Military Model Scene

Title: Pacific Profiles Vol13
Author: Michael John Claringbould
Publisher: Avonmore Books
ISBN: 978-0-645-70046-6

'IJN Bombers, Transports, Flying Boats & Miscellaneous Types South Pacific 1942-1944' is the topic for this new addition to the Pacific Profiles series. A 132-page soft-cover book from Avonmore Books, via distributor Casemate UK.
The new addition to this growing series of books is one I found particularly interesting thanks to the wide variety of aircraft types it holds. The first of the 24 chapters has Technical Notes on colours and markings which will be a boon to anyone looking at archive images of Japanese aircraft during WW2 and especially popular with modellers tackling WW2 Japanese aircraft. The remainder provide detail on a variety of units, operating bombers, dive bombers, flying boats and reconnaissance aircraft, and just one with fighters at the end of the book. Each chapter gives details of the units, when and where they operated as well as their colours and markings. The core of the subject spread throughout the book are the marvellous colour profiles, totalling 116 in all, each one with captions giving detail of the specific aircraft. If all this wasn't enough, there are plenty of archive photos scattered through the chapters, some not always the best quality pictures, but with some key detail of unit markings which all contribute to the subject.. The aircraft types include Emily and Mavis flying boats, the Dinah reconnaissance, Val dive bombers plus Betty and Nell bombers. A good mix of camouflage schemes and one chapter even covers aircraft in the civilian colours of Greater Japan Airways.
The many different types and the different units which operated them is a really interesting topic, and the author continues to share his knowledge to help us expand ours. I have to say that this series is prompting me to expand my own modelling interest towards aircraft of the Pacific theatre, after so many years spending most of my attention on the war in Europe. Good value and some great reference material as the Pacific Profiles series continues to build.
Thanks to Casemate for the review copy.

Robin