Hi KL and Xan,
My opinion about the ?Colors of the Falcons?:
First, there are two authors ? it?s not clear what is Hornat?s and what is Migliardy?s.
Second, it is important to note that this book appeared after 1999 Orlov?s and Vahlamov?s series in M-Hobby magazine and after Pilawskii?s ?SAFFC? Magnum opus. There are some pieces of information that could be traced back to Orlov & Vahlamov and there are treasures like ?South Front scheme? that are taken straight from Pilawskii.
In short: Colors of the Falcons is like ?ensalada mixta? or ?dog?s breakfast?. Some useful information mixed with misconceptions, errors and fantasies coming from you know where?
Recommended for the serious students who can separate useful from the remaining garbage!!!
I think to have read somewhere that there was a previous edition of this book a dozen of years ago. If so, this would have been the first serious work in English.
In facts, the text doesn't appear copied from Pilawskii, because it never citates AII colors; I suspect that it's the contrary, that is one of the secret sources of EP.
Despite some omissions and some unconfirmed paints, the research looks of high level. I suspect even that Russian authors have taken informations from him, maybe from the old articles in Czech on LK.
Regards
Massimo
Gentlemen,
Let me try to clarify and/or add some facts. You may (or not) know that Jiri ("Jerry") Hornat is a Czech national.
I think he resides in Prague. He had been very actively contributing to Czechoslovak aviation magazine "Letectvi+Kosmonautika"
(Aviation and Cosmonautics) in the section "Male Letectvi" (Small Avation) predictably dedicated to plastic modelers.
He also co-authored several publications of the series "Triada" (trilogy) featuring references for 3 different aircraft
and even later "4+" publications.
About 2 years ago, when my interest in VVS "re-vitalized", I tried to obtain his (so many times mentioned) article
about VVS camouflage which was indeed published in L+K in 1989.
I narrowed down the search to November 1989 issues (probably 2 or more since L+K was/is a bi-weekly) magazine.
My first attempt thru contacts in Czech Republic failed but a fellow modeler in Slovakia
positively has them. They are however stored away and it'll take some time to obtain the copies.
I've been most curious about Hornat's sources. I even tried to contact him directly but that didn't work either due to
health issues. I think if we knew his sources it would explain certain "inconsistencies" in his "Colors of Falcons" which we
at this time call "mistakes and/or omissions". I'm sure there had been "somebody" researching this matter before
Vakhlamov/Orlov. I even have indirect proof. I was recently communicating with Claes Sundin from Sweden.
For those who don't know he is the author of incredible color profiles, especially Luftwaffe subjects. His profiles
also appeared in "Black Cross Red Star" series of books. When I was looking there at some VVS subject I noticed some
"not-quite-correct" camo paint description such as AMT-17 Sky Blue! As his source in Russia he mentioned certain Alex Andreev.
He (Sundin) actually went to Moscow in late 90-ies.
Maybe this gentleman (Andreev) was Hornat's source as well? Based on what I remember from then Czechoslovakia
I don't believe Hornat did a primary reseach.
When I asked Orlov he didn't really know too much about Hornat and his sources for that matter.
I guess we still have a lot to learn, yes?
Cheers,
Mario