Specialty Press

USAF Prototype Jet Fighters Photo Scrapbook

by Tony R. Landis & Dennis R. Jenkins

Reviewed By Jim Pearsall, IPMS #2209

ISBN 978-1-58007-137-6 MSRP: $19.95 9" X 9", 108 pages, with 190 b/w & 126 color photos. Softbound. Website: www.specialtypress.com This book is a follow-on to the authors' USAF Experimental Fighters and Prototypes which was reviewed on our web site, here. (http://www.ipmsusa2.org/reviews/Books/Historical-Bio/spec_press/spec_usaf-exp-fighters.htm) In the foreword, they noted that they just had too many good photos, and they wouldn't fit in their first book, given the limitations of the format. So Specialty Press allowed them to publish another book, with all those good photos, and with the idea of appealing to history buffs and modelers, who couldn't get enough of the good stuff in the previous book. Although the title promises "jet fighters", there is a section on those prototype "recips" which didn't make it to production. There are a few pages on the XP-54, XP-55 and XP-56, before we get to the XP-59. I've looked at my share of aviation magazines and books, and the photos used here are mostly new to me. The photo of the XP-54 undergoing maintenance would make a super diorama, if you can find the kit and the time. Most of the aircraft get a 2-page spread, with exceptions for the more important ones, such as the F-86, F-100, F-4 and F-16, which get 4 pages. Coverage also includes the XF-98 Falcon missile and the XF-99 Bomarc, both of which later received different designations as AIM-4 and IM-99. In there with the detail shots and in flight photos are a number of images which tell us that testing new airplanes is not the safest job in aviation. The Moonbat was McDonnell's first aircraft, built at the former Curtiss plant in St. Louis. I have wondered what happened to the prototype, and now I know. It's not all "nifty fifties" aircraft. Coverage includes the latest generation aircraft, the XF-22, XF-23, X-32, and XF-35. The caption on the XF22/23 photo tells me that these aircraft have been around for almost 20 years. Makes you wonder what's coming up next. Or if they'll just do a software upgrade. As far as usefulness to the modeler, I'll give them a good grade. I have an old XF-84H "Thunderscreech" which I converted from an RF-84F. I have been in the process of restoring this conversion, as the landing gear, canopy and prop blades were broken off last time I moved. The photos in the book, and the one on the back cover will allow me to fix a couple of mistakes as I rework the model. Overall, this is a worthwhile book because it is not expensive and presents info not seen elsewhere. The photos and the captions are informative and interesting. Thanks to Marie Ray at Specialty Press and IPMS/USA for the review copy, and a chance to correct my XF-84H.