Introduction

Comprising of a mere 67 pages, and billed as a “New Edition Revised and Expanded”, this recent publication comes with a decal sheet for 6 of the 10 color profiles contained in the rear of the book. Not having the original, it is impossible for me to compare and comment on what’s new or what’s been revised.

contents

The first chapter contains a short history and usage of the vehicle, this being a mere 7 pages long, with each page containing at least one black and white photo. You certainly aren’t going to find it a long reading exercise nor are you likely to become an overnight expert on this vehicle.

The next section gets to the meat of the vehicle, all in color, of a beautifully restored M5A1 from the collection at WTS Koblenz.. Consisting of eight pages, with at least two sharp and clear photos on each page, it starts bringing the vehicle to light. Following this section of color we come to the black and white close ups shots. Here are thirty-three pages of all areas of the vehicle, running gear, bogies, casting marks, and more casting numbers. For a modeler who enjoys adding all these tiny details to their kits, this is a detailers’ paradise.

Following the black and white photos, we come to the 1/35th scale drawings. You get a set of drawings for the M5, M5A1 Early, and M5A1 Late. I found my example drawings to be extremely sharp and clear, with nice fine lines. Now to be totally honest, I didn’t compare them to any other drawings. I’m afraid I’m not a person who loses too much sleep if something is a millimeter off. I’m too old, and my life is too short for me to engage in the battle of the drawings.

Following the 1/35th scale drawings we get to the cream of the crop, seven pages of color interior shots of a restored vehicle. No more questions on the breech color, or seat color, or markings. Each page contains at least two photos. Again more than enough to make the average modeler happy and keep him busy detailing his kits.

The book concludes with 10 color profiles and, as mentioned earlier, decals for 6 of them are included in 135th scale, 148th scale, and 1/72 scale. An excellent addition at an afforadable price to add to your modeling library, I purchased my copy from Squadron for $17.96.