Corwin Meyer

This is mostly a typical Naval Fighters product with some text devoted to development and the majority to short paragraphs devoted to in-service use. There is a significant amount of space devoted to reproducing some archival maintenance manuals, etc.
This volume however has 35 pages(!) devoted to development, with a few paper proposals and a fair amount of text by Mr. Meyer who was factory pilot. This is very unusual for a NF product and very welcome!
Given the costs of the these volumes has show more reached hardcover prices, this book represents a pretty decent value. Highly recommended. show less

Typical Naval Fighters product with some text devoted to development and the majority to short paragraphs devoted to in-service use. There is a significant amount of space devoted to reproducing some archival maintenance manuals, etc.

This is probably the best publication on the F8F that is readily available.

This was the 80th publication I have purchased from Mr. Ginter and found it somewhat disappointing.
With the first 22 pages dedicated to development and testing the aircraft there is a fair amount of development history, but nothing on the derivatives yet, it mysteriously includes the cockpit for the two-seater 98J-7 without any explanation.
There are some interesting paragraphs on flutter testing and some a few paragraphs relating to the problems that arise when testing the combination of a show more new engine in new airframe. But overall, the effort feels rather weaksauce in comparison to the typical Ginter publication.
The balance of the book (Aside from a few brief sentences on the zero-length launch proposal) covers the Grumman attempts at foreign sales with the effort mostly focusing on the competition with the Lockheed F-104. (To his credit, Mr. Corwin does not
mention the bribery scandal which probably helped Lockheed get the sale.)
An explanation of the a few of the odd features such as the tandem dorsal carriage of the AIM-9 would have been appreciated.
Aside from a Japanese model in 1:138 released 60 years ago, this volume probably not be interest to modelers. While the development and sales anecdotes were entertaining to read, this monograph will probably only be of interest to the most die-hard fans of mid-50’s BuAer history or those fans of the Ironworks. show less

A better than average NF volume, this monograph dedicates about 30 pages of print to the development of the aircraft through the Bureau of Inspection and Surveys and final developments. After that the pretty standard NF format applies.
The drawing chapter is very complete with plenty of pen and ink drawings of the cockpit, landing gear, landing gear wells, etc. Unusual illustrations of the engine bay and the tail section are included and could be of use to a serious modeler. There are two show more engine illustrations that appear to show that appear to illustrate the engine as a partially dressed QECA. Again, those could be interest to a modeler.
The Squadron history chapter is pretty standard Ginter fare, four pages are developed to Blue Angels and the final pages dedicated to gate guards and the sole bailment tiger. Within this chapter there are plenty of deployment pictures from the various sea-going squadrons.
The last few pages are dedicated available models (Remember this monograph is twenty-two years old.) and some B&W profiles of various “Fleet Tigers”. The profiles will probably be of limited use.
Strongly recommended for those interested in Naval aviation or modelers. show less