The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is one of the world famous Great Little Trains of Wales, and has now been operated for longer as a preserved railway than it was as a part of the national rail network. This book, compiled by the railway’s archivist, uses photos from pre-preservation days as well as images from throughout the preservation era to create a historical journey through the lifetime of the railway. Many of the photographs are previously unpublished, and include unique views which can no longer be replicated.

Fairey Swordfish was a British biplane torpedo-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed to operate from aircraft carriers or as a reconnaissance seaplane operating from catapult launchers. The prototype was built in 1933 at the Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd. The aircraft had its first flight in 1933, too. It had an open cabin for a three-man crew and a fixed landing gear. It was powered by a Bristol Pegasus II M (640 hp) star engine. In 1934, Fairey Aviation released a second prototype that was equipped with a 690 hp Bristol Pegasus III M3 engine. The new type could also use floats. Series production began in 1935. Fairey Swordfish Mk. I was produced in both: bomber-torpedo-reconnaissance version with a wheeled landing gear and as a floatplane. The machine had a classic tail with a horizontal stabilizer. It also had folding wings. Truss structure fuselage was used, with front covered with metal sheets. In the middle there were three uncovered tandem crew cabins. Undercarriage had a tail wheel and arresting hook under the fuselage. The aircraft was equipped with a inflatable dinghy.

Gloster Gladiator is a British fighter constructed at the Gloster Aircraft Company. The prototype was created in 1934. It was powered by a 645 HP Bristol Mercury VIS engine. Gloster Gladiator Mk I had a 8382 mm long fuselage, which consisted of four numbered sections. The first of these included the engine bed. The second front fuselage, the third – the rear fuselage, and the fourth – tail. The arrangement of instrumentation and equipment inside the truss was marked with letters or numbered from one to eight fuselage partitions corresponding to the distances between the frames. Clearly straight main panels with a span of 9845 mm were built around two Hawker steel girders. The upper and lower supports of the girders were made of rolled octagonal elements, and the wavy lining provided strong points for attaching four aerodynamically profiled transverse struts. Such wing structure was finished with light alloy ribs, stringers and steel and duralumin spreader bars.

The birth of the Ninth Squadron (Novena Escuadrilla) of the Spanish Navy Fleet Air Arm (Flotilla de Aeronaves in short FLOAN) took place in 1987 with the receipt of the first three AV-8B aircraft from McDonnell Douglas factory in St. Louis on October 6 of that year. Deliveries continued for a total of 12 AV-8B Harrier IIs (numbered 01- 901 to 01-912) commonly known as “Day Attack” to differentiate them from later models Night Attack and AV-8B+ or “Radar” Aircraft. On January 29, 1996 the first AV-8B Plus 01-914 joined the squadron. Then continued deliveries up to 01-921, which makes a total of eight AV-8B+ that greatly enhanced the operational capabilities of the squadron. On 1 October 2000 the unit received TAV-8B 01-922, which is the only two-seater with the squadron and together with the simulator allows it to be totally autonomous in the adaptation to training new pilots just graduated from the U.S Naval Aviator pipeline. On July 30, 2003 were received from the now Boeing factory in Saint Louis the first two AV-8B to be remanufactured as AV-8B+ numbered 01-923 and 01-924. On 21 November the same year the last three planes in the remanufacturing programme, 01-925, 01-926 and 01-927 were ferried to Rota Naval Sation flown by Novena Escuadrilla pilots.

The PzKpfw III (Panzerkampfwagen III) is a German medium tank designed by Daimler-Benz AG. The first tests of the vehicle took place in 1936. The construction of the PzKpfw III consisted of four main modules: the turret, the front of the hull, the rear of the hull with the engine compartment cover and the lower hull. The first version of PzKpfw III – Ausf. A – was produced in May 1937. Soon after, the Ausf. B and C versions also entered production. Ausf. D version was introduced in January 1938. Early PzKpfw III models were prototype vehicles and were not suitable for mass production on a large scale. They were powered by Maybach HL 108 TR petrol engines with 250 HP. They were armed with 37mm guns and three MG-34 machine guns (two in the turret and one in the hull).

This early production T-34/76 with F-34 gun was repainted Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 and used by Waffen-SS. An additional storage box was fitted to the left side of the hull. T-34/76 with L-11 gun captured and used by Wehrmacht. It remained in its original camouflage scheme of overall 4BO dark green.A STZ-built T-34/76 model 1941 with F-34 gun coded 4 of 21st Independent Tank Brigade, autumn 1941. It received a standard finish in 4BO dark green. A STZ-built T-34/76 model 1941 with F-34 gun. The tank was painted in 4BO dark green and sported a white propaganda inscription “Beat the fascists” on both sides of the turret.

- Pz.Kpfw. 38H (f) (Hotchkiss H35 mod. 39) “Paderborn” – France, Summer 1940.- Bren 731 (e) (Scout Carrier) – 5. Flughafen-Betriebs-Kompanie, Luftwaffe II./KG55 airfield, Chartres, France 1940/41.

Despite the favored acquisitions abroad by the VVKJ conservatives, in the early 1932 an idea to develop a modern combat airplane was initiated by two young Serbian engineers, Ljubomir D. Ilić and Kosta I. Sivčev, who were at the time employed at the Air Force Command Technical Department. They worked in secret after hours at Ilić’s apartment and designed the first entirely Yugoslav made fighter airplane, the IK-L1, which first took off on 22 April 1935. The second prototype, IK-02, construction began ten months later and the airplane took off for the first time on 24 August 1936. The first 12 series airplanes construction followed in 1937 with the last airplane entering service in February 1939. At the time of the German attack, on 6 April 1941, VVKJ could rely on eight IK-2s, which served with distinction during the short and bloody April war.

The book describes painting models of armored weapons, showing various simple painting and weathering techniques that allow the reader to create a spectacular model. A guide for both beginners and advanced modelers. The techniques presented with the use of products from various manufacturers, without the promotion and advertising of one selected producer, shows what is good, tried and brings expected results. Techniques shown when building 9 models (1/72, 1/48, 1/35 and 1/16 scales) in about 200 photos.

Comprehensive technical details of the Macchi, C.205 Veltro.Production and service photos, a wide range of color profiles, and rare color photographs from W. W.II.Detailed photographs featuring modern highly accurate restorations, inside and out, and including under rebuild and servicing details.Profusely illustrated with photos, including a comprehensive walk-around section showing all aspects of the airframe, and diagrams from official manuals.This book provides all the core technical details of the Macchi, C.205 Veltro in one compact, economical volume.Essential reading for aviation enthusiasts & scale aeromodelers.Scale plans of all versions with color profiles.

This book is compilations of the 4-view color profile, scale plans and photo details of the single variant of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2. Scale plans in 1/72 and 1/48 scales plus drawings from wartime technical manuals. Also photos of the details in B&W and color.

This book is compilations of the 4-view color profile, scale plans and photo details of the single variant of the PZL Karaś II. Scale plans in 1/72 and 1/48 scales plus drawings from wartime technical manuals. Also photos of the details in B&W and color.

Sd.Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther is a German tank destroyer developed by Krupp and Daimler-Benz. The order was placed in August 1943 and the vehicle entered service in the first months of 1944. It was armed with a very effective anti-tank tank gun. PaK 43 cal. 88 mm. The destroyer’s combat compartment was armoured with 40 to 100 mm thick (front plate) armour plates. From January 1944, 415 pieces were produced (at the MIAG, MNH and MBA factories). The vehicle was based on the chassis of the Panther Ausf. G, but it didn’t have as many technical problems as the mentioned tank. Due to the favourable power-to-weight ratio, Jagdpanther had good performance and maneuverability. Together with a powerful cannon, which was able to destroy any allied armoured vehicle that time, it made it an extremely effective and dangerous destroyer. Vehicles were used by independent tank destroyer battalions. Jagdpanthers debuted in Normandy in 1944 (within 555th and 654th Panzerjagerabteilung), achieving great successes. Also during the offensive in the Ardennes, the Allies took a toll on them. They appeared on the Eastern Front in the autumn of 1944, effectively fighting all Soviet armoured guns and heavy tanks, including IS-2.The vehicle was produced in two main variants. The early version – designated as G1 – had a smaller yoke that was welded to the hull, a modified engine compartment from the Panther Ausf. A and two driver’s visors. In the later version – G2 – the Panther Ausf. G engine compartment was used, one driver’s visor and a larger yoke which was bolted to the front plate with screws. There were also many hybrid variants combining the features of both versions. Until September 1944, Jagdpanthers were covered with Zimmerit in the form of characteristic squares, and not the more popular “snakes”. Jagdpanthers proved to be the most effective German tank destroyers, but they appeared too late and in too few numbers to significantly influence the course of the war.

This book is a compilation in which we will find in one place the technical description of of all the British Rodney and Nelson battleships. The author describes their technical aspects, precisely describing the differences among others. All the ships are described and illustrated with full technical specifications.

Bulgaria is arguably the historically most underrated Axis ally that actually fought the Allies during World War 2. Despite remaining outside the main battleground of the war, the Eastern Front, this Balkan country did take its fair share of warfare, particularly due to the combat activity of its fighter air force against the armada of US bombers and their fighter escorts, in 1943 and 1944. Then, following an about-face in early September 1944, the Bulgarians combatted their former ally, the Germans. This notable air activity is largely unknown outside Bulgaria, and is not very much popularized even within the country, despite fully deserving the utmost attention.This two-volume book describes and illustrates all the fighter and fighter trainer aircraft used by the Bulgarian armed forces before, during, and shortly after WW 2. These aircraft were procured from the following countries: Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Emphasis is placed on the most potent German fighter types, the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and G, as well as the top-notch fighter type of France, the Dewoitine D.520. However, rare, exotic models, including the sole locally built prototype that fits the definition, the DAR-5, are also included. The camouflage and markings, as well as the military coding system of these large variety of aircraft types are described in great details. Fully illustrated with many rare photos, most of them seen for the first time in print. Mutinously detailed colour profiles of many representative aircraft type are included as well. Summing up, this lavishly illustrated, full-colour two-volume book, spanning across over 600 pages, is the reference work of the fighter and fighter trainer aircraft, as well as the pilots who flew for the Royal Bulgarian Air Force prior to, during, and shortly after World War 2.

Scale plans in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 scale of the famous French Caudron Renault CR.714 Cyclone fighter.