60. SOPWITH BABY

THIS acclaimed addition to the growing DATAFILE series was published in November 1996 and contained an extra four pages to fully embrace Jack Bruce's expanded narrative on Sopwith's Baby seaplane, one of the Kingston company's most successful designs. The Sopwith Baby served with distinction in the RNAS during WWI and was employed for bombing; conducting anti-submarine warfare and helping to counter coastal Zeppelin threats. Our prestigious author prefaces his history with a close look at the pre-war Schneider which was such a success in the titular Trophy races. Over 90 rare photos of the types present unique and unprecedented coverage revealing the wide variations in development design. Jack provides his usual highly-detailed and comprehensive captions to each image and Ian Stair weighs in with 1:72 and 1:48 scale drawings of both Schneider and Baby variants. With detail photo close-ups and  extensive colours and markings section with sub-contactors' hallmarks. This image-laden softback also presents three colour profiles of a USN Schneider and a pair of RNAS Baby floatplanes. Our remaining copies have mild yellowing on their covers, and there is some wear and creasing in places but are both complete right down to Paul Monteagle's superb cover painting depicting a French Aviation maritime machine.