B-10, B-12, Export Type 139 /
Type 166

Patrick Laureau

FRROM

Reviewed by Brett Green

Philippe “FRROM” has steadily built a reputation for producing modelling-oriented references that sit somewhere between a traditional monograph and a practical workbench companion. Their recent title, B-10, B-12, Export Type 139 / Type 166, written by Patrick Laureau, follows this familiar path—and does so with considerable success.

The book’s 84 pages are densely packed with content. The subject itself is fascinating and underreported. The Martin B-10 family marked a genuine revolution in bomber design, introducing an all-metal monoplane configuration with enclosed cockpits, internal bomb bays and retractable landing gear—features that rendered earlier biplane bombers obsolete almost overnight.

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Laureau quickly establishes this context, setting the scene for the aircraft’s rapid evolution and widespread export success.

The real strength of the book lies in its coverage of the bewildering array of export variants. The Model 139 and later Type 166 aircraft served in a surprising number of air arms, from China and Argentina to the Dutch East Indies and Siam.

These variations—subtle but significant—are exactly the sort of detail that modellers crave, and FRROM delivers a clear attempt to untangle the differences in engines, equipment fits and external features.

Structurally, the book is logically organised, moving from the original B-10 and B-12 developments through to the export machines. The narrative is concise rather than exhaustive, but this works in the book’s favour. It keeps the pace brisk and ensures that the focus remains on useful, relevant information rather than academic depth. This is very much a modeller’s reference rather than a definitive historical tome.

Illustrations are a major highlight. The book includes more than 90 black-and-white photographs and around 40 colour profiles and plans, offering a rich visual resource.

The photographs are particularly valuable, with many less commonly seen images that provide useful insights into surface detail, weathering and operational context. Reproduction quality is generally good, and the selection complements the text nicely.

The colour profiles are another strong point. They are plentiful and varied, covering a wide range of operators and camouflage schemes. For modellers, this is where the book really earns its keep. The Martin bombers wore some surprisingly colourful and distinctive finishes, especially in export service, and the profiles provide excellent inspiration for projects that stand out from the usual olive drab and grey fare.

From a modelling perspective, the book is clearly designed with current kits in mind. It is intended to support the FRROM/Azur family of B-10/139/166 kits, and it succeeds admirably in this role.

Details of variant differences, combined with visual references, make it much easier to tackle conversions or to accurately finish a specific aircraft.

Production values are solid. The layout is clean, the balance between text and images is well judged, and the overall presentation is functional without being flashy. It is a practical reference that is just as at home on the workbench as it is on the bookshelf.

In summary, B-10, B-12, Export Type 139 / Type 166 is a highly useful and engaging reference for modellers and aviation enthusiasts. It sheds light on an important but often overlooked aircraft family, backed up by a strong selection of photographs and colour artwork. While it may not be the final word on the subject, it is certainly one of the most accessible and modeller-friendly treatments available.

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Azur-FRROM for the sample www.frrom.com

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2026 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 23 April, 2026
Last updated 24 April, 2026

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