Military Model Scene

Title: Luftwaffe Fighters
Illustrator: Claes Sundin
Publisher: Mortons Media Group
ISBN: 978-1-911703-01-3

This bookazine is a very fine showcase of the artwork by illustrator Claes Sundin, with over 200 full colour profiles of Luftwaffe Fighters over the period from the Spanish Civil War through to the end of WW2. A 13-page soft-cover bookazine full of great artwork.
The individual profiles are all in a large size, with 3 or 4 to each double page spread. The most numerous individual subjects are the Me 109, with 75 examples, and the FW 190, with 65. Early and late types are all included, for example, the Me 109 E3 in the Spanish Civil War through to the Me 109 K-4 from the end of the war. Each aircraft has some text which provides the overall background to the type, then each individual profile has notes on the pilots and/or where it was the the colours and markings represent. The variation between them all is huge, as they are served on a variety of fronts, from Western Europe, North Africa, the Eastern Front, Italy or at home over Germany. Both day and night fighters are included. While I have mentioned the 2 largest sections, there are others covering the Me 110, the Ju 88, Dornier Do 17/215, He 219, Me 163, Me 262 and the He162. The detail within the artwork on the different individual subjects it really first class. They are all interpretations of original wartime photos, though none of the archive images feature in the book, just the resultant artwork. At the end of the book there is also a page of colour for a colour chart, noting each RLM colour. I know colours are notoriously difficult to publish in print and get exact, but these do look a pretty good guide to me that modellers will find useful.
This kind of colour profile artwork is rightly popular with modellers, as they offer lots of ideas that you might like to model for your own collection. Such a wide variety of schemes are on offer in here, as you can guess from a total of over 200 in the book. Even for the non-modeller, the historical element is interesting and the artwork itself is simple a sheer pleasure to look through. With an RRP of just £8.99 it is also great value for money.
Thanks to Morton Books for our review copy.

Robin