The Oliver Publishing Group have recently released another addition to their Firefly Collection, Battleline 2 series with Comrade Emcha by Claude Gillono with Leife Hulbert covering Red Army Sherman Tanks of WW2.
The Book
The publication consists of 36 pages in total (including front and rear covers), is in A4 format with both colour and black and white images and plates. The publication is of good quality.
Included in the document are more than 50 archive photographs, 5 pages of full colour artwork, all of which are accompanied by short texts explaining the picture or artwork concerned. The photographs are of good quality, mainly full or half page in size.
Page 1 and page 6 set the scene for the research and deployment of the Sherman Tank under lend-lease and explore some of the reasons why information has in the past, and to some degree still is, hard to come by. They also lead the reader into the make-up of the Soviet Armed forces during this period, invaluable information for the beginner.
Page 23 has a useful listing of Red Army Sherman Units and page 33 a breakdown of 1st Mechanised Corps, Berlin April 1945. Page 32 contains data related to the Uniforms of the Crews who were referred to as Emchisti.
Pages 15 to 18 are given over to coloured artwork of various Soviet Sherman markings and there is further artwork on the back cover.
The remainder of the book as one would expect is given over to a good range of quality photographs of various Red Army Sherman Tanks. The photographs are mainly displayed either as full or half page images with accompanying texts.
Conclusion
I liked this publication as it provides a very user friendly introduction to the Soviet use of the Sherman Tank during WW2. The publication seems well referenced and thought out and would provide any would be modeller with sufficient reference material to produce a variety of M4A2 75mm or M4A2 76mm Gun Tanks.
I believe this publication provides a very cost effective method for initial research and data and should be of interest to many within the hobby.
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About Alan McNeilly (AlanL) FROM: ENGLAND - EAST ANGLIA, UNITED KINGDOM
Greying slightly, but young at heart. I've been teaching adults off and on for most of my life. Left the services in 85 and first started modelling in about 87 for a few years. Then I had a long spell when I didn't build anything (too busy) and really just got started again during the summer of ...
Any clue --- even a ballpark range --- as to the cost of this book? I notice that the publisher's website (which you thoughtfully link) as of Feb. 13 does not yet even list this title, let alone hint at the cost. This is important information for most modelers, for whom the outlay required is crucial in determining whether a reference work belongs on their bookshelf. At any rate, thanks very much for a good summary!
I recently received this book, and I have to say it's excellent and well worth the price. The fact that they match the color plates to the photos, even going so far as to include page numbers, is a huge help. The captions are very informative, and for a relatively small book it is packed with good information. Of course, I have found this to be true of the other 2 books I have bought in this series as well.
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