Need Review of Osprey Titles

[BobE]

Father's Day is coming and I am getting the "what can we get you" bit.
I am looking at some Osprey titles but can't find much info on what's inside the covers.
Would appreciate it if anyone could give me a few clues.The titles are:
British Fighter Units, Western Front 1914-1916
" * * * *" * * * * *" * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1917-1918
German Fighter Units * * * * * * * * * * 1914- 1917
" * * * * *" * * * * " * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1917- 1918
Sopwith Camel Aces of WWI
Fokker DVII Aces of WWI

My main interest in these books would be the aircraft illustrations and pictures, as references for my model building, but good historical narrative and information would be a big plus.
I am concerned about the Camel book. I have the books on American and British and Empire Aces of WWI. Between them they contain twelve illustrations of Camels. I am afraid of a major repetition of illustrations in the Camel book. This is not a criticism. The format of the series pretty much forces some repeats.
I did not know the "fighter units" series existed. Are these new?
I have found the Osprey series gives me a lot more bang for the buck than the Wind-Sock Data Files, which, while containing much more technical info, are skimpy on the color scheme side and quite pricey.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Father's Day is two weeks away and they are breathing down my neck!
* * * * * * * * * * *Thanks! Bob E

[Gregvan]

Hi Bob E

Well, I cannot really comment on the quality of the Fokker D VII Aces book ; but I can on the others.

Norman's Sopwith Camel Aces book is really great, and IMHO you should get it. I count three of Harry Dempsey's profiles repeated from "American Aces of WWI" (Vaughn, Lussier, Kindley) and three subjects which also were profiled in ""British and Commonwealth Aces" (Frew's B6372, Rochford's D3417, and of course Barker's B6313) - However, Harry's profiles in the Sopwith Camel Aces book are far superior (frankly) to Mark Rolfe's in the British & Empire book. You'll get a good historical overview of many aces, and excerpts from Norman Franks' many interviews of various Camel pilots - good stuff !

The "Fighter Units" books aren't really new, but are very, very desireable. These were all part of the old Osprey/Airwar series of books (most of them on WW2) and were first published in 1978 or so. I remember the great joy with which I first read them back then; I was glad to see Osprey was re-publishing them to make them available to a new generation. The two German volumes were written by Alex Imrie, and the two British volumes by our own Alex Revell - and it just doesn't get any better than the two Alex's !! They are all seminal, very well-written basic histories of the development of the fighter forces, and superbly organized and illustrated. Though not as profile-heavy as the more recent aces series, each volume contains 8 color pages, with two in each volume devoted to a color five-view of a particular colorful machine. Each also contains four major side profiles of other significant aircraft, and scrap views of notable markings from about 6-9 other aircraft, or uniform details. One also gets a color view of a significant ground vehicle (I love the red Thornycroft van impressed by No. 5 Squadron as an ammo carrier, marked "The Worlds' Appetiser - H.P. Sauce" on the side, in "British Fighter Units 1914-1916"), and also three color paintings of figures in associated uniform and flying kit .

In short, these four books have been some of my most-loved 'bibles' and frequently-referenced titles over the years. Get 'em all. While many of the color profiles will look familiar, it's because other writers (like me ) have used them as sources for their own work in the years since these were published.

In the second German Fighter Units book, you'll note the light blue undersides of Buechner's Jasta 13 D.VII (the subject of a recent thread) - unless Osprey chooses to correct this, which I doubt :-/. Alex Imrie has since stated he based this on an erroneous recollection by Rudolf Stark that all OAW D.VIIs had such undersides. Alex has stated that he was mistaken, and the undersides were in fact regular underside lozenge fabric. It's always those small mistakes that later rear up and bite the author !! Don't let that small mistake dissuade you - buy these books - at least that's my recommendation.

Greg VanWyngarden

Well Bob ....far be it from me to think I have the right ..or the knowledge , to review a book like Fokker DVII aces from Greg and Mr Franks ....But , all I can tell you is it's brilliant !!!!! ..The biographies of the various aces are wonderful , and the profiles of aircraft are just the sort of thing any WWI enthusiast or modeller ...or both , will love .
I can't wait to see part two of this series !!. So if you are going to get your kids to get you this great book ...make them promise to include part II also in the deal .
BlackSeptember.

[Gregvan]

Hi Again,

Gee, Black September, you can review my books anytime !! Actually, part 2 of the D VII Aces set won't be out for some time now - we're still working on it. As a matter of fact, I'd better stop here and get back to work ! Thanks for the kind words.

Greg VanWyngarden

[BobE]

Thank you for the input gentlemen. Greg, I really appreciate you taking the time to actually go through the books and give me a run down on any duplication. Where else but on the Aerodrome can an ordinairy,lowly modeler like myself get feed back from one of the top authorities in the field. Fantastic! Don't want my boys spending a lot on me for Father's Day. Guess I'll ask them for a couple of the books and spring for the rest myself.
Looks like I want 'em all. Thanks again guys.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Bob E

[wingstrutdotcom]

Not sure if you have these titles in your collection.
If you are interested in the Camel the Windsock Special on the Camel units is very nice, a lot of marking references and packed with photos. Also, British Aviation Squadron Markings of WW1 by Les Rogers and illustrated by Bob Pearson is another excellent markings source for all British aircraft.

Osprey titles are great and an excellent price as well.

[alex_revell]

Greg,
Many thanks for the kind words! I wasn't - nor was Alex I, I suspect - given the chance to up date the Fighter Units books. Page 19 of the 1917-1918 has an error in the caption to the crashed SE5. It was from 24 Sqdn, not 1 Squadron.
Alex