Unknown! No. 2

By J. Miranda & P. Mercado
Reichdreams Research Services, 2003
Softbound, 56 Pages
Available from Reichdreams Research Services

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

For those of you who find German domination in what-if schemes a little overwhelming, this is the series for you. The 'Unknown!' series has some German content, but it also provides what-if schemes from lots of other countries as well. In addition to these there is coverage of actual designs, such as the Ikarus LVT-1, which featured a Hurricane re-engined with a DB 601 engine from a Bf 109E.

In this volume, there is coverage of the following:

Ikarus LVT-1 (Hurricane with DB 601 engine)
Koolhoven F.K. 58 with DB 600 engine
Focke Wulf Fw 190 projects
Reggiane Re 2005R
Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 22
Mikoyan I-250N
Sukhoi Su-5
Caproni Ca 183bis
Tailsitters: Juriev KIT-1, Arthur Young aircraft, Supermarine aircraft
Golovin IVS/ISF
V.E.F. Irbitis I-19
Miles M.24 Master
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I "Rammer"
Miles M.20
Submarine-launched Fieseler 'Reichenberg IV'
Me 328 "Kreisflugel" & Sub-launched variant
Sud-Est S.E. 582
Martin Baker ejection system for the Spitfire Mk. 21
Martin Baker MB 6

Each of these subjects has a text section describing the aircraft type, plus a set of scale drawings. The drawings are very well done, with most to 1/72 scale. Any one of these subjects would make for an interesting piece to any WW2 collection. Park a Rammer Spitfire next to a regular one, and just wait for the double-takes. This is a welcome break from all the Luft '46 material out there, due to its broad base of subject matter. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in project aircraft.

My thanks to Reichdreams for the review sample. Be sure to visit their website for the other interesting titles in this series.