Wings & Wheels Publications (WWP) is a publishing company from Czech Republic, producing photographic reference manuals for modelers. WWP's range is broad, covering everything from military tracked and wheeled vehicles, artillery, airplanes, helicopters, to guns and accessories. All WWP books are full of large and clear images showing a particular vehicle in great detail. This review covers one of WWP's latest titles: Ferret Scout Cars in Detail.
Review:
The parcel from WWP arrived packed in a hard cardboard box, additionally secured inside a bubble-wrap. At first glance the book looks amazing, printed on a high-quality paper, well structured, professionally presented and packed with large full color photos. Here are the basic facts:
Title: Ferret Scout Cars in Detail
Publisher: Wings & Wheels Publications (WWP)
Code: G030
Authors: Kevin Browne, Frantiek Kořαn
Format: softcover (22x24 cm)
Pages: 164
Color: full color
Language: English
ISBN: 978-80-86416-12-8
Retail Price: $47 (33)
Designed primarily for recconaissance purposes, the Ferret Scout Car was in front line British Army service from 1952 untill 1995. There were 4 main types and 16 sub-types of the Ferret produced, with the different variants indicated by the Mark number assigned. This book covers Ferret Mk 1, Mk 1/2 and Mk 2.
The first chapter is dedicated to Ferret history and development, explaining the origins and clarifying the differences between all the variants of the vehicle. The text is very informative, well structured and interesting to read. After a short introduction, the book continues with photo references of Ferret Mk 1. The Mk 1 Walkaround chapter spans over 16 pages and shows the exterior of Ferret Mk 1. This part of the book does not display the exterior in detail, rather portraying several vehicles in slightly different setup from various angles. The Mk 1 Interior Details comes next, with 20 pages of full interior details including driver's compartment, fighting compartment and wireless radio equipment. The amount of detailed photos is absolutely amazing and should be very welcomed by modelers and vehicle enthusiasts alike. The following chapter deals with another variant of the Ferret, very similar to Mk 1 but with a fixed tower above the hull - the Mk 1/2. The Mk 1/2 Walkaround is 26 pages long and depicts the exterior of several vehicles from various angles. Again, this part of the book does not display all the fine points of this particular Ferret variant, except the tower which is photographed and shown in detail. The Mk 1/2 Interior Details chapter comes next, with 14 pages of hull interior and driver's compartment photos, showing absolutely every detail of the vehicle interior. Amazing. Next up is another Ferret variant, a turreted version designated the Mk 2. The Mk 2 Walkaround chapter spans over 28 pages and shows the exterior of Ferret Mk 2. As with the previous walkaround chapters, this one also portrays several vehicles in slightly different setup from different angles and serves very well to get the "feel" of the vehicle, particularly the way stowage and crew gear is attached to the vehicle. The Mk 2 Turret Details chapter is 4 pages long and displays the peculiar Mk 2 turret in detail. The following chapter, 10 pages long, deals with Mk 2 Interior Details, showing hull and turret interior in a very detailed form. Since the walkaround chapters did not show the Ferret in detail, the following chapter tackles these details in a very elaborate form. All Variant Exterior is 20 pages long chapter, and here the authors display absolutely every detail of the vehicle exterior, common to all the variants depicted in this book: sand channels and PSP, headlamps, antenna details, front hull accessories, smoke dischargers, window hatches, side stowage boxes inside and out, engine hatches details, exhaust, extinguishers and searchlight... absolutely everything a modeler could need for superdetailing the scale model. Engine Details are shown on the following 6 pages, with well detailed "through the hatches" photos. Next two pages are dedicated to the Chassis Details, depicting Ferret mudguards, suspension and wheels. The Weapon Details are shown next, with 6 pages of Bren Gun mounts, Browning .30 cal mounts and GPMG mounts. The last chapter shows Carried Crew Gear, 5 pages long, depicting the crew kit and stowage stored externally on the Ferret.
This is one of the best pictorial reference books I have. It depicts three slightly different versions of Ferret Scout Car in extreme detail, inside and out. The shear amount of over 355 photos and manual drawings is stunning, but the best part is the images are large and clear, displaying just about every aspect of these vehicles... I love the combination of walkaround photos showing the general features of the Ferret with the detailed images and drawings of both exterior and interior, which should be very welcomed by modelers and vehicle enthusiasts alike. I also like the addition of crew kit and stowage details, which is an immense help for bringing scale models to life. The information supplied on the Ferret is short and concise; the intro gives interesting details on the origins of the vehicle, while the brief captions provide a very informative read, explaining various details presented in the photos.
Conclusion:
I'm very much impressed by this title. The book conveys the word "professional" in just about every aspect: from the high-quality paper, clear presentation and the incredible amount of large full color photos, to the very interesting information on the Ferret given. Although I was not a big fan of the vehicle, I now realize it is one of the most successful armored vehicle designs UK has ever produced.
So, if you have any of the Accurate Armour resin Ferrets in 1/35 scale, or you are a vehicle enthusiast, this is definitely a title for you. It is by far the best possible photo reference book on the Ferret.
SUMMARY
Highs: Printed on a high-quality paper, well structured, professionally presented and jam-packed with large full color photos... a must have reference for all Ferret fans.Lows: None.Verdict: Highly recommended.
Our Thanks to Wings & Wheels! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Mario Matijasic (Maki) FROM: CROATIA HRVATSKA
You wonder how did this addiction start? I was a kid when my dad broght home a 1/72 Concord airplane; we built it together as well as couple of other airplanes after that. This phase was just pure fun: glue, paint, decals in no particular order... everything was finished in a day or two. Then I disc...
The first thing that strikes me in some of the pictures shown is the painting of some of the detail, for instance, Engine fans were not painted Red on 'in service' vehicles! Secondly, the 38 pattern water bottle was not in service or issued at the time period of the Larkspur Radio.
One must still be careful when copying any museum or privately restored vehicle for detailing your models. But this is a great reference book.
Keith.
Larkspurs were in service from the mid 50's until late 70's. 37 pattern webbing was not withdrawn from 2nd line units until the early 7'0's. I still had 37 webbing in Gibralter until 1973.
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