The CAC Boomerang
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Airframe Album #3
Author: Richard A Franks
Publisher: Valiant Wings Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9567198-8-1
Binding: SoftcoverPages: 98
The Second World War saw innovation in all corners of the globe for aviation, and one of the more successful designs was the CAC Boomerang from Australia. With some talented designers and engineers already experienced with various license produced aircraft such as the Wirraway, it was not much of a stretch for them to come out with a solid fighter aircraft. The result was the Boomerang, a nimble plane with potent armament. This latest title in the Airframe Album series provides one of the most detailed overviews of the Boomerang, and is an essential reference for anyone interested in this plane.
The book is divided into six main sections. The first is the overall history of the Boomerang. This section covers briefly the design process and operational record of the Boomerang, in both photos and text. This is followed up by the technical description section, which is a highly detailed photo and drawing walkaround that leaves no corner unseen. If you want to replicate every possible detail in a Boomerang model, this section is essential.
The next couple of sections provides some useful information for the exterior. First up is a series of drawings that document the differences between the prototype, production, and projected variants. These are also balanced with photos of the real aircraft so you can see these changes as they appear on the plane. Once you have the variant picked out, the next section covers camouflage and markings, and this includes both period photos and a series of excellent color profile illustrations. Finally, the last bits of this book cover the survivors and the big 1/32 Boomerang kit from Alley Cat.
For anyone interested in Australian aviation or the Boomerang in particular, this is a must-have book. The quality throughout is superb, and the pile of period photos is definitely worth it. My thanks to Valiant Wings for the review copy.