About us
About us
Hun in the Sun specializes in aviation-themed books and board games: their main features are the accuracy of the artwork and the reliability of the historical content. To guarantee this, both the books and the games are developed by an international team of experts whose aim is to ensure reliability and spark interest in all aviation history and design enthusiasts.
- The Author
- Collaborators
- Documentation
- Awards
The Author
Massimiliano Pinucci, designer since 1987, it’s a fantastic example of how passion, skills and intellectual curiosity can converge in an extraordinarily diversified career. Ranging from academic research to visual communication and creative direction, “Max” teaches design and digital communication in national and international universities and postgraduate courses. In addition, he’s the founder and CEO of MBVision, for which he organizes international cultural events and exhibitions.
He has always been fascinated by aircraft and he’s a sports aircraft pilot and illustrator of airplane, airship, and seaplane profiles, as well as coordinator of work on interior design, ergonomics and on-board interfaces for sports aircraft. Since 1997 his passion for aeronautics brought “Max” closer to the world of airships for which, following the meeting with experts such as Gregory Alegi, Andreas Horn and Dan Grossman, he created Hun in the Sun, an editorial project dedicated to the Golden Age of large airships, airplanes and seaplanes.
With Hun in the Sun you can discover a unique perspective
on the world of legendary pilots and iconic aircraft!
Documentation
Attention to detail is the foundation of our work.
The starting point is documentation: beginning with research into photos and historical drawings in archives and books, we design an accurate two-dimensional profile of the product we intend to represent. We then begin to work on researching the materials and components used for the final phase of production: in some cases (e.g., if the design is too restrictive), we create details using 3D modeling.
Step by step, the model takes shape on the page, thanks in part to digital painting techniques, airbrushs, masks, pencils; layer by layer volumes, surfaces and textures emerge and the structure becomes increasingly realistic.
Each model is represented from multiple perspectives: top view, side view, front view and background view, each drawn with the same care.
To complete the work, some finishing touches: squadron insignia, cockades, liveries and identifying colors. Finally, we add the technical specifications like historical information and a few notes on the who flew these fantastic machines.
Exhibitions and Awards
Max Pinucci has received numerous awards, like a special mention in the Italian Air Force’s “G. Douhet” Literary Prize for his book “Airships | Designed for greatness, the illustrated history” and the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Aviation Forum organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
He has also participated in numerous conferences and presentations:
AeroKunst – Aero Friedrichshafen 2015, 2016, 2017;
Florence Gab. Viesseux at Palazzo Strozzi at the “Festival del Viaggio”;
“90th anniversary of polar Flight of Norge” in Lauro;
Stockholm at the Van der Nootska Palatset;
“Beyond the dream” – AeroKunst at Lanificio Conte, Schio, Italy;
Aero 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 in Germany and many others.
Collaborators
Who can truly call themselves an “expert”?
In my lifetime, I could never have found the time to learn what would be necessary to write a book on airships or seaplanes, and it probably wouldn’t have made any sense to spend years studying such a vast subject.
So I decided to take a different approach and surround myself with real experts, forming an international team of authors, aviation historians and designers who, through their work or passion, have become familiar with the history and technology of large airships.
I owe a great deal to these people and I thank them for understanding what I wanted to achieve with Airships Book: a different kind of book, a story told through illustrations that would allow readers to understand the technology, design, size and performance of these unusual ships of the sky.
Precisely because of their unusual characteristics, airships are objects that cannot fail to fascinate those who believe in mechanics and, above all, in the dreams of human beings.
Max Pinucci
Alastair Reid
After studying languages at University, he worked for Airship Industries until joining the Royal Navy as an ASW helicopter pilot...
Alastair Reid saw active service in the Cold War and First Gulf War, later completing a tour as a Search and Rescue pilot with the German Navy. He retired from active
service in 1997 but continued to fly for the British Army as an instructor for the next 18 years. In 2008 he was awarded the distinction of Master Air Pilot. He has written definitive histories of the Skyship and Parseval airships and translated numerous important German texts.
Andreas Horn
He studied as a designer and then worked independently writing manuals, brochures, and annual reports...
Basel, Switzerland (1961–2017): Andreas Horn studied as a designer and then worked freelance writing manuals, brochures and annual reports, eventually becoming an independent marketing specialist for the cruise industry. He had an interest in airships for most of his life, focusing on the technical aspects of rigid airships and the history of German military airships in World War I, building radio-controlled airship models and models for the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen.
Dan Grossman
He has been researching, writing, and giving talks and lectures about the history and technology of airships...
Dan Grossman has been researching, writing and giving speeches about the history and technology of airships for over 20 years. He has worked on numerous television documentaries, both behind and in front of the camera; consulted for museums around the world; given talks and lectures; and been consulted by major news organizations for background information or comments about lighter-than-air flight.
Gregory Alegi
Writer and historian for over 30 years, Gregory Alegi has authored 50 books and monographs. He teaches Aerospace History
Gregory Alegi is a writer and historian. After teaching Aviation history at the ITAF Academy for about 20 years, he now teaches History and Politics of the USA at LUISS University and Strategic Studies at UNINT. He is the managing editor of Aeronautica, the oldest running Italian aerospace monthly. He also sits on the editorial boards of the Italian monthly Air Press and the UK quarterly The Aviation Historian. He has published over 50 aviation books, monographs, documentaries, films and TV formats. In 2016 his book La storia dell’Aeronautica Militare: la nascita won the IX “Giulio Douhet” Aerospace Book prize. In the historic aviation field, he has curated the Caproni and Volandia museums, a dozen exhibitions, the restoration of some 30 aircraft and the recovery of others from Afghanistan, Great Britain, Lebanon and Sweden.
Sergei Bendin
He is a Russian expert in aeronautics, journalism and projects in this area, PR for aviation industries and writer on blogs as Aeroсrat
Sergei Bendin is a Russian expert in aeronautics, journalism and projects in this area. Since 2001 he has been in charge of PR for aviation industries, such as RosAeroSystems-Augur Co, DKBA State company (the former Soviet DirigibleStroi, once headed by Umberto Nobile) and LocomoSky Co. He is the editor in chief of the Russian “Herald of Aeronautics” magazine since 2009. He has commented on aeronautics topics for the media and blogs as Aeroсrat.
Thibault Proux
He is a young French engineer at Flying Whales, the French company developing a 60 ton capacity airship for heavy load transportation.
Thibault Proux is a young French engineer with a passion for airships. In 2011, while studying engineering, he initiated a remotely piloted airship project using solar energy for propulsion. He now works at Flying Whales, the French company developing a 60 ton capacity airship for heavy load transportation. In 2015 Thibault began writing about airships on aviation websites.
Ozawa Hideaki
In 1992 he began to digitally recreate The Schneider Racers in 2D and then, since 2000, in 3D, continuing modeling and refining for over two decades.
In 1978, Ozawa Hideaki started working as an illustrator and, by 1980, he already was a graphic designer: since then and for over 40 years he has been working as an advertising designer and illustrator. Since the 1980s, he has worked in the fields of advertising and illustration for numerous car manufacturers. Since 1990, he has been involved in Apple’s advertising communication, expanding his work to include layout design, services, and integrated communication. In 1992, he began digitally recreating the pilots of The Schneider in 2D and, from 2000 onward, in 3D, continuing to model and refine them for over two decades. During this time, he provided artwork for media and events, but declined projects involving fighter aircraft: he belongs to a generation deeply influenced by the Japanese Constitution, which strongly emphasizes the renunciation of war. Given that his artistic style requires years to complete a single piece, he feels fortunate and honored to have taken part in this project and to have seen it transformed into a book.
Basilio Di Martino
He is Chief of the Air Force Engineer Corps. He has written extensively on military and aviation history
He is the Chief Inspector General of the Italian Air Force. He entered the Air Force Academy in 1975 and, after earning a degree in Electronic Engineering, was assigned to the Flight Test Center. He later headed the Directorate for Information Technology, Electronics, and Advanced Technologies at the Ministry of Defense. In 2005, he obtained a degree in Political Science from the University of Trieste. He has written extensively on military and aviation history, including the book Italian Airships in the Great War (2005).
Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck
Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck is a Swedish economist with a commercial pilot background; CEO of OceanSky; operator of new generation airships.
Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck is a Swedish economist with a background as a commercial pilot in cargo, passenger, and corporate flight operations. His interest in airships dates back more than 20 years, and, driven by a parallel passion for nature and the environment, Carl-Oscar is determined to contribute to the search for more sustainable transport solutions. With the advancement of modern hybrid airships and the founding of the Swedish company OceanSky, the path is set to become an operator of lighter-than-air vehicles, aiming to offer the unique services that only airships can provide.