|
'Canadair
Scoopers' is dedicated to the CL-215 & CL-415 family
of amphibious seaplanes - the fire-fighters - for
the first-time as far as I can recall in any purpose
written publication, and tells the complete story of
the design, development and operational use around
the world of these superb airframes. But, thanks to
the foresight of the publishers and authors, it is
much more than that.
This
new publication has 64 very busy pages packed full
of colour photographs - 140 in total - featuring the
craft at rest and at work, and they are stunning!
Most have never been published before and thanks to
the strikingly bright colour schemes of the
operational airframes they are spectacular to look
at and the publishers have spared no efforts in
reproducing them as large as the book page will
allow.
 |
|
Low-res sample page |
|
g |
|
Added to this are 24 specially
commissioned very detailed colour
profiles showing the wide range of
schemes these craft have, and still
carry today. If that were not enough,
the authors have included a walk-round
image section, a highly detailed
world-wide operators listing with
photographs and user codex's, a full
airframe production list, some manual
drawings and diagrams (which I think
should have been a lot larger than they
are) a chapter on the differences
between the types, another chapter
concerning the thinking behind the
original design and more, which all
makes up into a cracking read. |
|
g |
 |
|
Low-res sample page |
|
g |
 |
|
Low-res sample page |
|
gg |
|
With the publication originating from
France, one would have thought that the
text language would have been a
disappointment to the readers outside of
the country of publication as is so
often the case with other volumes I have
picked up, then put down straight away.
But, these chaps have the answer;
dual-language - all the text is in
French AND English, thus opening it up
to masses of overseas sales. What a
master-stroke!
All-in-all, this publication will
certainly benefit the scale modeler -
with 1/72 kits available and
after-market decals as well - the
enthusiast, and others interested in
these colourful fire-fighting craft.
There are places where the language
cross-over is a little 'quirky' but it
does not detract from the quality of the
read and could be sorted in future
publications by handing the draft text
to a native English speaker (Hint,
hint!)
To give you some idea of the value of
this publication, I learnt all about one
of my favourite flying boats including
much information I previously didn't
know.
Highly recommended.
Bryan Ribbans - Webmaster |
|
