Military Model Scene

Title: Pacific Profiles Vol 17
Author: Michael John Claringbould
Publisher: Avonmore
ISBN: 978-0-9756423-7-5

Volume 17 in the marvellous series of books of Pacific Profiles from Avonmore Books is now available. A 108-page soft-cover book.
I am already a fan of this series of profiles, but feel this is one of the most interesting yet. In this one it covers a very specific element of Allied Air Power in the Far East, that of the Netherlands East Indies, 1940-1942. As a result, we see perhaps the widest range of aircraft types, some of which are unusual to see covered in any way. The book is split into 4 main sections, covering aircraft of the ML-KNIL (The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force); MLD (Netherlands Naval Aviation Service); RAF and RAAF; and USAAC and USN. Each of these main sections is sub-divided into multiple aircraft types, and units who operated them. Throughout the book there are 107 colour profile artworks, each one with details of the unit and history of the illustrated aircraft. Added to that a selection of archive photos as well.
The historical notes are of course interesting and informative, but the variety of unusual aircraft types makes this especially attractive. Just to give you an idea, while there are well known types such as the PBY, Hurricane, Blenheim, B17 and so on, less well known types include the Glenn Martin Model 139, Ryan ST-M, Curtiss-Wright CW-21B and CW-22B, Lockheed L-18 Lodestar, Dornier DO-24K, Vickers Vilderbeest Mk III and the Douglas B-18, just to name a selection of them. Aircraft enthusiasts and modellers will be particularly interested in this one I think. Super new addition to the series, and more detail on the air war in the Pacific in WW2.
Thanks to Avonmore Books, via distributors Script Military, for the review copy.

Robin