Introduction

Tankograd Publishing has sent Armorama its latest releases and unusually three of the new titles cover the same vehicle. As these are the same vehicle and are designed to make a complete package I will cover them together in this review. The three issues are;

• Part 1 - Development
• Part 2 - Cargo Truck
• Part 3 - Special Variants

Here is the introduction supplied by Tankograd Publishing on the Unimog U1300L Part 1 - Development;
Since 1978, the 2-ton Unimog U1300L has shown its worth in service with the German Bundeswehr as the successor to the legendary 1.5-ton Unimog S. Today the U1300Ls still serve as workhorses in many different units and the vehicles have also proved themselves in the Bundeswehr's international deployments, even under sometimes extreme climatic and topographic conditions. There are still some 5,400 U1300L trucks in service, this alone is proof of their quality, durability and persistence. For the first time this trilogy shows the variants and tasks of the U1300L within the Bundeswehr in unprecedented detail.

Part 1 - Development

Contents

Quantity Photos and Illustrations:
Illustrated with 34 black&white photographs, 27 colour photographs, 20 facsimile documents and 20 graphics
Text - Language:
English Text
Number of Pages:
64

Review

As is usually the case with titles from Tankograd Publishing, this is a duel language book in German and English. Unusually for titles in this range there are 23 pages of text and written technical information. The paper used is a good quality glossy paper and the card cover which is also glossy is easily up to the job of keeping the pages safe.

The text in the book is well written managing to achieve a good level of detail without being overly technical and so losing the reader. The technical drawings in the book will be of great help to anyone looking to reproduce this vehicle and modellers will appreciate the detail shots between the covers and under the vehicles skin.
One thing that did surprise me is the staggering number of vehicles produced and how popular it became; over 30,000 vehicles produced and in service with a incredible number of countries. Another aspect of the truck that the book points out is its longevity in service, despite the abuse I am sure these vehicles received from the soldiers using them they have soldiered on themselves; some 4,500 are still going strong despite the last delivery being in 1993 that tells a story.

Part 2 – Cargo Truck

Contents

Part 2:
Quantity Photos and Illustrations:
Illustrated with 160 colour photographs and one four-side technical drawing in 1/35 scale
Text - Language:
English Text
Number of Pages:
64

Review

This the second of the new books Unimog U1300L from Tankograd Publishing is devoid of text in the traditional sense, however the text that accompanies each of the images has been greatly increased meaning there is still plenty to read. From a modellers standpoint this book is perhaps the must have if you are only going to buy one of the three new offerings. Why you may ask and the answer is simple; inside the covers of this book you will find a very thorough walk around of the Unimog U1300L. To provide some idea of why I feel that is the case; modellers are always arguing or should that be discussing details that are on models, details such as that tyre tread pattern is wrong, well this book shows good quality pictures of a number of tyre tread patterns that will answer your questions visually.

Perhaps the real icing on the cake for me with this title is that it includes 1/35th scale drawings of the vehicle, that is something I cannot recall seeing in other titles from Tankograd Publishing and is an aspect on which I hope Tankograd Publishing expand. The pictures in this book are of the usual very high standard we have come to expect from Tankograd Publishing and show the vehicle in a very good selection of finishes.

Part 3 - Special Variants

Contents

Part 3:
Quantity Photos and Illustrations:
Illustrated with 130 colour photographs and five graphics
Text - Language:
English Text
Number of Pages:
64

Review

This book does as indicated look at some of the variants of the Unimog U1300L. As with part 2 it does not have text in the conventional format other than a short introduction on the four variants that are covered in more detail, however it does provide very thorough descriptive text with every picture. The variants covered are;

• KrKw Ambulance
• Kabine 1 Shelter
• Box Bodied variants
• F1 Kfz 1000 Firefighting Vehicle

Each of these four vehicle types has a good selection of pictures present, and in the case of the ambulance and fire tender very good images of both the internals and externals. This book finishes with a look at the vehicles that are replacing the Unimog in service, but due to defence cutbacks and so limited number of vehicles purchased the Unimog will still be seen for a while.

Conclusion

As a package these three books do provide a very good reference of the Unimog as a whole, and Tankograd Publishing should be congratulated for taking this approach with these titles. The picture quality is very good and provides great visual reference of a large number of finishing schemes. As a modeller I found Part 2 - Cargo Truck and Part 3 - Special Variants the most interesting and inspiring, so if you are on a budget that is the route I would take. If you like to know about the vehicle behind a model then you have to get Part 1 – Development. Regardless of which way you jump this is a very useful three books and if money allows all three is the way to go.