Ju-88, Volume One

[Peter Achs]

Hi Chris,

I think the quality of a book does not depend on the number of profiles. I have a theory that I wrote several years ago on another board: The quality of a book is inversely proportional to the number of color profiles. (Roughly)

You forgot one Icelander:
Ednorth makes very good and accurate profiles.

Regards
Peter

[Nick Beale]

I recommend a speedy return to the topic of this thread.

William Medcalf has set up a site for his book which will include errata, so I'm sure that specific contributions will be welcome, whether sent direct or via this forum. Sweeping generalisations are altogether less helpful, I suspect.

[Simon Schatz]

Hello folks!
I followed the discussion here and on different German forums. Not just about this book, but also about other books. Mr Achs, I have no idea why you always use such harsh words? Why not simply “ins Fäustchen lachen” (show gloating joy) and announce that you are working on something that will blow away all the errors that were written since end of the war? In the past you gave the German reading aviation enthusiasts an impression what you have in your archive. There were some articles published in Jet&Prop that were simply stunning and made me nosy for more. I’m sure most here don’t know them, and have no idea about the content.
But I have to agree with Richard T. Eger. In your way to announce errors of others you will not find many friends outside of Germany. I’m happy to have some connections around the globe, and just with them it was possible to publish my work around the globe. In “Good-old-Germany” my profiles just got published in small numbers. Maybe my work is too “bad” for the German market, so I have to publish elsewhere.
You can like profiles or not! That’s everybody’s right! If you don’t like them, you don’t have to look at them, but there are others (mostly model builders) that see them as good addition to reference photographs. Painting aircraft profiles is simple the same as building model planes, but just in 2D.
I have to agree with Mr. Achs that some profiles published by different publishing houses and artists are simply fantasy and you will never find reference photographs for them. So these drawings are just “waste” of space and have no historical value. But you also find this stuff in Germany in German aviation magazines, drawn by a German artist. I’m sure Mr. Achs you know the German publishing house, author and artist I mean. ;-)
For me as artist of some of the Ju88 profiles in the book I can tell you that I tried my best to do them as accurate as possible. I got many reference material and if not I tried to find as much material as possible and did many hours of research.
I have to say that I was really wondering seeing some of my profiles without the additional reference photographs. So nobody can check how many hours (and it were a lot) I spent painting all these crazy meanders at my Ju88A-4/LT, Ju88G-1 and Ju88S-1 profiles. But this wasn’t in my hands. I just can say that I tried to draw them as accurate as possible.
And for sure there is another aspect: “nobody is perfect”
If you have any comments and critique regarding my profiles please let me know.
Cheers, Simon
PS: As I’m more artist as historian and no Junkers expert I can’t write anything that is written in Arties book. Also I have no idea if I find time to read it in near future. Some other book projects are waiting!
PPS: ChrisS: What is the name of the German artist working for Kagero?
PPPS: I also know an Austrian artist!!! ;-)

[ChrisS]

Simon, did I say German I meant Austrian....sorry! So I guess you don't count either... I was trying to find a German for Peter....

[Peter Achs]

@Simon
Can you tell me why you attack me? I'm only the bearer of bad news. You'd better attack the publisher or the author who sell such a botch for 70 €.

Grüße in die Ostmark

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Peter Achs

I think the quality of a book does not depend on the number of profiles. I have a theory that I wrote several years ago on another board: The quality of a book is inversely proportional to the number of color profiles. (Roughly)

You forgot one Icelander:
Ednorth makes very good and accurate profiles.

Hi Peter
Yes I did forget Ednorth, remiss of me!

I think the EoE project books will be filled with profiles.... so I am certain Larry Hickey will blow your theory to pieces

All the best

Chris

[Graham Boak]

Similarly, we expose our own prejudices if we speak of the Reds or Commies, but it is quite proper to say Soviet rather than just Russian. In this case, it is also strictly more correct anyway, to allow for Ukrainian input.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Peter Achs

Can you tell me why you attack me?

Peter, it may be because your posts come across as exceptionally angry and embittered. Perhaps you do not fully understand just how excessive your choice of English words can appear. If you are genuinely confident of the superior quality of your own research and writing, constructive criticism of existing publications ought to make your point more than adequately.

Everyone, discuss the book or I think it'll be time to close this thread.

[leonventer]

Compared to fighters, German bombers have generally been ill-served in the literature. Artie Bob's first volume is therefore a very welcome addition. Kudos to him for the huge and sustained effort that it represents. I am very happy to own a copy as it is now the best single resource on the Ju 88, and it will remain so until a better publication becomes available.

If that irks the living bejesus out of the world's foremost Junkers expert, then I hope he'll produce the definitive work on this important type. Go for it, Peter -- make our day. Dump the color profiles and publish it in German if you must, but don't take that encyclopedic knowledge to the grave with you.

Leon Venter

[PhilippeDM]

I do concur to your opinion, Leon. As a year long Luftwaffe book collectioner, I have just a poor list covering the Ju 88. I am glad to finally get some better info on this type and am already try to find my copy locally since I knew it was published. (Perhaps I missed some that I'm not aware of)
Similar, I am glad with the errorlist Peter gave us as a companion of this volume and will include it in my volume.
Thanks to Artie to finally share his knowledge. I am already expecting the second volume of his work.