Next in the new 'Topshots' series is this book on the TBM-3 Avenger. Like its prececessor, it is basically a walk-around detail book, this time using warbirds and museum aircraft. Unlike the previous edition, this one alternates between pages in color and pages in black and white. Really, not a problem as the colors are pretty well obvious, especially with a WWII Navy plane like the Avenger.

The images are superbly done and crystal clear, allowing a good look at the sort of things that super-detailers love; brake lines, wire bundles as well as bomb bay and engine detailing. If you like cockpit detail then this one has it from the main seat all the way back through the radio compartment to the ball turret.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Kagero book without some decals. Since Navy planes were rather, well, plain, it is possible to do the unique markings for two aircraft in three scales. One is a tri-color painted aircraft from VC-83 with two diamonds on the rudder. The other is a really bland overall sea blue VC-9 aircraft with just the number 81 on the fin.

Overall, an excellent volume and one that I can most highly recommend to those of you who like to see the detail bits of various aircraft.

June 2005

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