It has been nearly five years since Valiant Wings' Airframe Extra series has had a new volume, but that wait is over with this nicely done edition on the Falklands War.

This 1982 conflict between Argentina and the UK was somewhat unique in that though a NATO nation was invaded, NATO did not become involved. It also increased the popularity of PM Thatcher, enabling her to be re-elected the next year. I also spelled the end of the junta running Argentina, allowing the nation to return to a democracy.

The junta started the war as they felt that the British would not bother intervening due to the distance. However, that was not the case and events were put in motion soon after Argentine soldiers came ashore at Port Stanley. From an aviation standpoint, it was the first time the Sea Harrier engaged in combat. Argentina's air arms were no slouches either, proving that their pilots lacked neither skill nor bravery. What they did lack was the most modern weaponry and they had distance to their disadvantage when it came to forming strike forces. Aside from aircraft designed to operate from short and unprepared surfaces like the Pucara, none of their front line attack aircraft could be based at Stanley due to the short runway. All strike missions had to be flown from Argentina, a distance that meant only a very short loiter time over the target.

Despite this, the Argentine Air Force and Navy were able to exact a fairly heavy toll on the Royal Navy, though at a fairly heavy cost in terms of lost aircrew and airframes. However, the cards were stacked against them and the end result was fairly predictable.

This series is known for three things. One is a nice historical background along with some nicely chosen (but small) period photos. Another is a large selection of full color profiles by RIchard Caruana. These are divided in sections covering British and Argentine aircraft. Finally, a kit building selection using Valiant Wings' usual two builders.

The 1/72 modeler has never met a photo etch or resin part he has not liked and so his builds generally feature a lot of this. However, there is no denying the quality of the builds and in this one we have an Airfix A-4C Skyhawk, an Italeri Wessex HU.5, and just two pages of a completed Modelsvit Mirage IIIEA.

For other scales, we have 1/48 kits built pretty much out of the box. In this case it is a Kinetic Mirage III/Daggar, a Kinetic Pucara, and the venerable Tamiya Sea Harrier FRS.1.  I think it may well be these build articles that are a major draw of the series as they make up half of the pages. It all makes for another superb edition and one that I know you will like.

May 2024

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