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• www.aerostories.org • 2013-02-24
• Internetmodeler.com • 2013-02-24
• Master Modelers nr 88 10/2010 • 2013-02-24
• Model Airplane Int. 12/2010 • 2013-02-24
• AIR Modeller 10-11/2010 • 2013-02-24
• www.scalemodellingnow.com • 2013-02-24
• Hyperscale.com • 2013-02-24
• Amazon.it customer review • 2013-02-24
• IPMSUSA.org • 2013-02-24
• Amazon.com customer review • 2013-02-24
• AIM 2011-1 • 2013-02-24
• Military Aircraft Monthly 2010-10 • 2013-02-24
• ModelingMadness.com • 2013-02-24
• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-02-24
• MiniReplika 67 • 2010-10-17
• SP 10/2010 • 2010-10-17

• www.aerostories.org • 2013-02-24

  Expected with great impatience and with curiosity as well since the release of the previous ‘Polish Wings’ titles dedicated to the jets of the Polish Air Force, I must say that I was not disappointed with this first volume which deals with the single-seat MiG-29 in Poland. The book (96 pages) is made with the same quality than the previous titles with a lot of photographs and colour profiles. This and with a concise text giving all what you really have to know on the Polish MiG-29s which were bought in two batches, the first from Soviet Union, and the second from Czech Republic after the fall of Iron curtain, you just want to cover the book without stopping !

  The level of quality and seriousness of the series is kept high, consequently, any enthusiast interested in modern aircraft can make this purchase without hesitation...he will be sure to find out what he’s looking for !

  Phil Listemann

• Internetmodeler.com • 2013-02-24

  By Chris Banyai-Riepl

  The MiG-29 is an iconic Russian aircraft design that has seen incredible success internationally. One of the nations that has operated the type for many years is Poland, and even after they joined NATO, they kept their MiG-29 fleet and even supplemented it with surplus aircraft from the Czech Republic. This newest book in the Polish Wings series examines the Polish fleet of MiG-29s, at least the single-seaters. Part 2 will cover the dual-seat MiG-29UB.

  The book provides a short overview of the history of the MiG-29 and its role in the Polish Air Force, including an analysis of the various refits that have been undertaken in Poland. Also covered in this section is the basic camouflage colors used on the aircraft, with careful distinction given to the Russian, Czech, and Polish facilities that painted the aircraft. The result is undoubtedly the most thorough description of Polish MiG-29 camouflage out there.

  But that is just the beginning of the book. The rest of the book is packed full of outstanding photographs and plenty of color illustrations highlighting a great number of Polish MiG-29s. In fact, although I did not check thoroughly, I would not be surprised if there is at least one photo of every MiG-29 operated by the Polish Air Force in this book. This is a huge boon to the aviation researcher and modeler, as there are enough photos here to fully document camouflage patterns on just about all of these aircraft. Nothing is left up to guess work here.

  This is an excellent addition to the Polish Wings series, and I look forward to the second part with anticipation. I have always liked the MiG-29, and after seeing some of the interesting camouflages worn by the Polish examples, I like it even more. My thanks to Stratus for the review copy.

• Master Modelers nr 88 10/2010 • 2013-02-24
  
• Model Airplane Int. 12/2010 • 2013-02-24
  
• AIR Modeller 10-11/2010 • 2013-02-24
  
• www.scalemodellingnow.com • 2013-02-24

  I have always been a fan of Russian designed aircraft and the MiG-29 has to be up there as one of the most attractive ever to come out of the famous factory. It’s also astonishing to me that an aircraft that still seems to me to be new is already going out of service in a number of air forces but deserves it place in aviation history.

  This book is a fitting tribute to the type. It describes, in English, the acquisition of the MiG-29 by the Polish Air Force. Replacing the MiG-21 (a real beauty to this reviewer) and the later MiG-23, is now the only Russian built fighter in Polish service and has been their front line fighter for more than 20 years.

  The photography in the book is beautiful, fresh and inspired and really is an excellent modelling reference. I like the colour plates and also reference to some of the special schemes worn by this fabulous jet fighter. Details and histories behind all the airframes are included and whist succinct is thorough.

  So impressed was I by this book that I bought the Trumpeter 1:32nd scale model and this book will be a prime source of reference for the build. This is Part 1 of the short series, and the 2-seat version will be covered in Part 2. I loved this book and it’s a must not only for aircraft enthusiasts but also for modellers. Moreover at £12.99 its excellent value for money and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Les V.

• Hyperscale.com • 2013-02-24

  Review Type: First Read

  Advantages:

  A very useful modellers reference, lots of photographs and great information on colour schemes including Russian delivery scheme, Czech scheme and two schemes applied by WZL post overhaul.

  Disadvantages:

  Limited text but sufficient to convey the point.

  Conclusion:

  A great book not only for those interested in the Polish Air Force or who wants to model a MiG-29 (9-12) aircraft in general thanks to the wide selection of detail walk around style photographs. The Author is on his home turf and a very useful modelling reference has resulted.

  Reviewed by Ken Bowes

  FirstRead

  For any Warsaw Pact country in the late 1980’s the MiG-29 represented the pinnacle of fighter capability, being broadly similar in capability to the US F-16 then entering NATO service. Unsurprisingly one of the recipients of the MiG-29 was the Polish Air Force, which after much negotiation, started to get the Fulcrum in 1989 and would ultimately replace its fleet of ageing MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters. Not only did they source these airframes direct from Russia but also obtained surplus airframes from Czechoslovakia and later Germany. Although now starting to be equipped with late model F-16s from the US as a NATO member, updated MiG-29s will continue in service with the Poles for the foreseeable future. As a result the latest volume of Mushroom Model Publications Polish Wings Series is a timely addition to the reference shelf, covering the original MiG-29s purchased from Russia and the later Czech airframes.

  This book is clearly intended to be a reference of value to modellers, with the first clue being the advertisement for an upcoming Techmod decal sheet which provides options for many of the schemes covered in this book. The majority of the book is then turned over to comprehensive photo coverage of Polish MiG-29s, with about ten pages of text and tabulated data at the start giving a brief background to the acquisition of the Fulcrum by Poland and its subsequent service. The majority of the photos are overall shots of airframes and serve to document camouflage and markings over the period of operations from 1989-2009. These are supported by detailed colour four view and side profiles along with close up photos and drawings of the unique markings applied to the airframe along with a table of Federal Standard colour cross references. The final three pages provide some excellent large format colour shots of the cockpit area for the super detailers.

  Whilst I cannot confirm it, it seems that just about every MiG-29 Fulcrum A airframe (note not two seat MiG-29UBs or ex-Luftwaffe airframes as these are the subject of Volume 12) in Polish Air Force Service is represented in this book along with all the variations of colour schemes applied. Whilst an extremely narrow subject, PAF MiG-29s carry some attractive schemes which alone makes the book worthwhile. Add the extra detail that can be extrapolated from the numerous photographs and this becomes an excellent reference for anyone wanting to model a MiG-29 Fulcrum.

• Amazon.it customer review • 2013-02-24

  Piacevole sorpresa 4 febbraio 2011

  Di The professor

  Formato:Brossura

  Affezionato cliente Osprey ho acquistato questo libro spinto dalla curiosità (un editore polacco?).Piacevole sospresa scoprire che la pubblicazione è di ottimo livello ,forse meglio di Osprey per le foto. Tratta solo di apparecchi che hanno prestato servizio nelle forze aeree polacche e privilegia l'aspetto iconografico su quello storico (impiego dei velivoli,sviluppo tecnologico,etc.).Considerando la dimensione del volume il rapporto prezzo/ qualità è sicuramente vantaggioso. Consigliato a chi preferisce l'aspetto estetico (le foto sono veramente eccezionali) a quello relativo alla storia dell'aviazione.

• IPMSUSA.org • 2013-02-24

  Reviewed by: Ben Guenther, IPMS #20101

  STRATUS Books is continuing its series to publish books on all the aircraft used by the Polish Air Force. This eleventh volume is a pictorial study of the 18 Mig-29s in Polish use from 1989 to 2009. The opening eight pages discuss the history of the purchase and operation of these Mig-29s from Russia and the Czech Republic, as well as the color and markings used by these aircraft. The remainder of the book covers each aircraft with multiple photos, profiles, and, for most of them, color 4-views. Special markings and commemorative schemes are also discussed and illustrated along with badges and other personal markings. There is one chart that lists each aircraft by code number, serial number, camouflage scheme, and notes on each operational history. Another handy chart lists Mig-29 by country (Czech, Russia and Poland) giving us the camouflage colors used in FS numbers. Finally, five large photos at the end of the book cover the cockpit.

  If you are interested in modern Russian aircraft – in this case the Mig-29 – or in the history of the Polish Air Force, this is a must-have volume. I can highly recommend this volume for its numerous uses of color photos and artwork which will inspire one to build a Polish Mig-29 model.

• Amazon.com customer review • 2013-02-24

  5.0 out of 5 stars A wealth of information on the MiG 29, March 17, 2011

  By John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV)

  Only a few years ago information about high performance Russian aircraft was simply not available in the US. I suppose, indeed I hope, that the intelligence agencies knew a lot about them, but that information wasn't known to the rest of us. Now with the end of the cold war, this kind of information still isn't wide spread, but it is at least available.

  The Polish Air Force (PAF) was part of the military behind the iron curtain. They bought combat aircraft from Russia primarily. When the earlier MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft were becoming elderly, the PAF bought MiG-29s to replace them. This book describes just about everything you could think of to ask about the '29's. It gives the names of the pilots sent for training on how to fly them. It shows the planes (code numbers 105, 114, 115) loaned to Israel for flight testing and subsequently returned to Polish service. In essence this is the complete story of the MiG-29 in Polish service.

• AIM 2011-1 • 2013-02-24
  
• Military Aircraft Monthly 2010-10 • 2013-02-24
  
• ModelingMadness.com • 2013-02-24

  Reviewer: Scott Van Aken

  This latest edition in the Polish Wings series provides a look at Poland's MiG-29 force. This all starts near the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s when Poland picked the MiG-29 to replace its aging fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft. At that time the choice of options was rather limited as the Warsaw Pact was still in effect. Polish pilots and ground crew were sent to the Soviet Union to train on the type, at which time they returned to Poland to pass along their knowledge.

  Then came the end of the Cold War and with it the making of new nations. Among those was the division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Unable or unwilling to maintain their MiG-29 fleet, the Czechs sold of their MiG-29s to Poland in the mid-1990s. Later on, the Germans provided Poland with their MiG-29 fleet to bolster the size of the Polish AF fighter fleet.

  This book covers the original aircraft plus those provided by the Czechs. It also only covers the single seat aircraft. A second volume will deal with the German planes and two seaters. The MiG-29 is the only Russian aircraft in Polish service and has had a superb reputation amongst pilots and ground crews.

  The book begins with a history of the aircraft in Polish service, which includes a tabular history of each airframe as well as camouflage and unit badges. All of this is in English. Then we get to the main event. This majority of the book is photos and superbly done profiles of each individual aircraft at various times in its life with the PAF. This includes the different camo schemes as well as any special markings the aircraft has received up to the current time. The photos are superbly done and quite crisp and clear. The very end of the book has cockpit photos.

  Overall, it is an outstanding photo book and history of this important aircraft in the PAF. It is one that I particularly enjoyed reading and one I can easily recommend to you.

  July 2010

• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-02-24

  By Ray Mehlberger

  This latest book in their “Polish Wings” series describes the acquisition and operation of the MiG-29 by the Polish Air Force. Replacing the elderly MiG-21 and the later MiG-23 in Polish service, the MiG-29 is now the only Russian-built fighter in Polish service. It has been at the front line of Poland’s defences for more than 20 years. It has proved both popular and successful in Polish service.

  This aircraft was obtained from both Russia and the Czech Republic, the latter ex-Czech AF machines. The operations of the MiG-29 are described in detail, plus full details of the many color schemes used over the period in question. Details and history of all airframes are included, and the book contains 242 color photos (including the front and back cover) and 19 color side profile paintings, 4 two-view paintings, 4 four view paintings and 6 five view paintings. The five-views include illustrations of schemes that the particular aircraft was changed into over time. There are 27 color illustrations of squadron logos and 5 photos of the instrument panels in the cockpit of the MiG-29. However, a good shot of the pilot seat and other features is not present. There are a few shots of parts of the aircraft’s anatomy, but not what could be considered walk-around shots. There is also included a data list of information.

  Special markings and commemorative schemes have not been forgotten, and are described and illustrated.

  Inside the book on the publisher’s staff and address listing page is a mention that Techmod Decal Co., in cooperation with Stratus, is going to issue decal sheets for the Mig-29 sporting markings shown in this book. They will be in the popular scales: 1/32nd, 1/48th and 1/72nd sold seperately. Also shown on this page are the cover arts for 4 other books in the Polish Wings series: No. 10 on the MiG-23 MF & MiG-23 UB, No. 9 on the Sukhoi Su-7 & Su-20 (previously issued) and the forthcoming No. 5 on Ex-USAAF Aircraft 1945 and No. 12 on the MiG-29 & MiG-29UB part 2.

  The book is 96 pages long in soft cover 8 ¼´x 11 5/8” format.

  This book is a “Must” for all those interested in modern Russian warplanes, fast jets in general, or the history of the Polish Air Force and to aircraft modelers. Details of 2-seat MiG-29’s will appear in part 2 later.

• MiniReplika 67 • 2010-10-17
  
• SP 10/2010 • 2010-10-17