Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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Photo Album Documents Captured / Destroyed Soviet Aircraft in WW2

Soon to be released in the US by MMP Books is Tomasz J. Kopański’s Barbarossa Victims Vol. 2, the 35th installment of the MMPBooks/Stratus “Camera On” series.

Like volume 1 in the series, Vol 2 features over 160 photographs of captured and destroyed Soviet aircraft from the Eastern Front in World War II. Most of the photographs were taken in situ, during and after the Operation Barbarossa – the attempted Nazi invasion of Russia.

The 184 page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for early January.

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Arma Hobby Releases Renderings of New Tool Curtiss H-75A / P-36

Arma Hobby recently announced their planned kits for 2026, which include a new tool Curtiss H-75A / P-36 in 1/48 scale.

The Curtiss H-75A (often called Hawk 75A) was an export version of the American Curtiss Model 75/P‑36 Hawk fighter, a late‑1930s all‑metal, low‑wing monoplane with retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit, sold in several subtypes (A-1, A-2, A-3, etc.) to foreign air forces—most notably France, which used it as the H‑75C1 with a Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 radial engine and 7.5 mm machine‑gun armament, and where it saw front‑line service and notable success in the early stages of the Second World War before being rendered obsolete by newer designs.

The company states that this upcoming release is a direct development of the Curtiss project we previously introduced in 1/72 scale (we assume this refers to their H-75 A1/A2 kit 70080 / eBay Product Page). The new tool offering is currently scheduled for release in Q2 of 2026. Click below to check out a selection of newly released renderings of the model.

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LukGraph’s Upcoming Grumman Goose Has Stunning Interior Detail

LukGraph has released a new series of renderings for their upcoming Grumman Goose model kit in 1/32 scale. These images focus on the interior, the 3D design for which was just completed. The company states that “there’s something to discover in every corner of the bow compartment, cockpit, cabin, and rear compartment. If you choose to leave doors and hatches open, viewers can explore the “hidden gems” gradually—peering inside through these little keyholes and spotting detail piece by piece.”

The US service versions add even more equipment, including AN-Mk 4 night drift signals, a sophisticated radio rack, soundproofed wall lining, and parachutes paired with upholstered armchairs. Even the baggage compartment is richly detailed, featuring items such as a water tank, de-icing liquid tank, wash basin, “Sierra” chemical toilet, and a folded work platform—plus Mk IV parachute flare ejectors and a Type A-3 pneumatic raft.

The cabins of JRF-5 aircraft delivered for foreign service were not soundproofed, making the internal fuselage structure even more visible. The RAF version includes R1116 receivers, RAF O2A compasses, and chart boards that can be built either stowed or unfolded. Seating is a little more modest than on most US-service JRFs, but 13362 Quick Attachable Parachutes can be neatly stacked beneath. Navigation Flame Floats Mk II and Smoke Floats are also included as standard equipment. The French version additionally features the A-52 guns used in Indochina during air-support sorties.

Civilian Grumman G-21 Goose versions feature leather armchairs, a silenced cabin, and a fully “furnished” baggage compartment. Passenger essentials such as a life raft, boarding ladder, and chemical toilet are included to complete the look of a properly equipped aircraft.

As of this writing, the model is “almost ready,” although a final release date has not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional images.

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Fighting Falcons: New WWII Pacific Air War History Landing Soon

Coming soon from Naval Institute Press and author Peter F. Owen is Fighting Falcons: The Campaigns of VMF-221 in the Pacific . The book “offers a compelling account of Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221), a unit that played a key role in the Pacific during World War II.”

Author Peter F. Owen examines the operational realities behind the squadron’s missions, analyzing the Marine Corps’ performance in the Pacific air war. He explores how missteps at higher levels of command shaped outcomes in the air, and he sheds light on the complex logistics and maintenance challenges crucial to success. Based on extensive research, Fighting Falcons provides new insight into how Marine aviation functioned at the squadron level. The book delivers a valuable perspective on one of the Marine Corps’ notable fighter squadrons and the larger story of how the United States fought—and learned—its way to victory in the Pacific.

The 304 page book is currently available for pre-order in hardcover and Kindle editions with release slated for March 17.

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1946 Piper J3C-65 Cub Project For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1946 Piper J3C-65 Cub project has been spotted for sale.

According to the listing, the aircraft is equipped with an A-75 engine (2,900 total time, 329 since overhaul). It has complete logbooks since 1959, as well as other paperwork. Originally purchased new by a WWII veteran and kept in Minnesota ever since, it received major updates in the 1990s, including metal wing spars and late model Cleveland double-puck wheels and brakes, along with newer additions such as shoulder harnesses and custom embroidered seats. The plane suffered minor, low-speed taxi damage this summer when the left gear struck a sign, resulting in a curled left gear leg and slight deformation to the left wing’s forward spar face, but with no apparent fuselage, right-side or visible engine damage. The aircraft remains clean and largely intact—essentially a repair project—with original instrumentation, undamaged glass, and a bent metal prop from idle speed contact. Sold with a current FAA Bill of Sale and Airworthiness Certificate.

The aircraft is located in Glenwood, MN and is available for US $16,950, although bids are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which incudes many additional photos and details.

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DC-3’s Epic Milestone: 90 Glorious Years Soars Onto US Shelves!

Fonthill will soon release The Douglas DC-3: 90 Glorious Years, author Geoff Jones’ comprehensive history of the Douglas DC-3, exploring its military, commercial, and enduring global legacy.

In Douglas DC-3: 90 Glorious Years, Geoff Jones explores the rich history of the aircraft from its beginnings in Southern California in the 1930s, to its participation in military operations such as the D-Day Normandy Landings, through to its use as a commercial aircraft into the twenty-first century. The Airbus and Boeing operators of today have their DC-3 operations to thank for their current success, and numerous enthusiast organisations continue to keep DC-3s airworthy and fly them for their members. Ninety years on, the legacy of this extraordinary aircraft is as strong as ever.

The 176 page paperback is currently available for pre-order with release slated for January 15.

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MiniArt Releases Renders for New Tool Focke-Wulf 190D-9 (Mimetall)

MiniArt has announced the development of a new tool Focke-Wulf 190D-9 (Mimetall) model kit in 1/48 scale.

The Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 was developed as a high-performance fighter to improve high-altitude capability. Aircraft produced by Mimetall were delivered in late-war conditions and often featured simplified finishes. Machines of Jagdgeschwader 301 were among those flown during the final phase of WWII.

The upcoming release (48040) will include an accurate exterior with finely reproduced panel lines and rivets, detailed cockpit with instrument panel and seat, optional open or closed canopy and marking options for two aircraft of Jagdgeschwader 301.

As of this writing, the model is listed as “coming soon.” A specific release date has not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional renders and box art.

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Allison V-12 Engine For Sale: “Zero Time on Rebuild”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

An Allison V-12 V1710-35 engine has been spotted for sale. Details are limited, although the listing states that there is zero time on rebuild.

The engine is located in Wichita, Kansas and is currently available for US $49,500, although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.

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Bloody Skies Incoming: XV Fighter Command’s Untold War

Coming soon from Osprey and author Thomas McKelvey Cleaver is the new book Bloody Skies: XV Fighter Command Against all Odds, which details the operations of the USAAF’s overlooked XV Fighter Command that protected bombers during the campaign against the Romanian oil fields in World War II.

Formed in the fall of 1943, the Fifteenth Air Force was popularly known as the “The Forgotten Fifteenth,” as its achievements were overshadowed by more glamorous exploits of the Eighth Air Force in the air war over Germany. Nevertheless, the Fifteenth’s contribution to Allied victory was crucial, and a vital part of that was the role played by the escorting fighter groups from the XV Fighter Command who protected the B-17s and B-24s from the Luftwaffe in the skies over Romania.

In this new history of the campaign, renowned aviation historian Tom Cleaver tells the story of the Fifteenth’s air war through first-person accounts of the fighter pilots of the Fifteenth Fighter Command, including such famous units as the Red Tails – the Tuskegee Airmen – the 82nd Fighter Group and the 325th’s “Checkertail Clan,” and with his ability to place wartime events in their greater context.

The 320 page book is currently available for pre-order in hardcover and Kindle editions. Release is scheduled for March 10.

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Volunteer Aces: Examining the Part-Time Pilots Who Helped Win the Battle of Britain

In his new book Volunteer Aces of Churchill’s Few: The Part-Time Pilots and their Auxiliary Squadrons which Helped win the Battle of Britain author Martin Wade tells the story of those pilots, both Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve, who flew with the squadrons of the AAF – a most remarkable band within “The Few.”

It has been many decades since the Battle of Britain raged over southern England, where part‑time pilots who had joined before the war played a vital role in victory. Formed in October 1924, the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) contributed fourteen of the sixty‑two RAF fighter squadrons in the battle, and together with RAF Volunteer Reserve pilots, produced some of the highest‑scoring aces of the summer of 1940.

The book conveys the sense of adventure shown by these “weekend flyers,” exemplified by the 1933 first flight over Mount Everest by the CO of No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron and by Flight Lieutenant Findlay Boy, who joined in 1935 while working as a mining engineer and went on to score the fastest victory of the battle by shooting down a Ju 87 Stuka less than a minute after take‑off. Their efforts led Air Vice Marshal Keith Park to declare that without the Auxiliaries the Luftwaffe would not have been defeated in 1940 and at the height of the battle Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding exclaimed, “Thank God for the RAFVR!”

The 248 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release slated for January 30.

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