Home  |  What's New  |  Features  |  Gallery  |  Reviews  |  Reference  |  Forum  |

Mushroom Model Publications

Red Series

 

Rotorcraft of the Third Reich

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: Mushroom Model Publications Red Series (5109)
Rotorcraft of the Third Reich
by Ryszard Witkowski
with illustrations by
Teodor Liviu Morosanua, Remi Pierlot and Marek Rys'
ISBN: 978-83-89450-43-2
Media: Soft cover; A5+ format; 144 pages plus covers
Price: in the UK and Europe GBP £12.00 from Mushroom Model Publications
in the USA USD$19.96 available online from Squadron.com
Review Type: First Read
Advantages: Provides a good history of rotary wing development under the Third Reich, covering the main manufacturers and machines; great selection of contemporary photos; colour photos of surviving examples; 26 attractive colour profiles.
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Highly Recommended

 

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly


 Mushroom's "Rotorcraft of the Third Reich" is available online from Squadron

 

F i r s t  R e a d

 

No, this is not another “Luftwaffe 1946” what if book!

It is, in fact, a record of the efforts made by German manufacturers in the world of rotary wing aviation during the Third Reich era of Germany’s history.

If you had not known about the advances made in the rotary wing world by Germany reading this book will give you the full picture. It covers the efforts of the major players, Flettner, Focke, and Reisler.

The prelude sets the scene by describing the background of the players and their early efforts. What follows are detailed explorations into the three major developments:

  • FL 265 Kolibri (Hummingbird)

  • Fa 223 Drache (Dragon)

  • Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) the famed “U-Boat Helicopter”.

What follows are brief coverage of other projects. These include:

  • The designs of Baron Friedrich von Doblhoff

  • The N.R. (Nagler and Rolz) series of projects

  • Fa 225

  • Fa 284

  • Fa 325

  • Fw 354 Triebflugel

  • Fa 269 Kurzstartjagdflugzeug

  • Fa 283 Kampfhubscrauber

The final chapter, entitled Echoes, follows the post-war history, testing and further development of the German designs and their evolution into modern day helicopters.

 



The book is No 5109 in the Mushroom Model Publications Red Series. Printed in Poland on good quality glossy paper, it contains text in the English language only. A soft cover book, it is B5 format 240x165 mm (or 6½” x 9” for those of us who are yet to go metric) and comprises 104 pages. It contains 104 black and white period photographs, 26 colour photographs of surviving examples, 26 colour profiles as well as 14 1/72 scale line drawings.

Those who own the Special Hobby 1/48 scale Focke-Angelis Fa 223 kit will find the text and photographs contained within the book’s pages especially helpful in assisting you in getting the kit right.

 

 

Conclusion

 

I was impressed with this book. It is a well written, well illustrated and very informative summary of a little known chapter of World War Two aviation.

Recommended.


Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 03 June, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page