Military Model Scene

Title: Panzer Tracts 5-1 PzKpfw Panther D
Author: Hilary Louis Doyle and Thomas L Jentz
Publisher: Panzerwrecks
ISBN: 978-1-915969-31-6

The latest in the re-published Panzer Tracts series is this one, number 5-1, on the Pz.Kpfw. Panther Ausfuhrung D, from Panzerwrecks. A 124-page soft-cover book.
This is a new edition of a book first published way back in 2003 but which has had a large number of improvements now that Panzer Tracts are an imprint of Panzerwrecks. Better quality paper, better quality photo reproduction are just part of it. With 102 archive photos, an increase of 62 over the original and an extra 52 pages of new/additional research data. It also includes 40 pages of high quality scale drawings, in 1/35 for the complete vehicles, along with smaller, specific details presented in 1/20 or 1/10 scales. As a bonus, if you buy your copy direct from the publishers, it will include an A1 sheet with a set of 1/16 scale plans as well, supplied as a separate sheet tucked within the pages of the book. Text sections include design & development, a description of the Ausf D and the various elements of the tank, then the production history plus the list of modifications introduced during production and notes on the operational experiences of operating the vehicle. The back cover has a very handy quick reference table summarising the major/visible changes that were introduced during production.
The photos include many in service and captured machines, but there are also a lot showing them in the production factory, where some of the machines used to build them are fascinating to see, and in themselves some major bits of machinery. This is really a very different book to that original edition and I think is a definitive reference for the armour enthusiast and modeller on this widely used production variant of the Panther.
Thanks to Panzerwrecks for the review copy.

Robin