Albatros Productions Ltd

Windsock Worldwide Vol. 24 No. 6 Nov/Dec 2008

Reviewed By  Dick Montgomery, IPMS# 14003

MSRP: £6.75 ($9.36) Website: www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk Windsock is, as advertised on the cover of the magazine, one of the "finest resources for all WWI aeroplane enthusiasts". This issue is a 33-page publication featuring a large number of color images as well as the black and white images that one would expect in a publication on WWI aircraft. The images, even the vintage B&W shots, are of extremely high quality. This issue features "a unique Roden 1/48 Nieuport 28 "build-off" by master modelers Tom Morgan and Lance Krieg. Mr. Morgan and Mr. Krieg are well known to those who share their interest in aircraft from the Great War. Both are world-class modelers. Krieg and Morgan agreed to build Roden's 1/48 Nieuport 28 and to share research information and modeling techniques. This article is the product of that collaborative effort. Through four pages of detailed text, Morgan and Krieg walk the reader through the research process and the assembly of this Roden kit. The text is accompanied by three pages of exquisitely rendered color images which provide a visual reference of the fine detail found in the Roden kit and testify to the high level of craftsmanship brought to the project by Krieg and Morgan. The text begins with a discussion of the Roden kit and the corrections and improvements that Morgan and Krieg determined were necessary. Included are paragraphs covering the cockpit interiors, camouflage and markings, and final assembly. It is within these paragraphs that the modeler finds solid gold. The narration is sufficiently detailed to provide a road map to follow in the footsteps of Morgan and Krieg. Combined with the narration, the images make it clear what the subassemblies can look like if one simply takes one's time and follows the road map. Granted, watching an expert modeler work on a model does not equate to the average modeler being able to duplicate the finished product with the same level of success, but it does elevate one's game. It is this road map, provided by Morgan and Krieg, which makes this issue of Windsock a must-buy. Another very enjoyable feature in Windsock is the "Rara Avis" section. In this section, usually a page or two in length, a rare aircraft is featured. In this issue it is the Rupler G.I bomber. A set of images is accompanied by a 1/72 two page 3-view drawing. As with other magazines, advertisements for research materials, kits, and tools, provide the modeler with web addresses, phone numbers, and contact information. While most experienced modelers whose shelves are already well stocked will give these ads a quick and cursory glance, those just entering the WWI field will find these ads extremely useful. This issue of Windsock is a very good buy and is highly recommended. To learn more about Windsock please visit www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk