Authors: Piet van Schalkwyk and William Marshall (Volumes 3 & 4 with Stefaan Bouwer)  

Since several SAAF aircraft have graced the ARC website, and since it  appears that the ARC readership does include a few modellers with an interest in the SAAF, I have decided that it was time to introduce a series of monographs covering different periods of SAAF / SADF history to these good folks. What makes these books especially interesting to us modellers is that they are produced by modellers for modellers. Consequently a large portion of the material is devoted to colour schemes, all of which are presented in a beautiful series of drawings, and which are in most instances are backed up by actual photographs.

In their approach the authors have chosen to include a mix of aircraft (SAAF), armour (SADF) and a smaller section covering uniforms used in the Anglo-Boer War (volumes 2 to 4). Typically the SAAF section covers  a particular aircraft type or description of camouflage patterns as used in WW2, as well as one particular aircraft in a post war period. In volume 1 these included the Hurricane and Mirage F1AZ, whereas in  volume 2 the P-40 Tomahawks and Kittyhawks, as well as the Vampires are described. In these two volumes alone, two very old misconceptions were clarified, namely, the correct European and Desert schemes used by  SAAF No. 7 Squadron Hurricane llD tankbusters (not No.6 Sqn. RAF as so frequently claimed),  as well as the correct scheme used on Capt. Hauptfleisch’s famous Kittyhawk (the one with the very prominent map of Africa / Springbok on its nose).In Volume 3 (Maryland and Boston) and 4 (Tomahawk and Kittyhawk, P-51 Mustang, B-26 Martin Marauder and the B-24 Liberator) complete sections are devoted to camouflage patterns applied to US-derived aircraft as used by the SAAF, where considerable emphasis is  placed on explaining the variety of  American and British colours used. These sections were largely realised by the help of Stefaan Bouwer, who is well known for his excellent “SAAF at War” book. As these colours were at times used interchangeably,  the authors once again  reinforce the need to study actual photographs of the aircraft one wishes to model. In this regard the authors are to be commended on providing a host of new data, covering several schemes and markings. As for all the other volumes these are beautifully illustrated in a series of drawings, all backed up by many previously unpublished photos. Additionally, in volume 3, the Mirage F1CZ is covered in detail, including markings used for the 2 aircraft which scored Mig kills in the Angolan conflict, whilst the use of the Sabre in the Korean war is covered in exceptional detail in Volume 4, as it covers each one of the Sabres used by the SAAF. Here, several unusual schemes are included, of which that of a SAAF Sabre with a USAF sat studded tail is probably the most stunning.
Although aviation orientated modellers have in part criticised the inclusion of armour or uniform sections in this monographs, I, personally do not view this as a major detriment: but then again, I am probably not pedantic enough to not raise my voice in alarm over the inclusion of a Kettenkrad in the Tamiya Me 262 kit.