Detail & Scale
Volume 67

AD Skyraider

by Bert Kinzey

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

D&S Vol. 67 AD Skyraider is available online from Squadron.com

There is something comforting about the Detail and Scale series. Even before you open one you know that what you are going to get between its pages is good, easy to understand information and sharp clear reference photos.

Volume 67 focuses on the Douglas Skyraider and it lives up to D&S's reputation. It comprises 79 pages printed on good quality glossy paper between cardboard covers.

The text logically follows the development of the Skyraider commencing with its developmental history in 1945 and ending with the AD-7 (A1-J) in 1957 with side journeys covering salient points like the Yankee Escape System and the conversion options available for the AD-5. All versions of the Skyraider are covered including the "wide-bodied" ones.

The modeller's section at the back covers all of the Skyraider kits produced in all scales and gives honest opinions of the kits as well as providing helpful hints on producing the best results from the kit.

I was surprised to find that the the 1/72 scale line drawings that are normally found in D&S publications were missing. Not a huge problem really but the line drawings are a great help when you are trying to scratch build items to enhance your model.

There is a fair bit of colour sprinkled throughout the book. There are eleven pages of general photos as well as three pages of cockpit shots. There are also two pages of colour side profiles of the type you see in the Squadron/Signal "In Action" series of books.

The sharp, clear photographs appear to have been carefully chosen to illustrate the differences between each version of the Skyraider, a job they do very well. As well as general photographs there is also a walk-around of a Navy Skyraider that gives you excellent close-ups.

A small nitpick of this and all D&S books would have to be that the binding is very fragile. If you flatten the book on your modelling desk the pages are likely to detach themselves from the binding. My Hellcat, Avenger and Corsair books are living testimony to this point

All said and done though these books are great value for what you are paying.

Recommended.

Thanks to Squadron for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 17 June, 2003
Last updated 24 August, 2003

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