Loiré et Olivier LeO 45 by José Fernandez and Patrick Laureau
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Book Review
This is a new title in the French Wings series, which has been produced by Stratus in co-operation with Frrom. It is in an A4 portrait format with 80 pages and a laminated card cover (Perfect bound). The text is in English throughout and this includes the captions for the extensive series of period images. The narrative starts by looking at the B4 programme that led to the LeO 45, with nice images of the prototype as well as some very nice images of the production line at Amberieu before and after the Armistice. A good little technical section is next with images and diagrams from the manual that includes armament, the undercarriage and the cockpit interior amongst others. The remainder of the title looks at the use of the type during WWII and directly after. This section is full of period photographs, as well as modern colour side profiles depicting some of the machines seen in the images. In most instances the profiles show both port and starboard sides, but there are three and four view sets as well. Use by the Vichy Government is also covered, again with lots of period photos and modern colour side profiles and the photos include some lovely in-flight shots of machines that are partially painted. A few oddities are covered towards the end of the book, including the examples captured by Free French forces and subsequently used to train Air France crews, the example used by GLA 45 at Rabat in 1947 and the former German example captured and repainted in USAAF markings with yellow undersides in Sicily in 1943. The final section takes a look at German use of the type, with a selection of period images and a set of colour profiles depicting one specific machine.
Conclusion
A superb book, full of information on a type that has for too long been lacking in such detailed technical and historical coverage. We can but hope for a nice injected kit in 1/72nd and 1/48th maybe as a result, who knows? In the interim though, this title is highly recommended to all French aviation fans and modellers.
Our thanks to Frrom for the review sample, this should be available from specialist outlets in the UK, but if you have any problems visit their website www.stratusbooks.com.pl or www.mmpbooks.com.
This is a new title in the French Wings series, which has been produced by Stratus in co-operation with Frrom. It is in an A4 portrait format with 80 pages and a laminated card cover (Perfect bound). The text is in English throughout and this includes the captions for the extensive series of period images. The narrative starts by looking at the B4 programme that led to the LeO 45, with nice images of the prototype as well as some very nice images of the production line at Amberieu before and after the Armistice. A good little technical section is next with images and diagrams from the manual that includes armament, the undercarriage and the cockpit interior amongst others. The remainder of the title looks at the use of the type during WWII and directly after. This section is full of period photographs, as well as modern colour side profiles depicting some of the machines seen in the images. In most instances the profiles show both port and starboard sides, but there are three and four view sets as well. Use by the Vichy Government is also covered, again with lots of period photos and modern colour side profiles and the photos include some lovely in-flight shots of machines that are partially painted. A few oddities are covered towards the end of the book, including the examples captured by Free French forces and subsequently used to train Air France crews, the example used by GLA 45 at Rabat in 1947 and the former German example captured and repainted in USAAF markings with yellow undersides in Sicily in 1943. The final section takes a look at German use of the type, with a selection of period images and a set of colour profiles depicting one specific machine.
Conclusion
A superb book, full of information on a type that has for too long been lacking in such detailed technical and historical coverage. We can but hope for a nice injected kit in 1/72nd and 1/48th maybe as a result, who knows? In the interim though, this title is highly recommended to all French aviation fans and modellers.
Our thanks to Frrom for the review sample, this should be available from specialist outlets in the UK, but if you have any problems visit their website www.stratusbooks.com.pl or www.mmpbooks.com.
