Schiffer Publishing Books & Magazines

Schiffer Publishing Military and Aviation History

Schiffer Publishing has established itself as one of the world's premier publishers of military and aviation history books, delivering extensively researched, lavishly illustrated reference works that serve historians, enthusiasts, and scale modelers. With decades of publishing experience, Schiffer has built an unparalleled catalog covering World War II aircraft, naval vessels, military vehicles, weapons systems, and modeling history. Each publication combines meticulous historical research with comprehensive photographic documentation, providing readers with authoritative references that illuminate the technical details, operational history, and human stories behind legendary military equipment. For scale modelers building 1/48 Scale Model Aircraft, 1/72 Scale Model Aircraft, and military vehicles, Schiffer books provide the essential reference material needed for authentic, historically accurate builds.

World War II Bomber Aircraft

Schiffer's bomber aircraft series represents some of the publisher's most comprehensive works, documenting the legendary heavy bombers that shaped aerial warfare. The multi-volume B-17 Flying Fortress series provides exhaustive coverage of Boeing's iconic four-engine bomber, including developmental history, production variants, operational deployment across all theaters, unit markings, and individual aircraft histories. The B-29 Superfortress volumes document Boeing's revolutionary pressurized bomber that brought strategic bombing to the Pacific theater, featuring detailed technical information and rare photographs. The B-52 Stratofortress coverage traces the evolution of America's longest-serving strategic bomber from Cold War deterrent to modern precision strike platform. These comprehensive references provide modelers with the authentic details needed for accurate representation of specific aircraft, units, and time periods.

Attack and Medium Bomber Aircraft

Beyond heavy bombers, Schiffer's catalog includes detailed coverage of attack and medium bomber aircraft that performed crucial tactical roles. The A-20 Havoc documentation covers Douglas's versatile twin-engine attack bomber that served with distinction across multiple air forces and theaters. The A-26 Invader volumes detail Douglas's powerful attack bomber that saw service from World War II through Vietnam, providing comprehensive coverage of variants, markings, and operational history. These references are invaluable for modelers working on tactical aviation subjects, providing the specific details needed to replicate authentic aircraft configurations and markings from different operational periods and units.

Naval Warfare and PT Boats

Schiffer's naval warfare publications extend beyond aviation to cover surface vessels and coastal warfare. The American PT Boats in World War II volumes provide comprehensive documentation of the fast attack craft that conducted daring coastal operations throughout the Pacific and Mediterranean theaters. These books feature detailed photographs, technical drawings, and operational histories that illuminate the PT boat's role in naval warfare. The extensive photographic coverage shows deck layouts, armament configurations, and operational modifications that varied between squadrons and theaters, providing essential reference material for naval modelers and military historians studying coastal warfare tactics and equipment.

Military Vehicles and Weapons Systems

The collection includes specialized references on ground warfare equipment including the 155mm Gun M1 Long Tom, documenting this powerful American heavy artillery piece that provided long-range fire support throughout World War II and Korea. These technical references provide detailed information on weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment that complement aircraft and naval subjects, enabling modelers to create comprehensive dioramas that accurately represent combined arms operations. The detailed technical information and operational photographs help modelers understand how equipment was deployed, maintained, and modified in field conditions.

Aurora Model Kit History

Schiffer has documented the history of model kit manufacturing through comprehensive references on legendary companies like Aurora. These modeling history books trace the development of the hobby industry, featuring catalog reproductions, box art galleries, and historical context that appeals to both active modelers and collectors. Understanding the evolution of model kits provides valuable perspective on the hobby's development and the iconic kits that introduced generations to scale modeling. These references complement active modeling by showing how kit designs evolved and documenting rare or discontinued kits that remain sought-after by collectors.

Photographic Documentation and Research Value

What distinguishes Schiffer publications is their exceptional photographic content. Each book features hundreds of carefully selected photographs including rare archival images, detailed close-ups of specific components, operational photographs showing equipment in service, and color profiles illustrating authentic markings and camouflage schemes. The photographic documentation provides modelers with visual references for weathering effects, operational wear patterns, field modifications, and unit-specific details that bring authenticity to scale models. Historians benefit from the comprehensive visual record that illuminates technical details and operational practices often overlooked in text-only references.

Scale Modeling Applications

Schiffer references serve as essential tools for scale modelers across all subjects and scales. Aircraft modelers building subjects from manufacturers like 1/48 Tamiya Prop Aircraft and 1/72 Tamiya Prop Aircraft rely on Schiffer books for accurate color schemes, markings placement, and configuration details. Military vehicle modelers working on 1/35 Tamiya Tanks and 1/35 Tamiya Military Vehicles use these references to verify authentic camouflage patterns, unit markings, and operational modifications. Naval modelers building 1/350 Tamiya Model Ships and 1/700 Tamiya Model Ships consult Schiffer books for deck details, armament configurations, and paint schemes from specific time periods.

Building Reference Libraries

Serious modelers and historians build comprehensive reference libraries organized by subject, era, and equipment type. Schiffer publications form the foundation of these libraries, providing authoritative coverage that remains valuable across decades. The publisher's commitment to quality production with durable binding, high-quality paper, and clear reproduction ensures these references withstand repeated consultation. Whether researching a specific aircraft for an upcoming build, verifying historical details for a diorama, or simply studying military aviation and naval history, Schiffer Publishing books deliver the depth of coverage, photographic documentation, and authoritative research that makes them indispensable resources for anyone passionate about military history and scale modeling.