Luftwaffe Colours 1935-1945 by Michael Ullmann (2nd Edition)

[edwest]

Here is a review (mixed with others, scroll down) at Stone & Stone books. The tone is a bit off-putting in that the reviewers, I think, should be more understanding of such a specialist book. Instead, they seem to hint that it should have had a more mass market approach/appeal.

http://stonebooks.com/archives/081116.shtml


Ed

[leonventer]

Originally Posted by edwest

Stone & Stone ..., I think, should be more understanding of such a specialist book.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by DeMePhi

...This will be the 4th edition of this book: 1st manuscript of the author (1998), german edition by Bernard und Graefe Verlag (2000), Hikoki (2002)

Actually, the revised Hikoki edition is the 7th edition of Ullman's work on this subject:

1. "Gordischen Knoten" (i.e. "Gordian Knot"), published in 1994
   (Don't have this one.)
2. "Färben der deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945", published in 1997
   (Don't have this one.)
3. "Colours of the German Luftwaffe 1935-1945", privately published in Australia in 1997/8(?), wire-bound softcover, 67 pages.
   This is an English translation by Kevin Clayton-Greene of #2 above. Contains a handful of photos (3 in color), some drawings and a set of pasted-in color chips.
4. "Oberflächenschutzverfahren und Anstrichstoffe der deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie und Luftwaffe 1935-1945", self-published in 1998, comb-bound softcover, 194 pages.
   Greatly expanded, with many more photos and drawings. Contains similar pasted-in color chips.
5. "Oberflächenschutzverfahren und Anstrichstoffe der deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie und Luftwaffe 1935-1945", published by Bernard & Graefe Verlag in 1998, pictorial hardcover, 291 pages.
   Expanded text and pictorial content, with several color photos. Contains a useful index, but no paint chips -- it has printed color samples instead.
6. "Luftwaffe Colours 1935-1945, 1st edition", published by Hikoki in 2002, hardcover, 256 pages.
   English translation of #5, with better photo reproduction, but missing all the color photos and the index, which is a major bummer. The camouflage pattern diagrams are in color, but rather small. Contains better quality color samples than #5, but the printers screwed up some colors, so Hikoki subsequently issued a supplemental page with 10 corrected samples.
7. "Luftwaffe Colours 1935-1945, 2nd edition", published by Hikoki in 2008, hardcover, 360 pages.
   Revised layout with slightly larger photo reproduction and enlarged camouflage pattern diagrams. Contains some additional/different photos, some additions to the text (e.g. a couple of pages on JG 54 dark camouflage colors, some extra paragraphs here and there), plus revised translations of a few passages. Still missing the color photographs in #5, but the index is back!

Summary:

• If you're at all interested in Luftwaffe camouflage and markings, you need Ullmann's book.
• If you already own the first Hikoki edition but you're not making heavy use of it, you can probably forego the revised edition.
• If you're a serious student, it's worth upgrading because you'll definitely appreciate having the index (note that it includes indexing by aircraft, by color, and by scheme, e.g. 71/02/65, 81/82/76.) The corrected color chart and the text and pictorial enhancements are a nice bonus too.
• If you're truly gonzo about the subject, you might also consider getting the Bernard & Graefe edition for its color photos.

Leon Venter