I have little to provide other than a timeframe and some visual cues. This was a book I had in the late 70s, marketed to older kids. It was on cheap, dark paper (think of modern puzzle books) and I believe it was printed in landscape format. It had a collection of spaceships with diagrams pointing to different engines, weapons, etc. I don't think it was tied to any existing intellectual property--seems like it was probably targeted at Star Wars fans who'd go "Ooo, this is about space fighters."
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Did it have science fiction or fantastical element? Or was it real-world?– amflareCommented May 18, 2018 at 15:35
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2@amflare Last I checked, space fighters were still science fiction -- though you never know what's in the X-37B cargo bay...– Zeiss IkonCommented May 18, 2018 at 16:18
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@amflare I am pretty sure most modern spacecraft do not carry weaponry and neither did most spacecraft in the 70s, save for SDI satellites. Usually, those would carry lasers or some other thing for destroying ICBMs or nukes while they were in flight.– Darth VaderCommented May 18, 2018 at 16:19
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1@amflare space fighters will always remain science fiction, no matter what other space opera elements - FTL, force shields, ray guns, tractor & pressor beams, etc. etc. - become reality. Space fighters don't make any logical sense.– M. A. GoldingCommented May 18, 2018 at 16:24
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1@ZeissIkon, DarthVader, MAGolding - When OP explicitly says so instead of just vaguely insinuating amidst an attempt to describe a picture book and its marketing tactics, then I'll consider the question to be solidly on topic.– amflareCommented May 18, 2018 at 16:36
1 Answer
Could be the Terran Trade Authority Handbook - Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD. This was published in 1978 originally so the time-frame fits.
The book contains a lot of colour illustrations of spacecraft, which isn't mentioned in the question, although there are wire drawings of the ships as well, together with specifications of the craft.
There's a youtube video as well of the book being browsed, some of the illustrations made me go "ooooh! spaceships" although the OP mentions space fighters, but that might fit too
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I thought of this as well, but the TTA books aren't in landscape format or printed on particularly cheap paper. Commented May 19, 2018 at 7:55
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It wasn't that, though I remember the TTA Handbook well. I regret getting rid of most of that collection. Commented May 25, 2018 at 20:23