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Hannants http://alpha.hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS141 Vickers Viking, Valetta & Varsity In Military Service. By Adrian M. Balch £19.00 56 pages The Vickers VC.1 Viking was a British twin-engine short-range airliner derived from the Vickers Wellington bomber and built by Vickers-Armstrongs Limited at Brooklands near Weybridge in Surrey. After the Second World War, the Viking was an important airliner with British airlines, pending the development of turboprop aircraft like the Viscount. The Valetta was a military derivative of the Viking developed in transport and training variants for the Royal Air Force, while the Varsity was a versatile twin piston-engined aircraft developed from the Viking and Valetta but with a tricycle undercarriage and ventral pannier for bomb-aimer training, among other changes. It was brought into RAF service in 1951 for crew training as a replacement for the Wellington T.10. This Warpaint relates the history of all three types, focussing on the military operators, as per the series title. It is profusely illustrated by 125 top quality photographs, nearly all in colour, from the author’s extensive photograph archive and supported by excellent colour profiles and plans by Sam Pearson.. Price:£19.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS141 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:53:40 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS140 North-American OV-10 Bronco written by Mike Verier The full story of the first true Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, the OV-10 Bronco, still flying operationally after nearly six decades of service, is told here for the first time in a bumper 104-page Warpaint. Detailed first-hand information gathered over many years has enabled the author to bring together the many facets of this remarkably versatile aircraft including pre-cursors, competitors and prototypes, through Vietnam and combat service with some eleven US and foreign Air Arms, and its part in the development of modern precision weapons, to its astonishing array of uses since. These include fighting drug cartels in Columbia, fires in California, mosquitos in South Carolina, and ISIS in Northern Iraq. Also, finally covered in full and accurate detail are the German 'jet' Broncos. The world's largest restoration project and current training of US and NATO JTACS bring the story up to date. De-classified information has made it possible to detail for the first time all the long-nose D model conversions and all the Broncos that served in Desert Storm, their preparation, the epic trans-continental deployment of one squadron by air, and the key role played by the Broncos during the war. The detailed and revealing narrative is copiously illustrated throughout with fully captioned photographs - many previously unseen- and backed by personal accounts, Individual aircraft histories, airframe lists, scale plans and specially commissioned art work with comprehensive colour scheme information. Warpaint 140 North-American/Rockwell OV-10A/OV-10B Author: Mike Verier Content: 104 pages. Price:£28.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS140 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:02:52 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS139 de Havilland (Canada) DHC-2 Beaver By Adrian M. Balch. The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engine high-wing propeller-driven short take off and landing (STOL) aircraft developed and manufactured by de Havilland Canada. It has been mainly operated as a bush plane and has been used for a wide variety of utility roles, such as cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application (crop dusting and aerial topdressing), and civil aviation duties. It has been used by military armed forces in a variety of roles worldwide and has seen conflict in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Production lasted 20 years and when it finally ceased in 1967, a total of 1,657 DHC-2 Beavers had been constructed since the first flight in 1947. The Beaver was designed for flight in rugged and remote areas of the world and today hundreds of Beavers are still flying—many of them heavily modified to adapt to changes in technology and needs. This is the second de Havilland Canada type in the Warpaint Series written by author Adrian Balch with over 100 rare photographs from his extensive archives, nearly all in col-our and many never seen before, supported once again by excellent colour profiles and drawings by artist Sam Pearson. With the Airfix Beaver kit recently reissued, this is a must for modellers of the type and aviation historians alike as this is the first comprehensive publication published on this type in so much detail. Warpaint No.139 de Havilland (Canada) DHC-2 Beaver Author: Adrian M. Balch 56 pages Over 12 pages Colour Profiles 150 Images Detailed plans. Price:£18.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS139 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:07:59 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS138 Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk By Andy Evans Now you see it now you don't! The F-117's retirement may have seemed premature, but has it really gone? The informative text traces the story of this remarkable aircraft from its Have Blue origins to its withdrawal from active front line service, and takes a look at some of the recent sightings of the aircraft that suggest there may be a role of some sort for it yet. This latest Warpaint includes all the usual expertise and research that has made the se-ries the benchmark for aviation reference material. With full history, development, walkaround, and colour artwork and plans, author Andy Evans documents fully this landmark stealth design.. Price:£18.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS138 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:53:37 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPSSP06 Dambusters and the Avro Lancaster 64 pages By Desmond Brennan Few military exploits have captured the public's imagination as much as the famous 'Dambusters' raid on the night of 16 " 17 May 1943. To mark the 80th anniversary of the escapade Guideline present Dambusters and the Lancaster, a comprehensive study of the raid itself, the background and planning that led up to it, and the men and machinery that took part, as well as a reasoned study of the aftershocks. Author Des Brennan, one of our most respected writers on military aviation history, has gathered together all the threads of this astonishing tale and woven them together to present a book that pays tribute to one of the most remarkable feats of World War 2.. Price:£20.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPSSP06 Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:15:28 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS137 Douglas SBD Dauntless By Kev Darling The Douglas SBD Dauntless earned itself a reputation as a great dive bomber even though its antecedents were very much of pre-war origin. Many nicknames were given to the SBD during its time in frontline service, my own personal favourite is 'slow but deadly'. The original concept was developed by Jack Northrop with some help from Ed Heinemann. The resultant aircraft, the BT-1, had quite a few faults that would be rectified when the SBD-1 appeared. Very much a pre-production model the remainder of this first contract was completed as the SBD-2 and had few improvements over the earlier machines. It took the appearance of the SBD-3 to create a more warlike machine that incorporated self sealing fuel tanks, armour plating and improved armament. Each version thereafter showed some improvement , the final version, the SBD-6, being the best of all. The USAAF also used a version of the Dauntless, this being the A-24 Banshee. The only difference between the two models was the lack of naval equipment for carrier operation otherwise it was the same. Unfortunately by the time the SBD-6 appeared the frontline career of the Dauntless was over. However, the Dauntless and its land equivalent the Banshee had other careers with the Royal Navy, the French Air Force and Navy, Chile and Mexico.[ SBD-2 SBD-3 SBD-4 SBD-5 SBD-6]. Price:£28.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS137 Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:39:33 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS136 Airspeed Oxford and Consul By William Harrison 52 pages With more than 8,750 built the Oxford was a well thought-out design that was based on their Airspeed Envoy, a similar shaped twin-engine executive aircraft that was used in the early 1930s but the more advanced design of the Oxford suited the military requirement for a three-seat training aircraft. The Oxford was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of advanced design and was produced for the training of pilots in handling modern, multi-engine bomber aircraft. Wooden construction was employed throughout making for a simpler design and easier repairs. Provision was made for instruction in pilot training, aerial photography, navigation, aerial photography, and bombing training. An Armstrong-Whitworth gun turret could be installed for training in aerial gunnery. After the War the Consul was conceived as a small airliner, chiefly converted from ex-military Oxfords with more than 160 rebuilt. These quickly sold to potential airline operators and were eventually used in many countries, some changing hands four or five times. The Oxford and the Consul were relatively safe flying machines and with thousands of bomber pilots undertaking their flying training in the type it played a major part in the RAF's war effort, and is widely regarded as a design the manufacturers could be proud of. This book is written by William Harrison with artwork by Sam Pearson.. Price:£18.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS136 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:08:51 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS135 de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide & Dominie By Adrian M Balch. Price:£17.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS135 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 09:34:07 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS134 Aero L-29 Delfin 72 pages. Price:£21.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS134 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 13:04:35 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS133 Douglas C-47 Skytrain/Dakota By Adrian M. Balch When the prototype Douglas DC-3 " actually a DST Douglas Sleeper Transport first flew from Clover Field, Santa Monica, California on Sunday 17 December 1935, Donald Wills Douglas never imagined that the production run would total more than 10,000, with more licence built in Russia and Japan, let alone many would be still be flying 86 years later, the C-47 being perpetuated by turbo-prop conversions, seeing the type probably still flying to see its 100th anniversary! Arguably the most famous transport aircraft of all time, the DC-3 and C-47 has been operated by just about every country in the world in service with their airlines and military air arms. This Warpaint has not skimped on the colour schemes and markings used by military operators, the C-47 being named by the USAAF as the Skytrain and the RAF and Commonwealth countries as the Dakota, both names being adopted worldwide. This lavish and extensive Warpaint by author Adrian Balch includes over 300 photographs of military C-47s, nearly all in colour, accompanied by 10 pages of colour profiles by artist Sam Pearson making this the most comprehensive reference to colours and markings for modellers and historians on the type to date.. Price:£25.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS133 Sun, 10 Jul 2022 06:15:56 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS132 Boeing B-52A-F Stratofortress. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has become an icon although it was the result of a difficult birth courtesy of various officials whose understanding of realistic goals was overridden by the desire to chase an impossible dream. Eventually a great eight engined high winged bomber would appear on the Seattle flight line. The first model would be a development batch with the B Model being the first operational version. From these two batches would come the famous Balls 3 and Balls 8 of NASA fame. Of all the versions of these tall tail bombers the B-52D would be the one that would achieve a certain measure of fame. Not only was this the largest production run of all the models, but it would also be the main bomber used during the Vietnam War having succeeded the B-52F in this role. Eventually the B-52D would be the only survivor remaining in service till it was replaced in the remaining Strategic Air Command Bombardment Wings by the B-52G and B-52H. This book is written by Kev Darling and is superbly illustrated by Sam Pearson. Author Kev Darling 96 pages £25.00 16 pages of Colour Profiles 4 pages detailed plans Over 150 many never seen before images. Price:£25.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS132 Mon, 04 Apr 2022 10:30:18 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS122 Albatros D.I - D.III By Dave Hooper The Albatros D.III was flown by many top German aces during World War One, including Wilhelm Frankl, Erich Löwenhardt, Manfred von Richthofen, Karl Emil Schäfer, Ernst Udet, and Kurt Wolff and was the preeminent fighter during the period of German aerial dominance known as 'Bloody April' 1917. The D.III entered squadron service in December 1916, and was immediately acclaimed by German aircrews for its manoeuvrability and rate of climb. Albatros built approximately 500 D.III aircraft at its Johannisthal factory, but In the spring of 1917 D.III production shifted to Albatros' subsidiary, Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW), to permit Albatros to concentrate on development and production of the D.V. Between April and August 1917, Idflieg issued five separate orders for a total of 840 D.IIIs with the he OAW variant undergoing its proofing trials in June 1917. Production commenced at the Schneidemühl factory in June and continued through December 1917, with OAW aircraft distinguishable by their larger, rounded rudders. Peak service was in November 1917, with 446 aircraft available on the Western Front. This is the second Great War subject to be added to the Warpaint list and has been authored by Dave Hooper, founder of the IPMS Great War Special Interest Group and a long-standing contributor to aviation modelling journals, whose comprehensive knowledge and attention to detail will ensure this current title will maintain the high standards that have made Warpaint one of the most respected and sought after aviation reference sources. Includes a full walkaround of a replica D.III and scale plans and profiles by Jan Polc.. Price:£15.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS122 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 10:25:06 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS116 Hawker Fury and Nimrod Author: William Harrison The first RAF front line fighter to achieve more than 200 mph was the Hawker Fury, and its naval counterpart the Hawker Nimrod. These two attractive fighters came from the design office of the late Sydney Camm, Hawker's chief designer. The Fury started life as a private venture known as the Hornet but when this machine exceeded expectations the name was changed to Fury. Although only ordered in small numbers owing to financial constraints during the Great Depression production eventually exceeded 260 machines with orders from the RAF, Royal Navy, Persia (now Iran), Portugal, Spain, Yugoslavia and more than 30 supplied (ex-RAF) to the South African Air Force. The Fury entered service with No.43 Squadron who accepted 16 during May 1930 and stayed in front line service until January 1939 when it was replaced by the Gloster Gladiator, although quite a few remained in the training role until mid-1941. The Furies were used in combat during WWII by Yugoslavia where they were quickly despatched by the more modern fighters of the Luftwaffe. South Africa used Furies in the East African war until 1941 and the three supplied to Spain were in action, one of them serving on both sides! The Nimrod, while bearing a distinct resemblance to the Fury, flew early in 1930. Changes for the RN included longer exhaust pipes extending down both sides of the fuselage as far as the pilot's cockpit; an oil cooler fitted beneath the engine bay and at a later date arrester gear was fitted for carrier use. Later series Nimrods featured a larger tail surface to improve inverted spinning characteristics when fitted with floats. Deliveries of Nimrods started in September 1933 and they remained in use until May 1939. Only a small number of Nimrods found their way abroad, two went to Denmark to act as pattern aircraft for licensed production, one was shipped to Japan and one to Portugal. Although one Fury managed to survive in the scrapyard of a London dealer it fell to John Isaacs, a draughtsman from Vickers Armstrong, to design and build both a 1/7th scale Fury and Spitfire, both of which continue to be built by members of the Light Aircraft Association, née the Popular Flying Association. This book is written by William Harrison and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.. Price:£16.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS116 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:05:57 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS55 Hawker Tempest Mk.II thru to Mk.VI (Hall Park Books Limited)[Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V]. Price:£14.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS55 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 07:20:03 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS115 Armstrong-Whitworth Albemarle By Tony Buttler AMRAeS The Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle is something of an 'odd man out' in the list of British World War Two military aircraft. It was manufactured entirely in a special factory as sub-contract work, to save light alloys it was intended to make use of steel tube and wood in its construction, and its service career was undistinguished. As a result the Albemarle is a rather forgotten aircraft and yet it made an important contribution during the latter part of the conflict. This new Warpaint will hopefully make enthusiasts more aware of the background and career of this unusual aeroplane. This book is written by Tony Buttler and is superbly illustrated by Mark Rolfe.. Price:£13.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS115 Fri, 18 May 2018 15:32:55 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS114 McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. US navy- US marine corps and RAF F-4J (UK) by Charles Stafrace There was a little ghost like about the McDonnell F-4 Phantom 11. It's huge bulk, a hunched shape that exuded a wrestler's strength, the upward slant of it's wingtips contrasting sharply with the acute droop of its tailplane, all gave it a menacing appearance which some would call outright ugliness but most would call rare beauty. This latest Warpaint Book written by Charles Starfrace describes in detail the development of each Phantom 11 version flown by the U.S. Navy and US Marines, as well as their operational service, especially their contribution to the US effort during the Vietnam War. The book contains no fewer than 242 photos, the vast majority of them in colour, and is superbly illustrated with twelve pages of colour artwork as well as detailed plans of the U.S. Navy and Marines versions. This excellent book has 124 pages and is perfect bound. Price:£24.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS114 Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:00:12 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS58 Supermarine Swift FR.5 and type 535. Price:£14.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS58 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:44:36 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS10 Vickers Wellington AUTHOR: Hall, A FORMAT: 30pp col/Bw/dwgs 297x210 Pb Designed with both the aircraft enthusiast and the modeller in mind, this series offers a comprehensive and accurate account of a single aircraft type within each issue. Drawings provided in both colour side and plan view with 1:72 scale plans, kit decal and accessory lists, squadrons, units and individual aircraft serials in codes, etc. The Vickers Wellington was one of those aircraft that seemed to go on for ever. In spite of the glamour and publicity gained by the Lancaster & Halifax, Wellingtons flew operationally for much longer during World War 2 and were still in side spread use for some considerable time afterwards as a trainer aircraft both for pilots and multi-engine aircraft and as crew trainers. (Mk.IC Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.VIII Mk.X Mk.XIV]. Price:£13.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS10 Sun, 26 Nov 2017 00:05:03 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS112 Douglas A3D Skywarrior. by Charles Stafrace Never glamorous and not receiving the recognition showered on its deck mates, the shipboard Douglas A3D Skywarrior will be remembered by U.S. Navy fans and historians for many reasons, most of all because it figured prominently in the Cold War crises of the late 1950s and early 1960s, culminating in the Vietnam War that dragged on until the mid-1970s. The Skywarrior will also be remembered for its longevity, the first examples having shared deck space with FJ Furies aboard Second World War-vintage carriers in the 1950s, and the last examples mingling with F-14 Tomcats on nuclear-powered Nimitz Class carriers in 1987. However, this magnificent aircraft, affectionately known as the 'Whale', achieved fame in roles different from that for which it had been designed. After its strategic nuclear bomber role faded owing to changed U.S. Navy and Pentagon policies, the Skywarrior excelled in other roles entrusted to it such as aerial tanking and electronic jamming, electronic and photoreconnaissance, vital tasks which it carried out faithfully in the first line of battle for several years from 1965 onwards. Indeed, the RA-3B version was also used during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm. Some examples were converted into bombardier trainers and VIP staff transports, while others found their way to experimental establishments and aerospace companies as testbeds for various systems and weaponry until 2011, resulting in many strange nose shapes and radomes. The Skywarrior will be recorded, too, as being the heaviest jet aircraft to ever operate from any U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. It served with several types of squadrons - VAH, VAQ, VAK, VAP/VCP, VQ and VR. All versions and squadrons, both shipboard and land-based, are listed in this new Warpaint series by Guideline Publications, written by Charles Stafrace and illustrated by Richard J Caruana. Apart from the usual detailed text that describes each version and its operational service, several other tables are included in this profile, including production serials, versions lists, squadron use and Appendices giving detailed data on each Skywarrior cruise, specifications, and the 1962 type re-designation of U.S. Navy aircraft. No fewer than 200 B&W and colour photos, many of which are being published for the first time, illustrate the various versions of this versatile aircraft.. Price:£19.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS112 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 21:21:40 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS113 Panavia Tornado ADV by Des Brennan The Tornado F.3 spent just over twenty-three years in frontline operational service with the Royal Air Force compared to a similar period for air-defence Phantoms, and twenty-eight years for the Lightning. While every operational Tornado F.3 unit bar 25 Squadron had been operating one of those aircraft types before transitioning to the F.3 only 29 (as OCU) and 11 Squadrons along with 1435 Flight would move forward from Tornado onto the Eurofighter Typhoon. And of them only the latter transitioned directly without a break in service. Its entry-to-service was not, just like many other types before and since, particularly smooth especially with regard to its Foxhunter radar, however once the initial problems were resolved it went on to possess and deliver an outstanding BVR CAP capability. It was not and was never intended to be one of the 'dogfighters' it was often erroneously compared with, and through the design compromise with the IDS variants was undeniably more suited to a low/mid-level environment. Despite this and with the ever growing constraints on RAF budgets and concomitant growing demands on the Tornado F.3 throughout its service, the skills and dedication of its air and ground crews along with the expertise of the British aviation industry ensured that the aircraft more than excelled in all that was asked of it. Perhaps most tellingly the Tornado F.3/ADV was taken into combat by all three operators, with the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia over Iraq and by the United Kingdom and Italy over the Balkans. In both theatres the opposing regimes had proven records of manipulating propaganda and were forever alert to exploit any imagined weakness as some armchair Air Marshals would have had the F.3/ADV to be. Yet while all three operators faced threats from ground defences, on not one occasion did any hostile force attempt get close enough to expose itself to the real and present threat posed by the Tornado F.3 ADV. This book is written by Des Brennan and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.. Price:£16.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS113 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 21:21:40 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS111 Vought OS2U Kingfisher by Adrian M Balch As the mighty battlewagon ploughed through the waters of the Pacific few would have noticed the little aircraft perched on the ships stern. To many it was 'old, slow and ugly' while to others it was veritable life saver. The name of this unsung hero: the Vought OS2U Kingfisher. Designed initially for gunnery spotting duties the Kingfisher was lightly armed defensively although once America entered the war it soon found itself toting depth charges. Manned by a crew of two that consisted of a pilot and the guy in back who did everything else the little spotter aircraft soon earned itself a solid reputation. It was the rescue mission at Truk that made the aircraft famous. After a heavy raid upon Truk the crew spotted their own airmen struggling in the water. Setting down the little Kingfisher soon found itself festooned in rescued aircrew. The little engine managed to drag the overweight machine to a meeting with a submarine where all were rescued, the slowly sinking aircraft being sunk. The rescue efforts of the Pacific Kingfishers plus those of the Martin Mariner (also in this series) formed the basis of the air sea rescue concept in use today. Outside of the U.S. Navy the OS2U was flown by the USCG,USMC, the Fleet Air Arm, various Latin American countries, the RAAF who took it to the Antarctic plus the Russian Navy. Fortunately a handful survive in preservation in Australia and the United States.. Price:£14.50 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS111 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:59:46 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS110 Westland Scout & Wasp. This book in the Warpaint series focuses on the development & service history of the Westland Scout & Wasp. The book contains colour & black & white photos, colour artwork profiles & scale drawings. Balch Edition: 2017, 48 pages.. Price:£15.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS110 Fri, 24 Mar 2017 16:46:06 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS109 Douglas C-54/R5D Skymaster and DC-4 The Douglas C-54 Skymaster, a direct adaptation of the civilian DC-4 while still on the production line, became the outstanding long-range four-engined transport aircraft of the Second World War. With its origins as a civilian airliner, it served chiefly on the long-distance haul of Air Transport Command of the United States Army Air Forces on the Atlantic and Pacific routes, where it cut flight hours between the United States and the theatres of operation thousands of miles away. The reliability of its airframe and engines was put to good use also on the India-China 'Hump' route, which was described as the most arduous of all within the responsibility of Air Transport Command. Like its smaller Douglas stable mate the C-47, the C-54 boasted legendary reliability, and was the preferred long-range transport from among its contemporaries. A special VIP version was built for use by the President of the United States, Franklin D Roosevelt. The Royal Air Force also used it in small numbers during the Second World War, one of which was outfitted as a VIP aircraft for use by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The U.S. Navy acquired it under the designation R5D. All production having been commandeered by the USAAF on the outbreak of war, no civilian DC-4s flew during the war. After 1945, however, hundreds became available for use by civilian airlines, which converted them into airliners with passenger seating and comfort, or used them as freighters. Douglas re-opened its production line for new builds in 1946, but the cheap price of the second-hand market kept back this production to only 79 examples. Also in 1946 Canadair ventured to build a Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered version, which it named North Star, used by both military and commercial operators. The DC-4 was a common sight in the immediate post-war period up to the 1950s flown by leading European and United States airline liveries, until it started to be replaced by Douglas's own DC-6 and DC-7. The aircraft came in handy during the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, during which it hauled food supplies and even coal to the beleaguered German city, and again during the Korean War, airlifting the wounded to Japan and the United States. Dozens of variants of the C-54 were employed in a wide variety of non-combat roles such as air-sea rescue, scientific and military research and missile tracking and recovery. No fewer than 1,315 examples of Skymasters were built in the United States and Canada, flown by 35 air arms of other countries in a variety of versions and roles, and full information on serials, versions and other remarks are all included in very detailed tables in this book. The Aviation Traders Carvair cross-Channel car ferry is not forgotten in this account, and a chapter is dedicated to this unique aircraft converted in Britain from standard C-54s. This new 96 page Warpaint publication written by Charles Stafrace contains 200 colour and B&W photos plus eleven pages of colour artwork by Richard Caruana.. Price:£19.50 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS109 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:05:25 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS108 Martin Mariner & Martin SP-5B Marlin. The Glenn L Martin company would produce the most successful range of seaplanes to enter US service. The first off the blocks was the PBM Mariner that would see extensive service with the U.S. Navy in various roles including general patrol duties, anti-submarine work, rescue duties and strangely enough for a purported patrol aircraft, as a bomber. So impressed was the USN with the Mariner that they pressed Martin to develop an improved version. The result was the Marlin that entered service in the post-war period and supplemented its older sibling during the Korean War. The P5M Marlin's last active service was during the Vietnam War although it was soon replaced by land based patrol aircraft. Both types were used by non-American operators both in Latin America and Europe. Even the Royal Air Force operated the Mariner although its sojurn in RAF colours was brief, to say the least! This book is written by Kev Darling and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.. Price:£15.50 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS108 Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:30:03 GMT http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS107 Ilyushin IL-2 Sturmovik (Il-2AM Il-2M-82]. Price:£15.00 sales@hannants.co.uk http://alpha.hannants.co.uk/product/WPS107 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 15:10:14 GMT