Review of Japanese Aero-engines 1910-1945
Authors: Mike Goodwin & Peter Starkings
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP)
ISBN: 978-83-65281-32-6
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $59.00
ISBN: 978-83-65281-32-6
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $59.00
THE BOOK:
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) is based in the U.K. They have all their books printed in English by their associate Stratus in Sandomierz, Poland. Stratus also does their own line of books in both English and Polish.
This book is hard-cover of 216 pages in 8 1/4" x 11 1/2" page format.
The cover art shows a Mitsubishi Kasei 12, Mk.4B radial-engine next to a large Japanese red rising sun symbol agains a light grey background.
In this book the authors have tried to remedy a notable lack of comprehensive coverage on this specialist subject.
The development of all the many engines produced by Japanese aero-engine manufacturing companies from 1912 to 1945 is explored in detail, including a full explanation of the different systems used to identify them.
Furthermore, the developments are related to the aircraft in which the various engines were used, including prototypes, flying test-beds and changes in the make or type of engine during an aircraft's operational service.
Aircraft evolution in Japan is viewed in snapshots as it happened from the areo-engine aspect and not from the complete aircraft aspect as is featured in most publications. Also, in order to illustrate the industrial background, the origin and development of each of the aero-engine manufacturing companies is also outlined briefly.
The book contains 9 black and white photos of wrecked engines, 92 data lists, 7 black and white photos of a Aichi AE1P in-line engine, 1 black and white photo of a Kawanishi 40 inline-engine, 2 photos of a Mitsubishi A14 Ha-26-II, a bunch of Mitsubishi Zuisei 13's in a factory, 2 photos of a Mitsubishi Kensei 51 Mk 5a, a photo of a Mitsubishi Ha-112-II in a Ki-100 aircraft, a photo of a Mitsubishi Ha-102, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 12 Mk 4B, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 14 Mk 4D, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 23a Mk. 4R, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 25 Mk. 4T, a photo of a Nakajima NA 11, Ha 1, 4 photos of a Nakajima NAM Sakae 12 NK1F, 10 walk-around photos of a Nakajima NAM Sakae 21, 4 photos of a Nakajima Ha-115, a photo of a Nakajima NAI-6 Ha-105, a photo of a Nakajima BA Homare 12 NK9C in a P1Y1 aircraft, 6 photos of a Nakajima BA Homare 21 NK9H in the NASM, a photo of a Nakajima BA Homare 24 NK9H in a C6N2 aircraft, 8 photos of a Nakajima BA Ha-45, a Type 4, Mark 1 model 20 solid-fuel rocket engine shown lying on the gound next to some wood crates, a KR-10 liquid-fuel rocket engine at the Planes of fame Air Museum at Chino, Ca (2 photos). a photo of a Tsu-11 thermojet, 6 photos of a Ne-20 turbojet, a photo of a Ne-30 turbojet, a photo of a Ne-201 turboprop.
At the back of the book there are 6 pages of Apendices, 3 pages of Japanese terms and translations, 5 pages of engine index and Principal reference sources.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES:
Mike Goodwin, who emigrated in 2004 from Manchester in the U.K. to live in Dunedin, New Zealand, was a contributing member to the internet website known as J-aircraft.com, a site based in the USA that is devoted to the study of Japanese aviation from its inception to the end of the Pacific War; he was also moderator of all contributions to the "X Aircraft" message board on that site.
He has had numerous articles on Japanese aviation subjects published in the magazine "Arawasi International" (Japan) and JAS jottings (UK), and is well known for his painstaking research on Japanese aero-engines. Indeed, it is the latter that has formed the foundation stone for this book, without which it could not have been written.
Peter Starkings, resident of Leeds, England, also a contributing member to the J-aircraft.com website, has been researching lesser known aspects of Japanese aviation for many years, sharing the results with other enthusiasts by publishing his own quarterly subscription magazine "JAS Jottings" about Japanese aviation for 12 years, and also having articles on Japanese aviation subjects published in the magazines "Arawasi International" (Japan), "Asahi Journal" (USA) and "Insignia" (UK).
He is also the co-author with Don Marsh of the book "Imperial Japanese Flying Schools, 1912-1945" (Schiffer Publishing LTD. USA).
This is a very intense book on the subject of Japanese aero-engines, with a lot of information about them.
It will be of great interest to aviation enthusiasts and maybe lesser so to modelers.
I want to thank Roger Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP and the folks at Casemate who sent me this review sample.
All MMP titles can be viewed on the Casemate site at:
www.casematepublishing.com
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) is based in the U.K. They have all their books printed in English by their associate Stratus in Sandomierz, Poland. Stratus also does their own line of books in both English and Polish.
This book is hard-cover of 216 pages in 8 1/4" x 11 1/2" page format.
The cover art shows a Mitsubishi Kasei 12, Mk.4B radial-engine next to a large Japanese red rising sun symbol agains a light grey background.
In this book the authors have tried to remedy a notable lack of comprehensive coverage on this specialist subject.
The development of all the many engines produced by Japanese aero-engine manufacturing companies from 1912 to 1945 is explored in detail, including a full explanation of the different systems used to identify them.
Furthermore, the developments are related to the aircraft in which the various engines were used, including prototypes, flying test-beds and changes in the make or type of engine during an aircraft's operational service.
Aircraft evolution in Japan is viewed in snapshots as it happened from the areo-engine aspect and not from the complete aircraft aspect as is featured in most publications. Also, in order to illustrate the industrial background, the origin and development of each of the aero-engine manufacturing companies is also outlined briefly.
The book contains 9 black and white photos of wrecked engines, 92 data lists, 7 black and white photos of a Aichi AE1P in-line engine, 1 black and white photo of a Kawanishi 40 inline-engine, 2 photos of a Mitsubishi A14 Ha-26-II, a bunch of Mitsubishi Zuisei 13's in a factory, 2 photos of a Mitsubishi Kensei 51 Mk 5a, a photo of a Mitsubishi Ha-112-II in a Ki-100 aircraft, a photo of a Mitsubishi Ha-102, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 12 Mk 4B, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 14 Mk 4D, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 23a Mk. 4R, a photo of a Mitsubishi Kasei 25 Mk. 4T, a photo of a Nakajima NA 11, Ha 1, 4 photos of a Nakajima NAM Sakae 12 NK1F, 10 walk-around photos of a Nakajima NAM Sakae 21, 4 photos of a Nakajima Ha-115, a photo of a Nakajima NAI-6 Ha-105, a photo of a Nakajima BA Homare 12 NK9C in a P1Y1 aircraft, 6 photos of a Nakajima BA Homare 21 NK9H in the NASM, a photo of a Nakajima BA Homare 24 NK9H in a C6N2 aircraft, 8 photos of a Nakajima BA Ha-45, a Type 4, Mark 1 model 20 solid-fuel rocket engine shown lying on the gound next to some wood crates, a KR-10 liquid-fuel rocket engine at the Planes of fame Air Museum at Chino, Ca (2 photos). a photo of a Tsu-11 thermojet, 6 photos of a Ne-20 turbojet, a photo of a Ne-30 turbojet, a photo of a Ne-201 turboprop.
At the back of the book there are 6 pages of Apendices, 3 pages of Japanese terms and translations, 5 pages of engine index and Principal reference sources.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES:
Mike Goodwin, who emigrated in 2004 from Manchester in the U.K. to live in Dunedin, New Zealand, was a contributing member to the internet website known as J-aircraft.com, a site based in the USA that is devoted to the study of Japanese aviation from its inception to the end of the Pacific War; he was also moderator of all contributions to the "X Aircraft" message board on that site.
He has had numerous articles on Japanese aviation subjects published in the magazine "Arawasi International" (Japan) and JAS jottings (UK), and is well known for his painstaking research on Japanese aero-engines. Indeed, it is the latter that has formed the foundation stone for this book, without which it could not have been written.
Peter Starkings, resident of Leeds, England, also a contributing member to the J-aircraft.com website, has been researching lesser known aspects of Japanese aviation for many years, sharing the results with other enthusiasts by publishing his own quarterly subscription magazine "JAS Jottings" about Japanese aviation for 12 years, and also having articles on Japanese aviation subjects published in the magazines "Arawasi International" (Japan), "Asahi Journal" (USA) and "Insignia" (UK).
He is also the co-author with Don Marsh of the book "Imperial Japanese Flying Schools, 1912-1945" (Schiffer Publishing LTD. USA).
This is a very intense book on the subject of Japanese aero-engines, with a lot of information about them.
It will be of great interest to aviation enthusiasts and maybe lesser so to modelers.
I want to thank Roger Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP and the folks at Casemate who sent me this review sample.
All MMP titles can be viewed on the Casemate site at:
www.casematepublishing.com
Or