SPAD VII C.1

Superb. Outstanding. Superlative work. These and other words have been used by many to describe this publication, and they're only partly correct. This is a stunning book, one that other authors would do well to study to see just "how it's done."

Tomasz has spent a large amount of time studying SPAD VIIs. He starts his book looking at the development of the SPAD company as well as the technical development of the VII. From there he moves to operations of the type - not just concentrating on France, but he covers all countries that flew the VII both during the war and post-war. His next chapter deals with camouflage and markings, and again, this subject is treated to as much detail as is possible, again covering all countries that flew the machine.

It's the next section that the book truly shines. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the book is a fascinating look at the SPAD VII throughout its career, but it's the drawings and color plates where the book just soars. Every single difference - every single nuance is covered as much as Tomasz could find. There are differences in radiators, wing tips, everything anybody wanted to know about the SPAD VII is covered. Finally there are the color plates. 35 of them to be exact, covering everything from war-time French machines, to post-war Polish and Russian/Soviet aircraft.

It may sound like I'm gushing with this review. I am because it's such an awesome body of work. Many aircraft reference books will from now one be judged by this book. It's very obvious that Tomasz has a "love" for the aircraft and it shows in how he presents it to the reader within the book's pages. If you like the SPAD VII in any form, you need this book. If you enjoy WW1 allied aircraft in any form, you need this book. If you ever plan on modeling the SPAD VII in any scale, this book is a must. I can't see how a historically accurate model can be made without it.