Book reviews
SLOPEY SLAVA
Modellers with 1/350 or 1/700 kits of Slava-class guided-missile cruisers will find this TopDrawings volume most useful although, frustratingly, none of the drawings are in either scale, with most in 1/400.
MORTARS UNDER ARMOUR
Despite there being just 18 manufactured, the Sturm-Mörser (storm mortar, often called Sturmtiger due to the chassis it was based upon) is one of those highly specialised vehicles that continues to fascinate, with model companies having released almost as many kits of the type (albeit in different boxings).
ARABIC AIR ARMS
Surprisingly, there’s considerable overlap with this fourth volume and the preceding third book in Helion’s mini-series devoted to military air capability in the Arabic Middle East – most notably, the timespans are identical.
RAISING HAVOC
Schiffer Military’s Legends of Warfare series are ideal references for those wanting an introduction to a subject, with the A-20 Havoc volume being a perfect example.
CONVINCING TANKERS
Figure painting can be regarded as an art in itself, but for most modellers the aim is to impart convincing features on 1/35 tank or armoured-vehicle crew – and the same guidelines will apply to similar aircraft scales.
THE PEOPLE'S TANK
Given its place high up in lists of the most widely produced tanks, longest serving types and vehicles most represented by model kits, it’s no surprise the T-54/55 is a popular choice for Pen & Sword’s Images of War series of references.
PLAYBOY’S PRIVATEER PHOTOGUIDE
Military and aviation specialist Trackpad Publishing’s new imprint Track Limits is a bold step into motorsport, with the first release being a photobook dedicated to modelling the Hesketh 308B Formula 1 car, which gave James Hunt his first win.
PHOENIX IN THE FALKLANDS
As the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict approaches there have been several books released and arguably the pick of the bunch is this examination of the campaign through the eyes of 809 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), which was re-formed and deployed at short notice.
URBAN CHARIOT
The third instalment of Desert Eagle’s IDF Armor Series devoted to the Merkava 2 charts the type’s later years in service, and focuses on the changes between the earlier 2B variant and the final 2D machines, notably the modular armour ‘packs’.
LATE-WAR PANZERS
Fans of Kagero’s publications will want to check out the firm’s new In Combat series, which combines elements of its image-based references with a historical section.