Military Model Scene

Title: WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens 5
Author: Tom Cockle
Publisher: Peko
ISBN: 978-615-6602-29-9

We have got to number 5 in this series of WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens from Peko Publishing. A 123-page landscape format hard-cover book.
The latest addition to this series of photographic collections from Peko, fifth in what is proving to be a fine series of archive photo collections. In this one there are 5 sections, each one dedicated to a specific topic. The first covers the RSO tractor, the Raupenschlepper Ost, built by Steyr in Austria. As usual with these books, each page is filled with picture, plus an informative caption. The bulk of this set feature the rounded metal cab variants, some in use, some knocked out. An interesting mix of guns being towed and one with a limber as well. Just one example of each for the flat panelled Einheits cab and one of the self-propelled Pak 40 mounting. Section 2 looks at Vienna 1945. A lot of this one covers the great variety of AFVs found at the Vienna Arsenal, and other from around the city. These are mostly wrecks, and the variety of equipment to be seen is, I thought, surprising. Plenty of which I think many would not expect to have still be seen in use by this late stage in the war. Section 3 focuses on another Austrian vehicle, the unusual wheel-cum-track Saurer SK-7, and is the best single collection of images of this rather rare vehicle that I can ever remember seeing. Section 4 is for Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 203, covering from early to late war vehicles, both Stug IIIs and their support equipment. The book is rounded off by a section covering the US built M10, but in French service. Plenty of examples in here, with one group in particular showing these tank destroyers being unloaded from ships in Naples harbour.
In all these sections the quality of the photos are very clear, and reproduced at a size where a lot of detail is very clear. The military vehicle historian will like them while the military vehicle modeller will find a fantastic selection of photos which will give great detail references, and so much inspiration for diorama ideas. This is the 5th book in this series, and it mentions that a 6th is under preparation, but I will go so far as to say that I found this my favourite to date, especially thanks to the section on the Saurer SK-7 and for the amazing variety of equipment that was found in Vienna, so late in the war.
Thanks to Peko Publishing for the review copy.

Robin