SCALEWORLD

So much to do, so little time. I'm beginning to think that phrase was originated for me. It seems that everytime I realize another installment of Scaleworld is due, it's five hours before deadline and I can't figure out where the last thirty days have gone!

Anyway, let's see if I can come up with a few things you might find of interest this month. Strangely enough, I just might be able to do that - at least in part due to a new CD-ROM that I've nearly completed. Does that mean I'm going to spend part of this column blowing my own horn? That's right.

If you're fascinated, enthralled, interested in or just simply like the Lockheed P-38, then jump over to the SCALE PUBLICATIONS website and check out my latest effort: Lockheed P-38 Lightning Gallery.

Due to the fact that so much has been written on the P-38 history, no attempt is made to repeat that in this disc. What you get are photographs, mostly black-and-white, but including some very interesting color shots. There are 57 nose art shots, Tony Weddel aviation art, serial numbers, an entire section on Glacier Girl, a somewhat overstated Lockheed Press Release (it makes you think that the P-38 did it all), assorted other documents and much more. All photos are fully captioned, including color interpretation of b&w nose art to the extent possible. One of the more unique shots is a P-80 sitting on PSP in Foggia, Italy (I'm not kidding) in early 1945 when you would normally see P-38s. There will also be numerous photos of the XP-58 Chain Lightning.

Final photo count has not yet been determined, but will be over 300. Produced in HTML format, it's designed to be viewed at 800 x 600 pixel resolution or better and 16 bit (millions of colors) for best results. You will need an internet browser, but an internet connection is not required. Keep in mind that some of the nose art contains adult material.

What's the price for all of this? $19.95 plus $3.00 s&h ($5.00 foreign). But wait! Scale Publications has a deal for you. The disc will be released on November 1, 2003. However, if you order before November 1, you get it at a 20% discount. Only $15.95 plus $3.00 s&h ($5.00 foreign). Just keep in mind that shipping will not begin until November 1.

What have I heard from the RCHTA show? Not a lot, considering that the deadline for this column was the 20th of the month. However, I have heard a few things that should get us all salivating. Right now, all you're getting are subjects, scales and semi-rumors. But you'll get more as soon as I can track down information.

Our friends at AMtech are working hard to keep us happy. We can look forward to the following: In 1/32nd scale: P-39Q, P-39F, P-400. 1/48th scale: F2H-2, F2H-2P/2N and F2H-3/4 Banshee series. Still in 1/48th: XP-40, P-40B/C (no, that's not a misprint), XP-42 and YP-37. And for those of you who prefer 1/144 for large, four-engine jets, a KC-135 series. I've also heard that Revell-Monogram announced a 1/72nd (!) scale WW-II German U-Boat that will be nearly 40 inches in length. Geez! I may have to build a ship (O.K., a sub is actually referred to as a boat), if I can find a place to put it. Finally, someone (I can't remember who) showed a 1/32nd scale Spirit of St. Louis with a large number of parts and a price to match.

"Wait a minute!" you say. I didn't mention the 1/72 stretch Ju-88s and other projects that AMtech announced last year! Don't get ahead of me. I'm getting to that…or more accurately, Alan Griffith, is about to get to it. The following comments from Alan will clarify the stretch Ju-88 situation and give us that much more to look forward to from AMtech. Alan, the podium is yours.

"AMtech wishes to apologize for the delay of the products announced in 2002. This has been due to tooling problems on the Ju-88 stretch series (now resolved) and not receiving the design work on the other projects in a timely manner. The Ju-88H-3/4 should be out in October and will be followed by the Ju-88G-10 series, then the Ju-88H-1/H-2.

We are now starting to receive the long awaited designs for the other projects and will have the kits out as soon as we have chosen the appropriate tooling company."

Thanks, Alan, for keeping us apprised of the situation. These kinds of problems occur with all kit manufacturers, but many…if not most…simply say nothing, leaving us to hang by our fingernails until the kit is finally released. I would suggest that most modelers can deal with the delays. It's the silence that's frustrating. You've proven once again that AMtech is truly a class act, as is the man at it's helm. Alan, despite the fact that this next comment is a direct steal from Mr. Spock, I could not be more sincere. May you and AMtech live long and prosper.

In an attempt (desperate or otherwise) to catch up on recent books that have stacked up on me, following is a list of new or fairly recent titles that are either published or distributed in the U.S. by SPECIALTY PRESS. Even though little more than the title, author, brief description and price is given, be assured that I've looked through every one of them and can say that all are deserving of space on your bookshelf.

If you can't find these books at your favorite bookstore or hobby shop, you can order directly from SPECIALTY PRESS, 39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, Minnesota. Keep in mind when ordering from SPECIALTY that there is a $4.95 s&h charge per order.

Warbird Tech Series, Vol. 36. Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy by Bill Norton. $16.95.
250 b&w and 40 color photos, 104 pages, softbound. It's a Warbird Tech book. Need I say more?

Aerofax Series. Lockheed's SR-71 'Blackbird' Family by James Goodall and Jay Miller. $24.95. 250 b&w and color photos, 128 pages, softbound. Building a model of one of the Blackbirds? Here's your reference.

Red Star Series, Vol. 4. Early Soviet Jet Fighters by Yefim Gordon. $29.95. 249 b&w and 9 color photos, 8 pages of color art, 144 pages, softbound. If your interests lie in Soviet/Russian aviation, you need the entire Red Star Series.

Red Star Series, Vol. 5. Yakolev's Piston-Engined Fighters by Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Khazanov. $29.95. 313 b&w and 2 color photos, 7 pages of color art, 8 pages of drawings, 144 pages, softbound. The latest volume in the series and just as essential if you're interested in Soviet aviation.

Classic Colours Series. Luftwaffe Colours, Vol. Three, Section 1, Jagdwaffe by Eric Mombeek, Jean-Louis Roba & Martin Pegg. $24.95. This volume covers the Balkans for the April-May 1941 period. 250 b&w and 6 color photos, 30 color profiles and maps, 96 pages, 9 x 12 format, softbound. If you already have references on Luftwaffe camouflage and markings, this series will enhance it. If you have little, this would be an excellent starting point.

Classic Colours Series. Luftwaffe Colours, Vol. Three, Section 2, Jagdwaffe by Eric Mombeek and Christer Bergstrom with Martin Pegg. $24.95. This volume cover Barbarossa, The Invasion of Russia, June-December 1941. 250 b&w photos, 30 color profiles and maps, 96 pages, 9 x 12 format, softbound. Same comments as above apply.

Classic Colours Series. Luftwaffe Colours, Vol. Three, Section 3, Jagdwaffe by J. Richard Smith & Martin Pegg. $24.95. This volume covers the War Over The Desert, June 1940-June 1942. 120 b&w and color photos, 96 pages, 9 x 12 format, softbound. Again, comments of Vol. Three, Section 1 apply here as well. If you buy one, you'll wind up with all three. And you should.

Air War Classics Series. Defenders Of The Reich, Jagdgeschwader 1, Vol. Three 1944-1945 by Eric Mombeek. $24.95. From the same source (Classic Publications) as the Classic Colours Series, this series concentrates on the history of a single Luftwaffe fighter unit, JG 1. 270 b&w photos, 30 color profiles, 10 1/2 x 12 format, softbound. This third volume (as well as the two other volumes I haven't seen) will be considered absolutely essential for any historian or modelbuilder with a passion for unit histories.

And that, as the clock hands crawl ever nearer to midnight, is it for this month. See y'all in November.