RAF-in-Combat Allied Wings No.15 ‘The Grumman SF-1’

Author: Phil H. Listemann
Format: Soft back, 25 pages, black and white images, English text plus 3 pages of colour artwork (14 colour profiles)
Price: €9.95 (Mar 2012)
Review by Geoff Coughlin

Our thanks to Phil at RAF-in-Combat for supplying our review copy. Get this impressive resource here now at: www.raf-in-combat.com

I am very pleased to be able to have the chance to review this, the second title to arrive here at SMN from RAF-in-Combat. Of course, don’t be fooled into thinking that RAF aircraft are the only ones featured by this manufacturer as the publisher name might suggest – not a bit of it and this title focusing on Allied Wings – The Grumman SF-1 demonstrates my point.

Take a look at these images below:

The SF-1

The Grumman SF-1 is the scout version of the Grumman FF (See Allied Wings # 6). If its role is completely different from the Grumman FF which was a fighter, it was technically close to and had a similar career. Indeed, after a very brief use in a single operational unit, the VS-3B on the USS Lexington, the SF-1 experienced a much longer but discreet career with reserve units of the USN or the USMC and this, well after Pearl Harbor.

This title details the history of this little-known aircraft and includes over thirty photographs and fourteen colour profiles. A full register is published of the type and details of accidents when known.
Key headings include:

Grumman SF – Introduction
Deliveries and Strength (SF-1)
Technical Data SF-1
The Units
The Register
Black and white images throughout
Colour profiles towards the back.

From the scale modelling perspective?

What I like about this new title is the ease with which the information is presented. It’s not at all heavy or over-engineered, giving you just enough information to feel that you have a good working knowledge of the SF-1.

The colour profiles are very good at the back of the publication and it’s good to see upper wing markings and unit insignia emphasised in places. This will enable modellers to source decals to mark up their projects accordingly and paint the subject authentically.

The black and white images are good quality and with the future release planned by Special Hobby of a 1:72 scale model of the SF-1 and RVHP model in 1:48 make the publication even more relevant.

Conclusions

Highly recommended
This is a very useful reference source that will appeal to many and can see that this and other titles in the range should certainly prove popular amongst scale modellers. Keep a close eye on www.raf-in-combat.com for further information.

Geoff C.