Kagero Photosniper No.5
Curtiss P-40D/E
Kittyhawk Mk.I/IA

by Tom Zmuda and Leszek A. Wieliczko

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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Photosniper is yet another series in the remarkable range of books from the Polish company, Kagero.

The Photosniper series is of the photographic walk-around genre and to date; there are 25 other titles in the range with this one being the first one covering an aircraft.

Although the book is predominately a photographic coverage, Kagero also provides you with some 15 pages of text that gives you a potted history of the operational use of the –D/E version of the P-40 as well as a technical description.  The text is in both the Polish and English languages.

As well as the text section of the book you are also treated to eight pages of line drawings of the -D/E in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale.  The 1/32 scale fans are also provided with a huge four page double sided fold-out. 

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The photographic coverage is of a single machine, an A model 87A-2 Kittyhawk Mk 1 that was built in October 1941 for the Royal Air Force and wore their serial of AKAK899.  The aircraft was handed over to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in November 1941 and its serial number was changed to 1051 and operated by the RCAF’s 111 Squadron from Patricia Bay in British Columbia.  The machine was restored in 1990 to its present superb condition and now wears the fictitious markings of 41-1456, as flown by Colonel Robert L. Scott.

As you would expect, the main part of the book is taken up by the 35 pages of first rate full colour images of this machine.  The images are all that a modeller could ask for as the lens has seemingly been pointed at and into every nook and cranny of the machine.

The final four pages of the book as well as the back cover are taken up with full colour art work of six different machines as they appeared in WWII.

You also get a set of canopy and wheel hub masks in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale.

The book is – 275mm x 205mm and portrait in format.  It is made up of 64 semi gloss pages between thin cardboard covers.  You are treated to 82 colour photographs and 16 black and white ones.  All of the pics are sharp and clear.

All up, a nice one from Kagero that is aimed squarely at the modeller who is seeking reference to assist in building their latest masterpiece.

Thanks to Casemate UK for the samples.