Military Model Scene

Title: Pacific Profiles Vol 7
Author: Michael John Claringbould
Publisher: Avonmore Books
ISBN: 978-0-645-34691-9

Volume 7 of this excellent series covers Allied Transports: Douglas C-47 Series, in the South & Southwest Pacific 1942-1945. A small format 160-page soft-cover book packed with super detail in the text and the usual excellent series of colour profile artwork.
A nice clear introduction explaining the operation of the C-47 Dakota in the region, by as many as 21 USAAF squadrons, plus others operated by the USMC (who designated their aircraft as R4Ds), along with the RAAF, RNZAF, RAF, Dutch and other miscellaneous units. The opening chapters give a good clear overview of their operations and the organisation of the 5th and 13th Air Forces. A couple of maps are also included to help give a bit of extra context to where they were flying from. Each squadron then has an individual chapter giving the basic history of where they were formed, when they deployed and what they did. More to the point though, each one shares a part of the 100 colour profiles which have captions describing each individual aircraft, and many have a slightly enlarged detail of names/noseart which no many of them carried. The colours were largely olive drab upper surfaces with light grey undersides, though many also featured some disruptive patterns of forest green. On top of that, the climate and a lot of use also led to even more variation thanks to weathering. In addition to the main squadrons that are covered, there were individual aircraft operated as liaison airframes by various other combat units, and for the non-USAAF units, they also came under the management of the DAT (Directorate of Air Transport).
My knowledge of the war in the Pacific is patchy, and this has added another interesting element to it. There are plenty of archive images throughout the book, though the colour profiles are at the real heart of it. While aviation history fans will enjoy it, I think this will be particularly attractive for modellers who will find plenty of inspiration for new models, perhaps making use of the most recent Airfix 1/72 kit of the C-47, one which I like a lot. Could be an interesting theme to develop. Recommended without reservation.
These Avonmore Books are distributed by Casemate UK, and who kindly supplied this review copy.

Robin