|
by Robert
Bracken
S u m m a r y
|
| ISBN: |
Spitfire the Canadians -
1-55046-148-6 Spitfire the Canadians
- 1-55046-267-9 |
| Media: |
Spitfire the Canadians -
Hardcover Book of 160 pages; black & white wartime photographs;
two colour plates; 39 colour profiles (colour profile artwork by Ron
Lowry); scale plans by A.R. Clint.
Spitfire II the Canadians - Hardcover Book of
137 pages; black & white wartime photographs plus 9 stunning
wartime colour photos; two colour plates; 9 colour profiles. Colour
profile artwork by Ron Lowry. |
| Price: |
Spitfire The Canadians
available for USD$22.40 from Amazon.com
Spitfire II The Canadians
available for USD$37.95 from Amazon.com |
| Review Type: |
First Read |
| Advantages: |
Great photographs; evocative
first-hand stories from the pilots; broad coverage; wonderful colour
photos (in Spitfire II); many great colour profiles |
| Disadvantages: |
|
| Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended |
Reviewed by Brett Green
HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com
Spitfire - The Canadians and Spitfire II - The Canadians
both take an identical approach to the subject of Spitfires flown by
Canadian pilots. Both books are presented in hard cover, 12" x 9" format
with high-quality glossy pages.
 The
author, Robert Bracken, exclusively uses the first-hand stories of the
pilots to establish a sweeping and vivid impression of Spitfire
operations wherever Canadians were stationed. 58 individual stories are
related in the first book, while 37 are told in Spitfire II. The stories
in both books are mutually exclusive - the episodes in each cover from
the Battle of Britain to the cessation of hostilities. The text has been
skilfully edited to retain the first-hand impressions while remaining
entertaining and readable. A thread of wry humour runs through some of
these articles, in addition to a fair share of honest self-reflection.
Modellers will appreciate the large number of high quality,
beautifully reproduced wartime photos in each book. Most of these are at
least a half-page in size, with many full-page photographs displaying
terrific detail. The photographs are supported by Ron Lowry's attractive
colour profiles - 39 in the first book and 9 in the second. These will
provide ample inspiration for modelling subjects ranging from the Mk. I
right through to the Mk. 24.
The first book supplies five pages of detailed plans by A.R. Clint.
These plans cover the Spitfire Vb, IXc, XIVe and XVIe; plus a chronology
of comparative side profiles from the Mk. IIa to the XIVe
Spitfire II also includes nine rare wartime colour photographs of
aircraft and personnel. The pictures of the all-blue PR.XI will be
especially interesting to many enthusiasts.
I have found these books to be a valuable source of reference and
inspiration since finding the first volume tucked away in a small
Canberra bookshop some years ago.
Robert Bracken has compiled a fascinating slice of history for anyone
interested in either Canadian military history, Spitfires or the air war
in Europe in general.
Both books are a terrific read with a wealth of reference photos and
artwork.
Highly Recommended.
Review Copyright © 2002 by
Brett Green
This Page Created on 10 April, 2002
Last updated
22 July, 2003
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