Research Books and Magazines

Featuring plans from Model Railroader magazine from three decades, each of the 101 track plans has a newly written, informational description of the design. The track plans range in size from simple 4 x 8 foot and smaller layouts to room- and garage-sized showpieces, with the majority focusing on mid-size layouts.Author: From Model RailroaderISBN: 9780890247761Size: 8 1/4 x 5 1/2Pages: 88Illustrations: 101

Easy-to-use plans in every size, shape and scale -- from tiny card-table layouts to giant garage-size railroads. Demonstrates how to design a railroad to fit any space, shows how to convert plans to N, HO, S, and O scales.Author: Linn H. WestcottISBN: 9780890245125Size: 8 1/4 x 11 1/4Pages: 72Illustrations: 118

Features: Advanced (Level 3)68 pagesLayouts HO-31 to HO-36Includes 4 fold out 11 x 17 track plans

Features This book will introduce you to the exciting world of model railroading and Atlas HO True-Track. With prototypical looking plastic roadbed that detaches from premium nickel silver HO Code 83 track. True-Track takes care of your ballasting with its molded gray roadbed.True-Track sections snap together easily so building layouts is quick and easy for everyone!This book contains the following:Blueprints for 10 basic layouts (plus 2 variations)Complete list of Atlas products needed for...

If you want to see what one of the most famous passenger trains in America was like, here it is! The year 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the 20th Century Limited, one of the most famous passenger trains in America. This New York-Chicago train was the way to travel between the America's two largest and most important cities in the first half of the 20th Century. The train is well known in many cultural aspects including being the route for celebrities, and it was one of the...

Flying P-47s, the 56th FG was one of the highest scoring USAAF Fighter Groups in Europe. Traces the Group from WW II through action in Korea, Vietnam until today. Over 200 photos, 8 pgs of color, 64 pgs.

Author: Philip J Birtles200096 Pages

Across A Deadly Field - Regimental Rules for Civil War Battles from Osprey Publishing Item Number:OSPACW1 American Civil War Series Across A Deadly Field – The War in the East : Written by: John Hill Illustrated by: Mark Stacey The American Civil War was a turning point in the history of warfare, as Napoleonic tactics met deadly new technology. Cannons and rifles had become more accurate at longer ranges, rapid-fire pistols gave cavalry a new weapon, and the telegraph and railroad...

Airbrushing for Scale Modelers by Aaron Skinner from Kalbach Hobby Store Item Number:KAL12485 In this book, popular author Aaron Skinner provides a comprehensive guide to airbrushing. Inside this indispensable tool, scale modelers will find: • Advice for modeling armor, aircraft, automobiles, figures, ships, and more. • 600+ step-by-step photos. • Practical techniques every scale modeler should know. Author: Aaron Skinner ISBN: 9780890249574 Size: 8.25 x 10.75 Pages: 128...

About this Osprey Publishing BookWhile the introduction of the Merlin engine did improve the Mustang's performance and produce the bubble-canopied fighters with which we associate the name, credit must be given to the Allison-engined variants that preceded it. From its inception in early 1940, the Mustang's development was extraordinarily rapid - such was the need for a fighter at the time, and the confidence in its design. By early January 1942, the Mustang was in service with the RAF, flying...

Author: Ren_ ChartrandIllustrators: Gerry Embleton Sam EmbletonAbout this bookTo celebrate the 450th titlein the Men-at-Arms series,this book examines in muchmore depth than previouslythe units and the uniforms of a still-controversialarmy: the many thousandsof American colonists who chose to fight for King George during the Revolution. As wellas the better-known corps fromthe Atlantic seaboard, theauthor covers the units raised for service against the Spanish in the Floridas, the...

American Privateers of the Revoltionary by Osprey Publishing Item Number: OSPNVG279During the American War of Independence (1775-83), Congress issued almost 800 letters of marque, as a way of combating Britain's overwhelming naval and mercantile superiority. At first, it was only fishermen and the skippers of small merchant ships who turned to privateering, with mixed results. Eventually though, American shipyards began to turn out specially-converted ships, while later still, the first...

Steinbrunn. In January 1966, Robert Steinbrunn entered the US Army for 4 memorable years. At Fort Rucker, Alabama, he received training in Bell helicopters, including the Huey and Iroquois (UH-1A, B and D models). Afterward, he was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was assigned to A Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, the 'Ruthless Riders', flying the short-cabin Bell UH-1C gunship. After honing their reconnaissance skills in training, the 3rd and 7th Squadrons became the 'eyes and...

Author: Sean McLachlanIllustrator: Raffaele RuggeriAbout this bookIn the late 19th century, the new nation-state of Italy was eager to join her European neighbours in creating an international empire, and her eyes turned toward Africa as a source of potential colonies. Securing a foothold in Eritrea on the Red Sea coast, the Italians quickly became embroiled in a shooting war with the Ethiopians. The war proved a disaster for the Italians, who suffered three major defeats against the forces of...

About this Osprey Publishing BookThe Great Northern War was a long series of campaigns in which Russia, linked with several other countries in temporary alliances, confronted and eventually replaced Sweden as the predominant power in Northern Europe. While contemporary with the Duke of Marlborough's pivotal campaigns against France, the Great Northern War was in fact more decisive, since it reshaped the Northern European power balance up to the eve of the Napoleonic Wars. It began with a...

About this Osprey Publishing BookIn 1917 Poland was recognised as a state by Russia, but the Bolshevik coup threatened this. The Polish leader Marshal Pilsudski hurried to build an army around Polish World War I veterans, and in 1918 war broke out for Poland's independence, involving the the Poles, the Red and White Russian armies, at least two different Ukrainian forces, and Allied intervention troops. The armies that fought these campaigns were extraordinarily varied in their uniforms and...

Armored Trains by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG140New Vanguard 140Author: Steven J ZalogaIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookFirst seen during the American Civil War and later appearing in the Franco-Prussian War and the Anglo-Boer Wars, the armored train came to prominence on the Eastern Front during World War I. It was also deployed during the Russian Civil War and the technology traveled east into the Chinese Civil War, and the subsequent war with Japan. It saw service on the Russian Front in...

Modelling Masterclass Hard CoverAuthor: John PrigentAbout this bookArmour Modelling answers all a modeller's 'how do I do this' questions. Beginning with the very basics required to build a 'first kit' it works its way through the various skills that any modeller using plastic kits, etched-metal sets and resin or white-metal parts needs to know about to master advanced level techniques.John Prigent breaks the world of armour modelling down into simple, easy to understand chapters that...

Attila The Hun from Osprey Publishing Item Number:OSPCMD31 Command Series: Throughout the history of warfare, individual commanders have dominated the battlefield and in so doing decided the fate of nations. From the warlords of the ancient world through to the architects of the blitzkrieg and beyond, the Command series looks at how these great leaders adopted revolutionary technology, battlefield tactics and training methods, or simply inspired their troops through their leadership skills to...

The Avro Lancaster was one of the finest bombers of World War II and became the spearhead of the RAF's strategic bombing campaign over the Third Reich. Richard Marks draws on extensive research and detailed technical drawings to explore the evolution of this heavy bomber, revealing how its design developments transformed an old airframe from a dangerous liability into one of the most powerful weapons in the RAF arsenal. It demonstrated excellent performance, ruggedness and good handling...

B-1b Lancer Units In Combat by OspreyItem Number: OSPCOM60Combat Aircraft 60Author: Thomas WithingtonIllustrator: Mark StylingAbout this bookThe development of the B-1B Lancer bomber was difficult to say the least. Originally conceived to fulfill a USAF requirement for an Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft, the original B-1A concept aircraft was accused of being a white elephant, capable of performing nothing which could not be achieved at less financial and human expense than an...

B-24 Units Of Pacific War by OspreyItem Number: OSPCOM11Combat Aircraft 11Author: Robert F DorrIllustrator: Mark RolfeAbout this bookEver present in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor to VJ-Day, the B-24 Liberator proved to be the staple heavy bomber of the campaign. From its ignominious beginnings in the Allied rout in the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies, the bomber weathered the Japanese storm with a handful of bomb groups, which played a crucial role in checking the enemy's progress...

Doyle. The North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the premier US warplanes of World War II. It gained immortality early in the United States' involvement in the war when a small group of B-25Bs under Lt Col. Jimmy Doolittle took off from the deck of the USS Hornet and executed a surprise attack on military targets on the Japanese island of Honshu. Subsequently, Mitchells would see service in every theater of war, doing duty as a tactical bombers, coastal patrol aircraft, photo-reconnaissance...

Author: Steve PaceIllustrator: Jim LaurierAbout this bookFrom November 1942 through to May 1945, the backbone of the USAAF_s medium bomber force was provided by the clutch of bomb groups equipped with the B-25 Mitchell. First seeing action in North Africa in the wake of Operation Torch, and in the Battle of El Alamein, the _bombing twin_ proved to be one of the most successful allied combat types in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO). The first of four volumes planned for the Combat...

B-29 Superfortress Combat Chronicles. Book by Robert Hilton. Squadron Signal Books. With its pressurized cabins for high-altitude operation, its long range, large bomb capacity, and turbo-supercharged engines, the B-29 Superfortress was the epitome of cutting edge American air power during WWII. The author, a photographer with the 40th Bomb Group and a veteran of 83 Superfortress missions, offers a first-hand, eye-witness account and shares his experiences on reconnaissance and bombing...

(Softcover) With its pressurized cabins for high-altitude operation, its long range, large bomb capacity, and turbo-supercharged engines, the B-29 Superfortress was the epitome of cutting edge American air power during WWII. The author, a photographer with the 40th Bomb Group and a veteran of 83 Superfortress missions, offers a first-hand, eye-witness account and shares his experiences on reconnaissance and bombing missions, flying the 'Hump' and taking off from an advanced base in Sichuan,...

By the time the Americans began their aerial bombardment of Japan in 1944, both the JAAF and IJNAF were spent forces. What the Japanese did have though was the Ki-44 "Tojo". Armed with two 40 mm cannon, it was the most heavily armed and feared single-seat fighter to see action against the new American bomber, the B-29 Superfortress. For the bomber crews, they had what they believed was their ? ace in hole': a fully armed B-29 carried four remotely operated gun turrets and a tail gunner's...

About this Osprey Publishing BookOne of the most dramatic bombers of its day, the Convair B-58 came to epitomise the Cold War power of Strategic Air Command. Introduced only 12 years after the sound barrier was first broken, this iconic plane became the first large long-range supersonic bomber to take to the skies, a feat which had seemed far-fetched only a few years previously. Outstripping its contemporaries in terms of speed, and agile enough to escape most interceptors, the B-58 was a...

In AD 132, Shim'on Ben Koseba, a rebel leader who assumed the messianic name Shim'on Bar Kokhba ('Son of a Star'), led the people of Judaea in open rebellion, aiming to establish their own independent Jewish state and to liberate Jerusalem from the Romans. During the ensuing 'Bar Kokhba War' (AKA the Second Jewish War), the insurgents held their own against the crack Roman troops sent by Emperor Hadrian for three-and-a-half years. The cost of this rebellion was catastrophic: hundreds of...

Get started with Digital Command Control (DCC)! This how-to guide covers the basics, with an overview of DCC, track wiring, cab bus wiring, and converting an existing layout to DCC. Written by Mike Polsgrove, Model Railroader??_s columnist on DCC.Author: Mike PolsgroveISBN: 9780890247938Size: 8 1/4 x 10 3/4Pages: 56Color Photos: 100

The title may say ??_basics,??_ but this book covers a full range of skills and materials. Beginners building a small table or shelf layout up to experienced modelers assembling the benchwork for a basement empire will find what they need in this comprehensive guide. New color photos and illustrations highlight liftout sections and swinging access gates.Author: Jeff WilsonISBN: 9780890248362Size: 8 1/4 x 10 3/4Pages: 104Color Photos: 240

Simple, affordable, straightforward ??_ the track plans in Starter Track Plans for Model Railroaders have one thing in common ??_ they??_re eminently buildable. Perfect for small spaces and beginner layouts, this mix of HO and N scale track plans emphasizes simplicity, flexibility and interesting operation.Author: From Model RailroaderISBN: 9780890248317Size: 8 1/4 x 10 3/4Pages: 64Color Photos: 50

Don??_t get derailed! Get up to speed on the latest advancements in trackwork with the one book that focuses solely on proper track installation, Basic Trackwork for Model Railroaders, 2nd Edition. Freshly updated to showcase the newest products, current manufacturers, and the latest techniques, this new edition shows you how to: ??_ Lay flextrack ??_ Handlay track ??_ Install turnouts and switch machines ??_ Use all-in-one and other sectional track ??_ Install subroadbed ??_ Ballast and...

Battle of the Atlantic 1939-41 by Osprey Publishing Item Number: OSPACM15At the start of World War II, few thought the U-boat would be as devastating as it proved to be. But convoys and sonar-equipped escorts proved inadequate to defend the Allies' merchantmen, and the RAF's only offensive weapon was the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. For RAF Coastal Command, the first two years of the war were the hardest. Although starved of resources, operating with outdated aircraft and often...

About this Osprey Publishing BookIn the summer of 1942, following the invasion of Russia the previous year, Hitler's -Brandenburger' commando units undertook a daring operation deep inside Soviet-held territory. Disguised as members of Stalin's NKVD, the secret police dreaded by most Soviet citizens and soldiers, the Brandenburgers passed unsuspected past the Red Army's checkpoints, before launching their surprise operation to seize the vital Soviet oil facilities around Maikop - delivering...

Video documenting the first phase of this locomotive??_s journey to restoration. Historical footage of Union Pacifc (UP) Big Boys in action plus exclusive Trains video of interviews and images of No. 4014 being removed from the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds and moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., for restoration. 90 minutes

Boeing 737 At the Gate. Book by Robert W. Tidwell. Squadron Signal Books. Few commercial aircraft have enjoyed a production run that spans more than four decades and service in nearly every nation on Earth. The Boeing 737 has such a track record. Takes the reader on a journey through the continuing story of the 737 from the first aircraft to roll of the production line in the 1960s, to the very latest airframes being delivered to major airlines today. ?The book also offers the reader a look at...

In 1906, the Germans began building their own dreadnought fleet armed with larger guns, word of which soon reached the British Admiralty. This raised the spectre that the British dreadnought fleet would be outgunned, and prompted the Admiralty to order the building of their own "super dreadnoughts-. The first of these new dreadnoughts were laid down in 1909, and entered service three years later. The British public supported this programme, and the slogan "we want eight and cannot wait- became...

Author: Gunter Endres1997112 Pages

British Airships 1905'30 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG155New Vanguard 155Author: Ian CastleIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookThis book reveals the fascinating story of the cat and mouse duel between the airship and another pioneering form of technology ' the submarine during World War 1. Detailed cut-away drawings reveal the design and development of the airship, during and after the war, whilst full-colour illustrations depict the airship in dramatic action shots. A tragic...

Amphibious assault ships have been at the centre of nearly all of Britain's expeditionary campaigns since World War II, from the Suez crisis of 1956 to operations as far afield as Borneo (1963-66), the Falklands (1982), Sierra Leone (2000) and Iraq (2003). In major operations such as Suez and the Falklands, the use of amphibious assault ships was essential to the military success of the campaigns. The Suez Crisis saw two of the Royal Navy's former light fleet carriers converted into 'commando...

British Battleship vs Italian Battleship by Osprey Publishing Item Number: OSPDUE101During World War II's battle for control of the Mediterranean, both the British and Italian navies planned to bring their battle fleets into play. At the centre of both of these fleets was a core of battleships which both sides expected to play a decisive role in the conflict.On 9 July 1940, the two navies met in the central Mediterranean, as two Italian battleships faced off against three of their British...

This is the definitive study of British light tanks of the Second World War. The author draws upon a vast and comprehensive body of archival information and research to explore their technical characteristics and combat performance. The title focuses largely on the very widely used Mark VI, but also covers all the variants that preceded it. The type was truly ubiquitous, equipping the British Army in France, the Western Desert regions, Norway, Sumatra, Persia and India. This book chronicles...

British Rifleman vs French Skirmisher by Osprey Publishing Item Number: OSPCBT46The battles between British and French forces during the Peninsular War (1807-14) and the Hundred Days campaign of 1815 saw both sides deploy specialist units of skirmishers trained in marksmanship and open-order combat. These �light' troops fulfilled several important roles on the battlefield, such as �masking' large bodies of close-order troops as they manoeuvred in battle, firing upon enemy troops to provoke...

British Submarines 1939-45 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG129New Vanguard 129Author: Innes McCartneyIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookThe submarine was the invisible but formidable weapon of the Royal Navy during World War II. This book examines the three major classes - 'S', 'T' and 'U' - detailing their design, development and modification. The major submarine engagements of the war are recounted, including the Norwegian campaign, the battle of Malta in March 1942, Operation...

One of the prime objectives for the Allies following the D-Day landings was the capture of sufficient ports to supply their armies. The original Overlord plans assumed that ports along the Breton coast would be essential to expansion of the Normandy beach-head. This included the major ports at Brest and on Quiberon Bay.

About this Osprey Publishing BookFirst adopted in 1917, the rugged and reliable Browning .30-caliber machine gun remained in US service into the Vietnam era, and is still occasionally found in use elsewhere even today. Produced in both water-cooled and air-cooled versions, it has been employed in every imaginable role for a machine gun - antipersonnel, antiaircraft, mounted on aircraft as both defensive and offensive armament, defensive armament aboard vehicles (armored and soft-skin), mounted...