Review of Blackburn Skua & Roc
Orange Series Nol. 8105
MMP/Stratus Publications
Author: Mathew Willis
Color Profiles by Kjetil Akra
ISBN: 978-83-89450-44-9
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $35.00
Author: Mathew Willis
Color Profiles by Kjetil Akra
ISBN: 978-83-89450-44-9
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $35.00
MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) is based in the U.K. All their books are printed in Sandomierz Poland by their associate Stratus in English. Stratus also prints books in Polish.
This new book is soft-cover in 9” x 6 ½” page format of 160 pages.
HISTORY:
The Blackburn Skua was the Fleet Air Arm’s first monoplane and its first dedicated dive bomber. It’s derivative – the Roc – was the only turreted fighter to see action with the Royal Navy.
This book charts the development and service history of these two aircraft, through the difficult specification process, reaching squadron service on the eve of WWII. The baptism of fie in the Norwegian Campaign of 1940 and eventual second-line use. It is illustrated with 93 black and white period photographs, many of which have rarely been seen before, and color images of the surviving fragments of Skua’s in museums. It features superb color artwork illustrating a large number of the color schemes the aircraft wore during their short history.
There are 36 color photos (including the one on the cover), 7 illustrations of post cards sold during the war, 19 color side profile drawing of the Skua and 10 of the Roc. There are 1/72 line drawings of the Skua as 4 side profiles, one 2-view, 3 top views and a 2-view of the top camouflage patterns. There are 4 side profile 1/72nd scale drawings of the Roc, 2 top drawings and a 3-view drawing.
Also included are 11 tech manual illustrations and 2 pages full of data lists.
The last page of the book has color box arts for 1/48th scale model kits of the Skua and Roc by Special Hobby. These kits are multi-media type with injected plastic, resin and PE parts.
On the back of the book are color illustrations of the covers of 3 other books that MMP/Stratus markets: Hawker Hart family, Potez 63 Family and Henschel Hs-126.
I recommend this book highly to aviation enthusiasts, historians and modelers.
I want to thank Roger Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP and Casemate publications for this review sample.
Information about all MMP books can be found on their web site at:
http://www.mmpbooksw.biz
The N. American distributor is Casemate Publications
This new book is soft-cover in 9” x 6 ½” page format of 160 pages.
HISTORY:
The Blackburn Skua was the Fleet Air Arm’s first monoplane and its first dedicated dive bomber. It’s derivative – the Roc – was the only turreted fighter to see action with the Royal Navy.
This book charts the development and service history of these two aircraft, through the difficult specification process, reaching squadron service on the eve of WWII. The baptism of fie in the Norwegian Campaign of 1940 and eventual second-line use. It is illustrated with 93 black and white period photographs, many of which have rarely been seen before, and color images of the surviving fragments of Skua’s in museums. It features superb color artwork illustrating a large number of the color schemes the aircraft wore during their short history.
There are 36 color photos (including the one on the cover), 7 illustrations of post cards sold during the war, 19 color side profile drawing of the Skua and 10 of the Roc. There are 1/72 line drawings of the Skua as 4 side profiles, one 2-view, 3 top views and a 2-view of the top camouflage patterns. There are 4 side profile 1/72nd scale drawings of the Roc, 2 top drawings and a 3-view drawing.
Also included are 11 tech manual illustrations and 2 pages full of data lists.
The last page of the book has color box arts for 1/48th scale model kits of the Skua and Roc by Special Hobby. These kits are multi-media type with injected plastic, resin and PE parts.
On the back of the book are color illustrations of the covers of 3 other books that MMP/Stratus markets: Hawker Hart family, Potez 63 Family and Henschel Hs-126.
I recommend this book highly to aviation enthusiasts, historians and modelers.
I want to thank Roger Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP and Casemate publications for this review sample.
Information about all MMP books can be found on their web site at:
http://www.mmpbooksw.biz
The N. American distributor is Casemate Publications
The Australian distributor is Platypus Publications