It is their long awaited Battle of Britain game. They couldn't use BoB as it was used by another company and is still is copyrighted. Instead of starting off the new series in the Eastern Front as were the previous 2, they decided to start with the Western Front as you can go earlier with the Battle...

Its been announced by Ubisoft for release in Europe for next month and March 22nd for US release. This is not an expansion of the IL-2 Strumovik - Forgotten Battles series, but a new series with a new game engine. The initial release, as per the title, will be concerned with the Battle of Britain an...

I would also recommend: Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts: Mussolini's Elite Armoured Divisions in North Africa by Ian Walker This is available from Amazon for about $17.21. In this book you will see how the units were used. Also, you will find that some of the Italian units wore British uniforms with Italian...

Mirek; From my knowledge the Re.2001 came from the factory in the "Metropolitan" pattern. The smoke ring pattern was basically a Macchi company pattern. There were some Cr.42's painted in a simulated pattern later in the war by field personnel. As to a Re.2001 with a squiggle pattern simulating smok...

Vince; Weren't the camoflage of the Macchi C. 202 applied by the factories? The styles of the camoflages varied between the various factories (sub contractors). Being at work I don't have my references. With that being the case, it would support the stencil markings being in blue as depicted by you....

I would like to throw a few examples of how the "fog of war" obscures the reality of the situation. Let's take the first two weeks of fighting over Malta. June 11 through 23, 1940. The British claimed 4 aerial victories 2 x M.C. 200's and 2 x S.79's. The Italians claimed none. Italian operational lo...

Right now I am reading both the earlier Christopher Shores and newer Brian Cull books on Malta. These books to me give a fair treatment to both sides in these actions. During the same dogfight situational awareness can be lost easily. It was noted by some American pilots who flew with Witold Urbanow...

Thank you Claudio -

Are there any plans to make the P-39 set in 1/48th scale? I might have to get that I/48 scale Martin Baltimore set for myself.

Mike T.

Yesterday I received my Finemolds 1/48 S.21F from Hobbylink Japan. Its a nice kit. The animator has a great love for the aircraft of the "Golden Age" and worked with Finemolds in the production of the kits with the interiors and figures. Too bad they don't have the Macchi M.39 in the series. I may l...

Vince this decal sheet is odd in that it has subjects not used in the kit instruction. I will probably build I-ULIA, Balbo's plane as it first recieved camoflage in North Africa. It didn't carry any wing or fuselage markings as it was still privately owned by Balbo. It will have only the tail cross....

I just picked up the Tristar Fieseler Storch in 1/35th scale and noticed a major problem with the decals. The fasces on the national markings all face the same direction! The fasces should point to the wing tips, although there are noted exceptions from photographs. Otherwise its a beautiful kit. Th...

I have that book already. Its a bit of a pet peeve of mine that the kits and after market decal sheets have the decals wrong. It is pointed out in the Avolibrii P-39's in Italian Service. In the build article within that book you will notice that he hand produced the name Lucchini unto the side of t...

I would guess that alot of people have seen this anime film. Its a favorite of mine. I have in my stash the Fine Scale kit for the early version of his plane in 1/48.

Mike T.

I have some 1/48 P-39 N and Q's in my stash that I was planning to build as Co-Belligerent aircraft. The one thing that is blocking me is the incorrect squadron names on the various decal sheets that I have seen. Does anyone know of any correct ones? Mostly, it is that they have Baracca instead of L...

Steven There was a discussion either in one of my books about this matter or on an online forum with one of the authors of books about this. I'll try to find the article. Look at the Re.2005. For a long time it was assumed that the spinners on the 3 used by the ANR were dark olive in color. Now they...