Bert Kinzey

A Detail and Scale Publication

72 pages

ISBN 1-888974-01-X

Approximately $12-14 (US)

I had always been hesitant to pick up these little gems for working on models. I mean what the heck, when the Squadron/Signal in Action Series was $4 cheaper, why get 2? Man was I ever mistaken!!

Bert Kinzey is Ex-military ADA (that's Air Defense Artillery for the rest of you) who happens to write tech manuals. If he really wanted to shoot missiles, he shoulda been a Lance Officer Like me…..(just kidding) He is also "one of us" I.E. a modeler, and IPMS member who happens to be an aviation writer. I suspect that he also has a better budget than I do for going around and photographing all these real cool aircraft. (If you saw my camera that I use, you would all laugh). In anycase, anyone who has spent any time modeling knows about his work.

The Book: this was the first D&S book I ever used, and I used it in conjunction with one of the best kits out there. The Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 kit, and I also built as a side by side comparison a Hasagawa SBD-3 with Metal edge flaps. I had this book, the Squadron/signal SBD Dauntless in actin book, and The Osprey Aviation SBD "Units" book. As for as pictures for the modeler, this book beats them all. I have to say that with this book in hand, I learned quite a lot of one of my favorite aircraft. (My dad built a 1/72 HAWK SBD-5 for me when I was 6). I never realized that the Observer/Gunner had controls available to him before this book. The book gives an extensive color section that was incredibly useful for painting the "office" area of the aircraft, and still provided enough other photographs that I was able to build both models "wheels up", and STILL come in 3^rd at a local competition with the Accurate Miniatures aircraft.

Bert provides a good thumbnail history of the aircraft with color photos of the Dauntless in operation. Also included is a rundown of the kits available in each scale at the time of publication, and where there may be faults in accuracy in each kit.

All in all this was an incredible resource, and I found myself hunting down every detail for my builds. I am gonna have to get as many of these publications as I can.

Highly recommended.

Review copy courtesy of my going to work 5 days a week, and bustin' my butt for Uncle Sam.

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