PROS: Comprehensive approach to subjects, first real attempt to depict color schemes, much info. still valid
CONS: Long out-of-of print, some info. has been superseded by more current research
Modelers from the late 1960s and early 1970s remember Profile Publications–the bright cherry red/white and later blue/white of the aircraft profiles; the red/black of the first series of armor profiles, the dark green of the automobile profiles. Ah, for the good old days....
Profiles, for those (and there are a LOT of you now) that have never seen them, were inexpensive booklets published in the UK starting in 1964. Profiles were the first attempt to integrate color plates, photos, and text in a short booklet. Aircraft Profiles were in the famous cherry red/white cover from 1964-1968; after reaching #204, Profiles took a vacation for a year and came back with a subsequent series of blue/white Aircraft Profiles from 1969 to the last one apparently published, #262, P-47N, in November, 1974. (The last two, #263 & 264 may have been announced but not published. Perhaps another reader of M2 can clarify this.)
While the aircraft Profiles are best known, Profiles also published 24 Armor Profiles in a red/black cover series, then went on to another series of Armor Profiles in an olive/white cover. As well, they issued 95 Classic Car Profiles, Warship Profiles, Firearm Profiles, Locomotive Profiles and announced a second series of Classic Car Profiles. From what I can tell, publication of the Profiles ceased in 1974-75.
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What can be said about these old friends (for that is what they were to many modelers)? First, they were generally available at hobby shops and inexpensive. I’ll concentrate on the Aircraft Profiles here: in the red/white series, the buyer got (usually) a color four-view plate on the inside front cover, text and photos (often written by experts in the field such as Rene Francillon) the inside back cover of side views and details of unit insignia, and some data on aircraft such as performance, length, span, armament, range, etc. Many of the first series had added color on the inside front page and a color center four-view. While the series focused on military aircraft from World War 1 up to and including the GD F-111, but also included civil transports and sport aircraft as well. Trainers, military transports, recon, and other types all rounded out the list. In the later blue/white series, there were usually two plates towards the center and a larger color-center spread.
The red/black armor series had a good color center plate in the center, but that was it. The text and photos were usually of high quality.
Over the passage of 30+ years, this much can be said for them: their text and photos were good, the booklets themselves were inexpensive and readily available. Profiles tried to issue a comprehensive series. The color plates are more troublesome: some of them have truly been replaced by more current information, while others are still valid. And, the debate is not yet over: what WAS the color of IJNAF Zeros in the early Pacific War–a light gray, as has been published and modeled so often, or a color closer to RLM Grau 02? For that matter, did the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain use RLM 70/71 or 70/02? I remind people of this as Profiles may still be valid, for in many cases, despite all the research and writing, we still don’t know.
Profiles can be found at swap meets, used bookshops, etc. They WILL take some finding. If you’ve got them, keep them. You may well be pleasantly surprised to find that their info may still be valid. The WW1 Armor Profiles (both series 1–Red/Black and Series 2–Olive-White) were recently gathered into a book which was published and is advertised by Squadron. So, perhaps some of these old friends will see the light of day again...But if nothing else, they’ll bring back some good memories!
Review courtesy of me and my library!
Comments: Bob Shoop@aol.com