Tupolev SB -
Soviet High Speed Bomber
Our newest
publication, "Tupolev SB - Soviet High Speed Bomber" by
Mikhail Maslov, is now available. Retail price is $50.00.
The first of
Tupolev's designs to use a smooth metal skin, the SB was a truly
innovative design.
This two-engined
bomber underwent constant development throughout its service
life. The Soviets modified it for use as a dive-bomber (the Ar-2)
as well as a civil airliner (the PS-40 & PS-41). It served in
the Soviet Air Force, Civil Air Fleet, as well as with the Soviet
Polar Aviation Directorate.
It was also
supplied to the Republican Air Force for use during the Spanish
Civil War. The SB proved to be faster than the other bombers in
use at the start of the conflict in Spain. In fact, it was even
faster than the fighters sent up to intercept it.
Supplied to China
in the late 1930s, it was used against the Japanese through May
1943.
Other examples were
given to the Czechoslovakian Air Force and the design was later
produced by the Czechs under license as the Avia B-71.
The SB was used
against Finland during the Soviet-Finnish (Winter) War. Captured
examples were used by the Finns, and the Germans also later
supplied the Finns with some of their cache of captured SBs for
use against Soviet submarines during World War II.
(All of this makes
for some interesting options for modelers.)
Book Details
This 8-5/8" x
11-1/2" 224 page hardcover book is printed on glossy paper.
The text is entirely in English (only). The book includes:
more than 325
Black & White photos
16 pages of
color views (64 in all) including Soviet, Spanish,
Chinese, Finnish, Czech and Luftwaffe markings
17 pages of
scale drawings which include 38 side views, 6 top or
bottom views, and 3 frontal views
90 detail
illustrations taken from the original manual
Retail Price =
$50.00
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