Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

yes! That's something I am actively looking to publish books on Denes, perhaps drop me a line about it.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Guys,
I will hopefully fill up the gap regarding the ZG 76 history (at least 1943-45) one day. And maybethe earlier era (first installment as well) with help of other research(s).

but I agree that SG units needs come coverage. As well as ZG 26 late war era and possibly detailed ZG 1 history with tons of texts? ;)

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

The line to purchase it forms behind me... :-)

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

I'll start the line to purchase this as well. :-)

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Yes, as long as the style is not just a combat chronicle ("On date xxxx y number of fighters engaged z number of enemies claiming n victories").

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

aaand what else should be included? marriage status of pilots, their kids grades at school? or the mechanics obvious undiscipline habbit giving 0,5 bar higher pressure in the tyres (LOL)?

Are you aware that 99.9%of men involved in the WWII combats are not with us anymore? Also for those units that histories were NOT published yet, there is most probably a reason of it in a lacking archival materials and primary sources. So it is extremely hard to find some bits and pieces to put together even combat history, not speaking of something (not specified yet) what interests you to spice up the text... can you be more specific and help us "authors" to correct the "lines of the pen"?

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

For me, my interests are in the more overlooked areas (in English anyway).
I second Dénes Bernád suggestions as well with the inclusion of books on Italian subjects as well.
More books on thereconnaissance units (HS126 use in 1940 would be a dream title) and transport units.
As to types, looking forward to your announced He115 title. Also be interested in a Hs126 title, Fw189 or a Bv138 title.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

The 30th Anniversary edition of your book "Horrido"?

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Hi Nick, indeed, this year is the 30th anniversary of my first book, called Horrido. However, if it were reissued, it must have a separate volume for every air force that I tried to cover in that slim book. Luckily, time that has passed since then brought - back then unimaginable - wealth of information and photomatériel, so everything is now available in my workroom. The 50th anniversary edition, perhaps (if I still will be alive)? :)

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

...that's most of them (not counting German-language books). JG 53/JG 300 and JG 4 have been covered in English of course. I'm not including the three-part Classic softback on JG 1. Softbacks are not 'real' books. Only a couple of Jochen's JG 3 books have made it into English. If Erik (Mombeeck) can't sell more than a couple of hundred copies of a JG 2 history (which includes the Battle of Britain) - not enough to finance any further volumes- what chance is there of seeing any of the other units? Big unit histories don't sell. JG 300 apparently (allegedly) sold so few copies the authors received little in the way of royalties (or hadn't when I published an interview with Lorant in 2018, some thirteen years after publication) 'Little' unit histories don't sell either if Osprey's schedule is anything to go by..sad to say it strikes me that much of this five-page thread is just wishful thinking. I think it's a certainty that no publisher will ever produce the 'Hs 126 in 1940' in hardback....although Rabeder might perhaps do something on Nahaufklärung...or even 4.(F)/123 ..but that last 'title' is 109s again.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

I respectfully beg to differ...
https://i.imgur.com/6Vx8iyE.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/I6OKuYB.jpg

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

I second that, I also consider paperbacks books. Here is my first one (published in English), in 1996:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1JE7QakFYL.jpg

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Well, you have probably read Axel Urbanke's "Green Hearts"? That's an example of a superb unit history.

Second, as "Rabe Anton" wrote here ages ago, there is s difference between a chronicler and a historian. Chronicler catalogues events, historian analyzes them. For example, in naval combat history it is very common to analyze and comment on the actions of the participants from a tactical, or an art of war, point of view. For example, the actions of Bismarck's captain are analyzed in depth. How about applying the same idea to air combat?

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Neil, I am afraid that using Mombeeck's success with his books as an example is a very poor choice. Firstly, his marketing is utterly poor in all aspects. Second, had he made the decision to do those books ONLY in English, they would have sold much much more. I can understand him doing books in his native language, but not in German. The number of such German buyers who read only German and simultaneously are interested in the topic has been probably very mininal for many years now.

As for the English JG 300 set, as far as I know, the print run was very substantial (perhaps Judy Crandall wishes to comment?) and as far as I know, the books are out of print now.

Today good marketing is absolutely essential. And marketing must be understood in the widest sense possible, from making the book known among buyers and to making ordering easy. A part of the latter includes reasonable shipping costs. For example, a market-wise seller sends parcels to Europe (esp. EU) from Germany with its very fair postage costs instead of robbers like Belgium or Holland.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

I would both agree and disagree with your first statement. According to my US distributer at RZM, the market for German-language only books is decreasing because a lot of buyers are older gentlemen who are dying off. However, my contact at Berlin Zinnfiguren tells me that bi-lingual books would be a good idea....so it's academic really. Personally I think that producing bi-lingual books is a waste of my time and money, and that English language books are what I should focus on.

As for your comment about postage costs and shipping stuff from Germany, you forget that if I, as a UK seller, did that, I would in effect have to register my business in Germany. Either that, or get a third party in Germany to buy and stock my products, then fulfil any orders I take in the UK for EU based customers. I'm afraid there really is no way I can think of to get around the VAT rules, other than move to a European country myself and, as mentioned, register my business there. Which is much easier said than done.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

A few comments. English language books appear to be the best choice. That will not, of course, stop other people from publishing books in other languages. Next, of course, is the postage cost. For reasons unknown, the U.S. Postal Service dropped a relatively inexpensive category called Surface Mail in 2007 due to increased costs, they said. (I say 'reasons unknown' because they somehow managed to live with Surface Mail for decades until that year.) The replacement for Surface Mail shipping through the U.S. Postal Service meant we lost 98% of our foreign customers due to their increased costs almost overnight. This was a boon to the young ebook industry who wanted the money that would have been spent on physical books. In the case of Luftwaffe books that cover rare and highly desirable subjects, a publisher can be almost anywhere, his books sell out and then some copies appear on the so-called secondary market at prices much higher than the original price. So, for some things, people will get those books regardless of the current situation with postage and VAT.

In the U.S., sales of physical books have grown, year over year.

A word about marketing. There are various outlets where a new book can be announced at no cost to the author or publisher. But authors write books that they have spent years on and are not familiar with marketing. Or copyright, ISBNs and even permissions for photos and other things. But someone must do it. If no one (outside of friends, family and perhaps a small group of people on the internet) knows the book has been released, it remains invisible to others and sales are lost. My company has gone to trade shows where some retailers are unaware of our latest releases. I am regularly doing online promotions for our books. So independent authors should learn how it's done.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Detailed Unit histories 'cross referenced' with Allied records? That would be a +1 from me, too.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

In addition to unit histories, I think the next 'point of interest', for me at least, are pilots' war memoirs. I think I've gotten just about all the ones that are in English, so every year, I await any new ones that get translated or rereleased.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Rich, I should have emphasized that I mean publishers in continental Europe. And it is not a question of avoiding VAT, it is about the actual shipping cost. Sending from the UK + VAT is often still much cheaper than pure shipping cost from especially Belgium or Holland.

I definitely see bilingual books very awkward if the book has any substantial main text. So English only, please.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Unfortunatelly NOT. It is a combat area and unit that is in my field of interest...

Are you aware that Naval actions takes days, and air actions takes seconds? also to analize movement of few ships is something different than analyze movements of hundreds of bombers and their cover fighters and opposition. Unless we are speaking about dogfight, but there you do not know who made what move ;) its not recorded.

Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Detailed Unit Histories in English on JG 5 & JG 77.

James

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Well, look what John Lundstrom did with his two "First Team" books. Or Larry Hickey's work. As to who made what move, original combat reports provide such information.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

That needs incorporate both. -Ed

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

And how many original Luftwaffe combat reports have you seen?

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Since I don't speak German it would be a bit useless exercise. Since Finnish, British and American combat reports do usually contain such information, why would not German...

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

The German ones probably did but since hardly any survive authors can’t use them as a source.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

(from our forthcoming Do 17/215 'Kauz' book)

''After the crew returned, the pilot wrote a Gefechtsbericht (combat report), and if they claimed a victory, an Abschuβmeldung (victory report/claim form) was completed. The other crew members wrote Zeugenberichte (witness testimonies) which they signed. Their Staffelkapitän filed a Stellungnahme (statement) and this was complemented by another statement by a Stabsoffizier.''

that's six pieces of paper at least for a fighter pilot, or in the case of a Do 17 crew eighteen. The trick is to actually find surviving reports. I have seen one or two for auction, but I don't think there's many out there from the German perspective

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

I do not get the impression that many fighter pilots are the sort of people that like filling in forms and reports.

Was the Lw system the same as the Allied, in that a nice intelligence officer asked you some questions at debriefing and then went away to write the report down, which was then presented to you to sign?

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Since many of us on this forum are either authors, or specialists, or highly knowledgeable enthusiasts, I believe the result of such poll is not relevant.
Based on my experience - and probably others', too - it's primarily the modellers and the general history enthusiast who make up the bulk of the book buyers. Therefore, this poll should be (also) placed on modellers' forums, to gauge the interest of the potential buyers. My two-cent worth opinion. P.S. Great discussions, by the way...

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Definitely not the Finnish style. Each pilot wrote his own combat report and there are significant style differences between individual report writing styles.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Check out Verified Victories: Top JG 52 Aces Over Hungary 1944-45 pages 12-19, 202-206 for detailed information on the Luftwaffe claiming process.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

I agree with Denes' statement. Modellers are probably the largest target audience for aviation publications.

I am neither author or a specialist, nor so knowledgeable enthusiast but I do visit this amazing forum fairly often to read what all of you esteemed gentlemen write and sometimes to post questions about the Fw 190 camouflage since that's where my interest mostly lies. I consider myself a modeller although I don't often have time for the hobby, but, in some short moments of freedom, I do think about or analyze the camouflage of certain airframes even if I ain't gonna apply it to that piece of plastic.

Anyhow, I have a Kallax (many of you probably know this product from Ikea's inventory) 5x5 segments shelf here in China where I currently live, completely filled up with aviation books (some books are laying here & there too, where they should not). About 2 or 3 segments (each segment is 13"x13"x13") are filled with magazines (Im Focus and mostly, other German & French ones). About four or five segments are filled with books dealing with American, Japanese, Italian, Soviet, and French or smaller airforces like Yugoslavia (showing some patriotism), Bulgaria or Hungary... The remaining segments are holding books about the Luftwaffe fighter force. My main, ultimate interest is Fw 190 & Luftwaffe camouflage, so I have purchased every single book about these two subjects in any & every language they have ever been published that I could lay my hands on. Even Spanish ones. I barely speak my own mother tongue & find ways of communicating in English, while also understanding about 11,3 words in German - or plainly, I was not built for languages & speaking although I love to talk a lot. But yes!!! English language books for a person like myself are the best option.

Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe (all parts published so far), all Fighter Unit histories I could ever find & purchase (again in any language and sometimes in 2 languages if they have been published in German first & English later)... are on these shelves... Hard cover books are adored but softcover books are equally loved! The thickness of the cover doesn't make a book better. "Don't judge the book..." as someone said once.

Back in my hometown of Belgrade, I have another bookshelf of identical size filled up with more aviation books (some even about bombers, twin-engined fighters, recce planes, trainers) & quite a few French (Fana / Avions...), Czech, Soviet and a few English-language magazines but sadly in the last 8 years, I check these publications too rarely.

I totally understand that in talking about any aspect of aviation one has to know all the other ones.. technical aspect, operational aspect etc... all of them influence - let's say - camouflage application on some given airframe. And that's why I don't buy only the books about those single-engined fighters or ground-attack aircraft types, but for sure such titles when well done are the books to which I return mostly!

My favourite books of all are JaPo "Dora" books. I dream about the day when the third volume will be published! Jerry & Eagle Editions did an equally great job and it is great to compare the two. And even more, I do dream about someone doing the same about "short-nosed" Fw 190s which I prefer over long-nosed cousins (I know how immense work that would be, but... hope dies last). I even hope that Part IV of the Classic Fw 190 series will be published one day... maybe under another "roof"?!

Good layout (probably because I am coming from a creative industry) means so much to me. Some books with great content that are not well laid out are painful for my eyes & brain... and I believe that Classic publications were appreciated by many because of that modern approach to the layout for the time when they were published. Applies to both soft & hard covered titles.

Good reproductions of the photographs, well done & researched profiles, modern illustrations for the technical aspects and well-written texts understandable by "everyone", in well laid out designs do make things more attractive.

Claes Sundin (one of those aviation artists that I really appreciate) published a dozen of profile books so far. I am awaiting the two latest to arrive from Germany. I would love his books even more if he would have analyzed each of his profiles in writing next to the profile & if he would have covered other views & details visible in the photos he studies for the available photos. It would give much more "weight" and value to these books. It would put them closer to JaPo/EagleEditions level/approach and I believe that this aspect makes those Dora books so loved by everyone.

I do agree that definite books about Bf 109s still don't exist although there are many of them out there. At least not in English. Even Fw 190s could see a slight update (short nose Classic ones).
JaPo approach to Bf 109s (JaPo does a segment covering airframes found in Czech territories but expanding it?)

Someone mentioned a few fighter units that have never been covered in any language (ie JG6) - great opportunity! Translations of all / some German or French language Unit history books?

More books like Japanese LO+ST (I think also someone mentioned books of unpublished photos... wondering who is purchasing all the amazing & not so amazing photos selling on evilBay?) In depth discussion about each & every airframe seen in photos... at least to the Rodeike level in his 190 Bible but maybe even deeper? I believe such books would always sell.

Please keep in mind that I come from a very poor country and I am not a really rich person so every purchase for me is a substantial expense but I do believe in the value of the books. And after all, they give me pleasure so I keep on buying them... although my smarter and prettier half believes I have more than enough.

Another book that I would like to mention as a great one (for the end) would probably be Natter by Brett Gooden. Again single type history, like all those sought after Classic books but really researched in depth. Once you have it - you believe you don't need another book on the subject.

I hope I didn't write too much nonsense and didn't overly bother you? Just trying to express what an ordinary, non-expert buyer (calling himself a modeller) might like.

Or as they say in my hood "My 2 Maos"
米老鼠

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

These are the key words, Milos: "I do believe in the value of the books. And after all, they give me pleasure so I keep on buying them..."
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Unfortunately unlikely to happen. Me, Robert (Forsyth) and Eddie Creek have discussed it, but you'd need someone to write the text

Hideki Noro tells me he is working on volume 2.

Also I (Chandos Publications) have several exciting projects in general in the pipeline already.

thanks for the comments!

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

....I've always thought Vol IV was to be a 'photographic' compilation. I still wonder why nobody ever wanted to 'do' or even 're-do' Rodeike's 'Jagdflugzeug 190'. Having said that, 400+pages of photo captions is a lot of text.. :D

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Isten hozott, Dénes. I was afraid that all this blabbing will be too much...

hello richdic,
I didn't know that vol4 was called off. I somehow thought there is still a chance for it.
If someone has done the research & compiled the photos & documents, putting the book together & even writing up captions maybe ain't that big of the work :) an ignorant guess.
It could be even done as an "open source" style project between a few artists. I would not mind doing the layout in InDesign if they need help & helping them set the editable proxy text files that go as captions so people can edit them on the go :) Anything for another Fw 190 Bible.

I am super excited if we gonna see "LO+ST sequel". One on TV lasted 6 seasons and was an ultimate hit. I would love NoroSan's one much more!

Thanks to all researchers, historians, writers, illustrators, publishers... for providing all those great and not so great (I buy such ones too, so don't worry) books!

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

It is mentioned in this thread that lack of sourced prevent this and that topic to be studied. But, let's remember the recent book Secret Horsepower Race. Many, many times before that book one could hear claims that that topic lacked sources. Then came Calum Douglas who dug deep into the archives and found mountains of new information creating a masterpiece. After that case one may really ask that how much untapped material still is to be found on other Luftwaffe topics in the archives, but researchers have not delved thus far deep enough. And in the case of the Secret Horsepower Race, another crucial aspect pertaining to the authoritativeness of the book is that he is an engine-designer himself.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

Great post Jukka. I think there is heaps out there still but as you say, finding it and putting it together is the hard bit. I am still hopeful of seeing a comprehensive publication on the JU188 and the long-range recon missions flown on the Ostfront.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

You can ask, but if you have unexplored topics in mind then identifying unused source material would be of more help for prospective authors.

Re: Market research - 'Most Wanted' Luftwaffe books
 

For example in the case the Secret Horsepower Race, Daimler-Benz archives were apparently very crucial. One may ask that the D-B archives might contain material very useful for researching German aircraft too.

Years ago a Finnish researcher told me that for German aircraft, the key archive is at the Deutsches Museum, not BA-MA.