Historische Deutsche Flugzeuge bis 1945 - Band 2

[Full title: Historische Deutsche Flugzeuge bis 1945; Flugzeug-Dokumentation; Geschichte, Fakten, Risse, Schnitte; classic scale; Band 2], Karlheinz Kens, Modellsport Verlag GmbH, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2007, ISBN 978-3-923142-55-2. Illustrated, softcover, published in German.

Cover image © by Modellsport Verlag GmbH, 2007.

This is the Band 2 [Volume 2] follow-up to Karlheinz Kens' excellent first Historische Deutsche Flugzeuge bis 1945; Flugzeug-Dokumentation; Geschichte, Fakten, Risse, Schnitte [Historic German Aircraft up to 1945; Aircraft Documentation; History, Facts, Drawings, Cutaways], as favorably reviewed elsewhere on this blog. As such, it follows the established pattern and is produced using the same format (A4), layout, and first-rate printing quality, but featuring slightly less content at 122 pages (versus the 130 pages of the first volume). And once again, the articles featured in Historische Deutsche Flugzeuge bis 1945 - Band 2 have been adapted from the print versions originally published in the Modellflug International radio-control model aviation specialist publication.

Each of these articles on a specific German aircraft type is quite involved, rather detailed, and lavishly illustrated. As before, it really is highly enlightening to simply browse Ken's book to discover minutiae about interesting aircraft designs that are rarely covered anywhere else, if at all. The contents of Band 2 comprise the pioneering Junkers J 2 all-metal fighter prototype, the Daimler L 11 fighter, the Meusel M IV light aircraft, the Espenlaub E 5 glider, the Bäumer Schnecke biplane, the utterly intriguing Arado L II light touring aircraft, the Einsitzer FF/Berlin AB 4 sporting aircraft, the Fieseler F 2 aerobatic aircraft, the Dornier Do 10 fighter, the La Pruvo and Hessenland sailplanes, the Junkers Ju 160 fast passenger aircraft, the München Mü 17 sailplane, the aerodynamically advanced Möller Temperolus and Möller Stürmer sporting aircraft, and the Fieseler Fi 256, successor to the famous Fi 156 Storch.

As established in Band 1, each aircraft entry consists of a multi-page article, generously illustrated by means of high-quality black & white photos and various drawings. Many of the photos and drawings also highlight certain details of the aircraft in question. All of this makes for an astonishingly absorbing publication, available for a modest price. Highly recommended.