Henschel Hs 126

Mushroom Model Publications

Reviewed by Peter Mitchell

"Henschel Hs 126" is available online from Squadron

The Henschel 126 is often thought of as the Luftwaffe’s equivalent of the Westland Lysander. Indeed the two had much in common; both were designed before the Second World War as a high wing STOL army co-operation aircraft, the two had similar performance and like the Lysander the Hs 126 was found to be too vulnerable by mid-war for frontline service in the absence of total air superiority. Relegated to roles behind the lines the Hs 126 ended its service as a training and target tug aircraft.

This is an impressive addition to a long line of quality books published by Mushroom Model Publications. It is quite a thick little volume; jam packed with pretty much all you could want to know about the Hs 126.

Printed on glossy high quality A5 paper the books text is informative and easy to read, and its content is logically broken down chapter by chapter.

The book starts by detailing the development of the Hs 126 from prototype through all the types’ modifications and development. This section also includes some excellent 1/72 drawings.

From there the types use in combat is detailed starting with the Luftwaffe and spaning its service with the Condor Legion in Spain and then on through Poland, France and the Russian and North African campaigns.

This is followed by a section on foreign users (including of all nations, Australia, since one example was captured by 450 Sqn RAAF and used as a squadron hack). Both chapters are accompanied by a large selection of quality wartime photographs.
The main section of this book deals with the Hs 126 in detail and consists of over 70 pages lavishly illustrated with detailed photos and original technical drawings including 11 pages in full colour.

Finally the last chapter consists of some 50 beautifully produced colour profiles; this is not difficult to do since the Hs 126 saw service on all fronts where the Wehrmacht was engaged and consequently there is a huge variety and some exotic schemes are included.

I highly recommend this book. As a compact but comprehensive modelling resource it would be hard to beat and would be an invaluable reference for anyone wishing to super-detail their kit of the Hs 126. For anyone building the new Vector 1/48 resin kit I feel it will prove to be an invaluable guide.

Thanks to Mushroom Model Publictions  for the sample.

All Mushroom Model Publications books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at Mushroom Model Magazine  for the sample.

Review Copyright 2009 by Peter Mitchell
This Page Created on 5 October, 2009
Last updated 6 October, 2009

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