1943. Paced by aggressive pilots like Harry Brown, Frank Nichols, Danny Roberts, John Loisel, Verl Jett and Tom McGuire, the 475th became the fastest scoring fighter group in the Pacific.

Author Stanaway does a good job of covering the ferocious air battles and outstanding personalities that made up this top-scoring group. Stanaway's text is nicely complimented by 10 pages of color profiles by Chris Davey and over 120 black and white photographs.

All in all, a fine addition to Osprey's Aviation Elite Units series!

****
For the definitive history of the 475th, see Stanaway's "Possum, Clover and Hades" published in 1993.

This annually produced directory of homebuilt and ultralight aircraft just keeps getting better. Reports and reviews of experimental airplane products by the customers who've built and fly them accompany lots of photos and manufacturer's data. Prices, performance data, etc. are all included. Anyone interested in building their own airplane would benefit from this book, as they familiarize themselves with the products that are available. If you didn't get to Oshkosh this year, then this book will make a good substitute. Reviewed by Al Pike -- SPORT FLYER'S Internet Resources --

This is really a complete guide to building and flying your own aircraft!

Articles in this book provide many good advice on kitplane construction in different aspect, including attitude evaluation, building process, assembly, remembrance, financing, insurance and support from EAA.

The directory listing about 700 aircraft information, from photo, kit price, planes, specification to info packet and video availability, is a must for anyone who likes flying ultralight and experimental aircraft.

Extremely useful and valuable!