Windsock International , Vol. 17, No. 1-4, Albatros Productions Ltd. (U.K.); 32 pp., softcover bimonthly magazine, 8-1/4" x 11-3/4", photos and line drawings; ISSN 0268-6422; $6.20 per issue plus postage; all Windsock publications available in the U.S. from Wise Owl Worldwide Publications, 4314 W. 238th St. Dept WS, Torrance, CA 90505 (Tel: 310-375-6258).
This year's first issue (January/February, Vol. 17, No. 1) offers interesting color views of scale models that have been built with a singular devotion to high precision and accuracy. The gems for non-modellers are the second part of Harry Woodman's excellent series on Voisin aircraft and Colin A. Owers' account of the development of the Friedrichshafen FF54 single-seat quadruplane fighter; both articles have great line drawings, as well as photos.
In the March/April issue, Colin Owers provides the first part of a detailed photo study of the Curtiss H-16 flying boats, and (still devoted to German multi-winged fighters) his excellent drawings and photos of the LFG Roland D.IV experimental triplane. Heightened interest in Italian aircraft is fed by the third installment of Alberto Casirati's 'Camouflage and Markings of Italian Two-Seaters,' this one devoted to the mammoth 300-hp-engined S.I.A. biplanes.
Colin Owers is back in the third issue (May/June) with a detaled account of doping the Airco D.H.2 fighters and the second part of his Curtiss H-16 series. League members Ted Hamady and Mike O'Neal collaborated on the detailed article on the National Air and Space Museum's Nieuport 28, with final clarificarion as to whether the aircraft is a 28C-1 or a 28A. The article and Ted and Bob Pearson's exquisite back cover color Nieuport 28 artwork are not to be missed!
Breaking news in the July/August Windsock International is announcement that restoration has begun on the only surviving Pfalz D.VIII. A well-illustrated article recounts the aircraft's odyssey from the Pfalz plant in Speyer to the Caproni Museum in Italy and then to Berlin Luftfahrt-museum.
Another segment of Alberto Casirati's series on Italian camouflage and markings is augmented by splendid photos and the magazine's outside rear cover, with color profiles of aircraft noted in the article. Another fine issue, highly recommended.
submitted by Peter Kilduff
Windsock International, Vol. 17, No. 5 - Special Fokker D.VII Issue,Albatros Productions Ltd. (U.K.), September/October 2001; 32 pp., softcover bimonthly magazine, 8-1/4" x 11-3/4", full-color inside and outside covers, photos and line drawings; ISSN 0268-6422; $6.20 per issue.
Attesting to unflagging (indeed, growing) interest in Fokker D.VIIs, the September/October 2001 issue of Windsock International magazine is largely devoted to the distinctive squared-nosed fighters. An excellent pictorial section assembled by noted authority Greg VanWyngarden is complemented by color photos an exquisite 1/4th-scale radio-controlled model based on the original Fokker D.VII in the RAF Museum at Hendon. Of course, the Fokker segment would not be complete without views of details of the Hendon example--in color, too. The Allies are also represented in this super issue by Part 5 of Alberto Casirati's series "Camouflage and Markings of Italian Two-Seaters," devoted to Caudron G.III and G.IV types. Black and white photos and an excellent color profile of both types cap off the consideration.
submitted by Peter Kilduff
Windsock International, Vol. 17, No. 6, Albatros Productions Ltd. (U.K.), November/December 2001; 36 pp., softcover bimonthly magazine, 8-1/4" x 11-3/4", full-color inside and outside covers, photos and line drawings; ISSN 0268-6422; $6.20 per issue.
Speaking of the Fokker D.VIII/E.V, a gorgeous 1/48th-scale model of the type is featured in November/December 2001 issue of Windsock International magazine. Looking at the color and black-and-white photos, its hard to believe that the subject is such a relatively small scale model. In addition to the Fokker "eye candy" in this issue, there are also great color views of incredibly-detailed Albatros Dr.II and Pfalz D.VIII models. Research buffs are sure to appreciate J.M. Bruce's illustrated article about the Royal Aircraft Factorys B.E.9 (accompanied by high-quality scale drawings by Marty Digmayer), as well as Part 6 of Alberto Casirati's "Camouflage and Markings of Italian Two-Seaters," devoted to Ansaldo SVA 9 and 10 types, including new color photos of a surviving SVA 10. Czech aerophile Zdenek Cejka, whose Nieuport monograph was reviewed in the Fall 2001 Over the Front (pp. 186-187), wraps up the issue with a well-illustrated article and inside back cover artwork devoted to Czech, Russian and Ukrainian Nieuport 23 aircraft.
submitted by Peter Kilduff
Windsock International, Vol. 18, No. 1, Albatros Productions Ltd. (U.K.), January/February 2002; 36 pp., softcover bimonthly magazine, 8-1/4" x 11-3/4", full-color inside and outside covers, photos and line drawings; ISSN 0268-6422; $6.20 per issue; all Windsock publications available in the U.S. from Wise Owl Worldwide Publications, 4314 W. 238th St. Dept WS, Torrance, CA 90505 (Tel: 310-375-6258).
If SPADs and Blériots are more to your liking, then the January/February 2002 issue of Windsock International should be of interest. Bob Pearson's exquisite color renderings of SPAD S.XIII "showbirds" of the 94th Aero Squadron grace the outside front and rear covers, as well as an inside page, complementing Greg VanWyngardens well-illustrated article "SPAD Plumage!" Some of Greg's earlier SPAD line drawings from Over the Frontaugment 1/32nd-scale multi-views by Doug Carrick. In addition to an array of photos of excellent scale models, the issue offers Part 7 of Alberto Casirati's "Camouflage and Markings of Italian Two-Seaters," covering Blériot XI-2 in Italian service. Even with verey fine photo documentation and more of Bob Pearson's color views for this article, it is hard to imagine the fragile Blériot mid-wing monoplane in a two-seat configuration. But there it is--in color and black-and-white--and well worth a looking at.
submitted by Peter Kilduff
