Mike Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Panzerwaffe on the Battlefield #2 World War Two Photobook Series (9786155583323) Peko Publishing Panzerwaffe is German for tank or armoured weapon, which is a broad term that encompassed many, many homegrown and captured types in WWII, which may well have had a hand in their downfall, requiring specialist equipment and knowledge to maintain and repair their many types, which even included British and French types where they were captured in sufficient numbers to warrant pressing into service after modification to their requirements. This series covers many of those types, from the early Panzer Is through to the ubiquitous Panzer IV and the prestigious Tigers and King Tigers, with many more oddities in between such as the top-heavy Bison SPG, various foreign types with guns slapped on top, and other tank killers such as the Wespe, Marder and Hetzer, plus the awesome Jagdtiger. This is a new volume from Peko's World War Two Photobook Series, and as the name suggests it is primarily a book of photos, which isn't too difficult to divine. Although this is Volume 2 of the set it still covers the earlier vehicles with their relatively light armour and armament, detailing all the variations in fit and finish between the main factories that were engaged in construction of WWII German armour. It is hardback bound with 112 pages plus two blank inner leaves, finished in an overall white cover, and arriving protected by a layer of shrink-wrap that also helps prevent scuffs and keep out dirt during shipping and storage. The photos are almost without exception full page, with space left only for the captions, which are in Hungarian and English, each one adding valuable insight to the photo, which may not be immediately apparent without it, especially if your eyesight isn’t too good. For the modeller there are plenty of diorama possibilities, as well as opportunities to see how the crews actually stowed their gear on their vehicles (or otherwise) in real-world circumstances. Seeing how they come apart when blown up is also useful for diorama purposes, but thankfully there are no grisly scenes accompanying the destroyed vehicles. Where the photos are from private collections there are attributions in the top corner as appropriate, with a number showing soldiers standing in front of damaged or abandoned vehicles after the fighting is over, plus a number of groups investigating the wreckage after a cataclysmic explosion of the tank's magazine, or demolition by the escaping crew. There are also a number of maintenance scenarios with the hatches open for even more inspiration. While the contemporary photos are in black and white, the detail in which they are depicted would be an absolute boon to any AFV enthusiast or modeller, especially those wishing to go down the route of realism and authentic settings. Conclusion Whether you have models that you intend to use this book for reference, or have an interest in the subject, this book will give you all the reference pictures and some besides, as well as some realistic settings ideas for dioramas. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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