22/04/2025
An excellent review of our new KG 40 book by Chris Clifford at Key Publishing / Airfix Model World Magazine. You have to be a member to view premium content, but the text of the article is pasted below:
https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/chandos-luftwaffe-kg-40-reference-book
Noted Luftwaffe author Chris Goss has combined his previous work on the German multi-role unit KG 40 in a new, lavish hardback.
If you’ve ever read any substantial writing on the Luftwaffe’s Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG 40), chances are it was penned by Chris Goss. He’s written various books/articles on this fascinating unit, from 1997’s Bloody Biscay to both volumes of Sea Eagles. Now, all his material on KG 40 has been packed into a weighty new hardback from Chandos Publications. Some of you may recognise the unit’s ‘globe in a ring’ badge – which exemplifies its efforts in geographical terms, flying missions in various Theatres.
If you’re interested in building Luftwaffe subjects but want to explore the subject beyond its fighter realm, this book will provide heaps of inspiration and useful visual cues on the types involved. And this is where the story is a real winner due to its variety, providing narrative, photos and quality artwork on the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, Heinkel He 111 and He 177, Dornier Do 217 and Junkers Ju 88. These were engaged in anti-ship work, day/night bombing and the like.
Each of the Geschwader’s five Gruppen are explored, delving into their operations with the aforementioned types. The unit’s multi-role nature makes for interesting reading – and all the aircraft involved are splendid in terms of modelling, there being many kits to build (and sometimes make more accurate), in several scales. Modellers will appreciate the huge selection of period imagery, which shows aircraft as a whole (on the ground and in flight), plus many close-up views to help understand the structural nuances. If you dabble in scenic modelling, several studies show different types in a crashed/belly landed state, offering excellent reference for dioramas. Interior views are also present, helping even more with getting the details right.
Good colour artwork is like catnip for many modellers, and those who appreciate this material have superb examples here, created by Janusz Swiatlon. In some pages, a whole profile is accompanied by larger, segmented versions to reveal more detail. Sadly, though, no plan views are provided so – arguably, just a portion of the colour scheme story is told. Although, you can glean more from the photographs throughout in terms of patterns. Another useful facet of the imagery and narrative is that both help the reader understand some of the more specialist weaponry employed, such as the Henschel Hs 293 rocket-powered glide bomb.
There are also maps to help set the scene for operations and timelines, but if you enjoy reading about the exploits of the aircrews, there are plenty of personal accounts and excerpts from operational record books to add colour and context. Individual aircrew biographies also help to set the scene, while other sections describe the Allied units, pilot and aircraft who came into contact with KG 40 assets.
The joy of this book is that it has wide appeal, if you favour particular aircraft types… while other modellers will undoubtedly value all the coverage and want to emulate much of what they see on the pages. Whether you’re a seasoned Luftwaffe modeller who wants to change tack, or new to the subject and want inspiration and reference, this weighty, 312-page tome offers a huge array of material. It’s quite an investment at £55 direct from Chandos Publications… but it will repay your outlay indefinitely.
If you have even a passing interest in Luftwaffe aircraft modelling, Chandos Publications' new book on the unit KG 40 is packed with inspiration and reference.
