Bill Plunk reviews Histoire & Collections latest book publication from February 2008, "WWII Tank Encyclopaedia In Color 1939-1945" featuring over 500 color plates by Jean Restayn.

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Thanks!

It's not that special to be perfectly honest. it's a collection of the colour plates from the various Militaria specials and does not have the photos they were based on. For the price I believe it be expensive and unlike the others in the H&C range i would not recommend it.
Cheers
Al

I agree. While the book is beautifully illustrated it didn't live up to my expectations. Restayn's color plates are very nice to look at but the book isn't very informative. It's one a the few books in my collection that I regret purchasing.

Scott

Al, Scott,

I agree in the sense that it doesn't have the same value as a comparably priced/sized photographic reference for example. The book doesn't contain any photos at all, only color plates, and we all know the validity of color plates is dependent on the photos themselves and their interpretation by the artist. While I personally wouldn't purchase it myself, I can see where others might who don't have the other books that the plates were originally featured in their reference library if they wanted a collection of Restayn's work. There were quite a few schemes presented that were new/intriguing to me personally from a curiosity stand-point but that's about the extent of it. It is what it is, a collection of color plates.

I just saw this in the local Barns &Noble and yes the vehicle IDs are mixed up (A10 for A9 and visa-versa )but the artwork is very good Ido think this could be useful but I think I'll take another look...Cheers Mark

Well, it depends on how you look at it.

I just want some inspiration to the majority of my builds which are not based on any specific vehicle, but based on a battleground and/or period. A minority of my builds are specific well researched vehicles based on a specific vehicle. So in the light of that the book serves a very good purpose for me for most of my builds. I have their previous old volume and it has been very helpful.

That said the basis for the colour plates are left for the readers imagination which is not really "scientific".

Anyway, thanks for the update, Bill

My pleasure and you raise a valid point. The variety and coloration of some of the schemes may not be 100% accurate but there's definitely some inspiration value to be gained from some of them.