Albatros Productions

Windsock Datafile No. 135 - Voisin III/V at War

by  Paolo Varriale

Reviewed By  Roger Rasor, IPMS# 34117

MSRP: $21.95 ISBN: 978-1-906798-02-4 Website: www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk When I bought my first Windsock Datafile No.1, covering the Albatros D III, from Big Bear Hobbies in Milwaukee back in 1990, I had no idea that there could possibly be enough WW I aircraft subjects to justify the number of Windsock Datafiles that Albatros Productions has produced in the years since. But Ray Rimell and company have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that there certainly were enough subjects to justify the continued publication of this high quality series of soft cover books on aircraft of The Great War. The latest - number 135 in the series - covers what this reviewer found to be a most interesting history of one of the truly unique aircraft of the war, the Voisin III/V two-seater…and, it is well worth seeking out at this Datafile! Author Paola Varialle has done a marvelous job of researching and relating the complex story of how Gabriel Voisin's and his brother's youthful interest in flying grew into an aviation enterprise that produced a series of pre-war aircraft that served well in multiple military rolls under the flags of many nations from the very onset of the conflict. The author, and a number of acknowledged contributors, had to reconcile conflicting period writings with incomplete service records from numerous countries to document an accurate and cohesive history. The result is a very readable study of the development and service of the multipurpose Voisin aircraft used by the French, the Italians, the Russians and the British. Because of the complexity of the story and the contradictory information that the author continually addresses in relating the story, Windsock Datafile 135 is larger than most of the previous editions. There are 42 pages instead of the typical 34. In addition to the informative and enjoyable text, there are complete general arrangement drawings in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales as well as numerous detail sketches by artist Martin Digmayer, showing the manufacturing variations between machines that were built in different countries during the war. The book includes well-illustrated color profiles by Ronny Bar of four aircraft, 95 rare black & white period photographs, five color photos of a preserved aircraft in the Muse de l'Air and one genuine WWI era 'Autochrome' color image taken in 1916. There is more than enough detail to provide a scratch-builder with everything needed to replicate a Voisin III/V in miniature. Windsock Datafile 135 includes appendices that provide the specifications of Voisin III (LA), Voisin III (LAS), and Voisin V models, and production figures with serial numbers for about 3050 aircraft built and/or serving in France, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, Romania, and Russia. Anyone with an interest in WWI aviation will find this to be a valuable addition to his or her library. Visit www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk for information about this and all other available Windsock Datafiles in the series. My thanks to IPMS, Ray Rimell and Albatros Productions for the review copy- recommended.