Merlin-Powered Spitfires - Warbird Tech Vol. 35 [Paperback]

Kev Darling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Supermarine Spitfire is today seen as one of the greatest fighter aircraft ever built. Go to any airshow and there will be airframes powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin. Some will be Mustangs, possibly a Lancaster, even a Hawker Hurricane, however it is likely that the carrier of the engine will be a Supermarine Spitfire. Each type has its own particular soundwave, and that of the Spitfire is not only distinctive but a source of great pleasure to its many fans. It is the fighter that characterized the British effort in World War II. This book offers details on Spitfire development, technical cutaways, and in-depth information on fighters, reconnaissance, and Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. Warbird Tech Volume 35.

Product Details

• Paperback: 105 pages
• Publisher: Specialty Press (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580070574
• ISBN-13: 978-1580070577
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,477,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but poorly written, February 26, 2009

By 

R. A. Martinek "Triarius" (Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Merlin-Powered Spitfires - Warbird Tech Vol. 35 (Paperback)

The information contained in this book is better than many of the WarbirdTECH series, and it is a valuable reference on the Spitfire.

However, it is very poorly written. The author never uses one word where three or more can be crammed in--and sometimes uses the wrong word (a severe case of Thesaurusitis). The grammar is often poor, and occasionally terrible. These faults make the book a very difficult read, and they are not merely due to the differences between British and American usage and style. That the editor chose not to work with the author to correct these problems is unfortunate, as the book could probably contain twenty-five percent more information if the editor had done so.

If you need a succinct guide to the Spitfire, this book will do--but you will find the reading like wading through a swamp: one stumble, trip, and slip after another. [...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done synthesis on one of the more popular planes, October 20, 2003

By 

Marco De Montis "de_montis" (Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Merlin-Powered Spitfires - Warbird Tech Vol. 35 (Paperback)

Mr. Darling had chosen a fascinating, albeit challenging task: describe a legend of the air in synthesis, given the restricted space of the book. In my opinion the task is successly accomplished, especially considering the good amount of technical infos delivered to the reader, i.e. all main difference between so many marks. Surely some chapters on genesis and combat use could be wider, but I like very much the technical analysis so well described, in both authoritative and straightforward manner. A good addition to many other books on the "Spit"!