MiniTopcolors 25 - Barbarossa 1941 (with decals)

[Mike]

MiniTopcolors 25 - Barbarossa 1941 (with decals)

1:35, 1:48 & 1:72 Kagero Publications

Number 25 in the series, this is the 5th of the series to deal with Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). Operation Barbarosa was Germany's ambitious and ill-fated invasion of the Soviet Union, opening up a second front to the war in Europe. It started in June 1941, and the vehicles partaking in the battle were a mixed bag of early Panzers and oddities consigned to the scrapheap by the end of the war.

The book is in the standard TopColors style, with beautifully illustrated profiles and scrap drawings of 18 different vehicles, accompanied by English and Polish text giving further detail about the vehicle that the casual viewer may not notice. Some period photos are also included, which back up the profiles and markings.

The vehicles include a Pz.Kpfw.1, and another two with the s.I.G 33 SfI that turned an ordinary Panzer one into a ludicrously tall self-propelled gun, so out of proportion that the recoil sent the chassis bucking onto the rear of its tracks. The T-34/76 makes an appearance, as does a captured KW-2. A gaggle of Panzer IIIs and two Panzer IVs round out the book, with a pair of German armoured cars bringing up the rear. The back cover depicts a pair of Panzer IIs in Panzer Grey.

As usual with these editions, a large decal sheet is included in the three major armour scales. 1:35, 1:72 and the relatively new 1:48 scales. The decals are printed by Cartograf, and are crisp, bright and well registered, as you would expect from the Italian decal masters.

Conclusion

This is yet another great release from Kagero, and the artwork is up to their usual high standards. The profiles also include details of the vehicle personalisation, showing canvas covers, stowage and foliage used as camouflage. The decals are beautiful, and for each scale some bonus decals are included, which varies between scale, presumably to fill up any remaining empty space on the sheet and maximise value.

Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of