The Fairey Barracuda Book Review

By David L. Veres

Review

Ever since my teenage talons first fondled FROG’s ancient, 1:72-scale offering, Fairey’s Barracuda really appealed to me.

That awkward airframe. Those cumbersome contours. The ungainly outline. Something ceaselessly snared my interest. And I fell into puppy love.

Now Valiant Wings recounts the design, development, deployment and disposition of Fairey’s angular attacker in a terrific, 134-page tome – 19th in the publisher’s excellent “Airframe Album” range.

Fans of the popular series will immediately recognize Valiant Wings’ proven prescription.

Author-editor Richard A. Franks kick-starts contents with a capsule, businesslike history. That “Introduction” swiftly segues to a 58-page “Technical Description” overflowing with Barracuda minutiae – nose-to-tail, tip-to-tip, inside-out.

Sexing your model? Eleven subsequent pages of isometric views chart Barracuda “Evolution” – “prototype, production, and projected variants”. Text then turns to a superb “Camouflage & Markings” section with color profiles, plan views, and stencil markings details by Richard J. Caruana. And Libor Jekl’s build of Special Hobby’s 1:72 Barracuda Mk I neatly rounds things out.

Hundreds of period photos and archival images season the study. And four extensive appendices recap Barracuda models, accessories, production, and references. Call it a one-volume library.

Tackling Special Hobby’s 1:48-scale kit? Lavishing attention on FROG’s ancient, 1:72 effort? This splendid study supplants all previous Fairey Barracuda references.

Robustly recommended!

With thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for this review copy.