Booklist

Updated 19 January 2006 This page will simply highlight some useful modellers reference books. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all books, just some of the main ones which I have personally found particularly useful. I'll let the comments section give those details about each one, and why it is useful. They are not in any particular order, but I will add to the list as and when I find something appropriate. Not all the books listed are necessarily in print, but there are plenty of second hand book dealers where these titles might still be found on occasion. As of June 2002 I've also updated an extra section at the end, giving brief references to assorted magazines, modelling and otherwise, which might be useful for modellers, initially for Military Modellers but later I plan to add useful Aviation titles as well. If anyone has any comments or suggestions to make, then do let me know. Robin

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Title	Author	Publisher	Subject	Comments
Panzerwrecks 1 (added 19/1/06)	Lee Archer and William Auerbach	William Auerbach USA	First in what seems due to be a series, this is explained by the title. This is a large collection of photos showing a huge variety of wrecked Panzer of all shapes and sizes, photographed where they were knocked out. Various states of repair, but some fascinating detail.	A soft cover, landscape format book, with most photos filling a whole page, and good captions to accompany them. Quality of the reproduction is excellent and I think modelers will get lots of detail information, and there are a number of neat diorama ideas for most military vehicle modelers. Especially rare, a photo showing the Panther II when it was found.
Festung Alderney – The German Defences (added 19/1/06)	Trevor Davenport	Barnes Publishing Ltd, in association with Alderney Society and Guernsey branch of the Channel Islands Occupation Society	The various bunkers and fortifications to be found covering the whole of the Channel Island of Alderney.	For those interested in the German bunkers and defensive positionsof the Atlantic Wall, the Channel Islands had huge volumes of concret poured into emplacements, and many are still in situ. This detailed work on the island of Alderney is well put together, includes scale drawings and many detailed photos showing the many styles and types of bunker to be found there. The result of lots od dedicated research I think, this makes for a fascinating read.
British Tanks in Normandy (added 19/1/06)	Ludovic Fortin	Histoire & Collections	The title is self explanatory.	This instantly becomes one of your standard subject references when you put it on your bookshelf. Another excellent book from he French publisher. Lots of period photos, excellent colour artwork for complete vehicles as well as detailed unit markings. Each unit involved is dealt with one by one. A really excellent reference.
Sherman Firefly (added 17/10/02)	Mark Hayward	Barbarossa Books	The most detailed reference work to date on the Sherman Firefly	This well produced hard-cover book is the third publication from Barbarossa Books, following their earlier ones on the T28 and T35. It is an example of a real enthusiast who has put together all his research, including help from other well known researchers such as Peter Brown, and collected in a book for others to benefit from. With loads of photos, informative text and modelling comments on all the availalbe models in both large and small scales, this one is a treat. I believe Mark is even keeping a web site to provide updates as more information comes to light. Lovely stuff this, and if you are interested in British Tanks or even just "Shermans", you will feel the need to add this one to your reference collection.
Israeli Sherman (added 17/6/01)	Thomas Gannon	Darlington Productions, USA	Israeli Sherman M50 and M51 development and Special Purpose vehicles on the Sherman chassis	If you are interested in the Sherman or simply in Israeli equipment, this will be a "must have". Loads of photo coverage ideal for modellers. Shows modellers how real tanks get converted, including some "major surgery". If you are looking for a new modelling project, then there is enough inspiriation in here to keep you going for years.
Allied & Axis (added 21/3/01)	Various	Ampersand Publishing, USA	Varied but title self-explanatory	New series of soft-cover books from the publishers of Military Miniatures in Review Magazine. Quite superb reference sources. I have seen issues 1 and 3 now, and have to say they should be among your "must haves" for modellers wanting references on the real thing. Lots of different things, but to pick just 2, then vol 1 is a must for those interested in the equipment associated with V2 operations, and issue 3 a must for anyone building a Dragon Wagon. Best single collection of photos on both that I have seen all together.
Russian Armoured Cars 1930 - 2000 (added 14/10/00)	James Kinnear	Darlington Productions, USA	Development of Russian Armoured Cars	Very good book with lots of good clear photos of both museum exhibits and new "in action" shots from WW2. Great for such as BA20, BA10, BA6 and BA64. Then to BRDM1 and 2. Though I think I understand why, I was still surprised that the BTR 152 and BTR 60/70/80 series were not included.
"T35 Heavy Tank" "T28 Medium Tank"	Maxim Kolomiets and Jim Kinnear	Barbarossa Books	Each book on its specialist subject	First 2 books published by Barbarossa Books in their own right. Soft cover books, full of plentiful, clear photos, plus 1/35th scale drawings on top of lots of useful and interesting stuff in the text. These are 'must have' if you are doing either of the two ICM kits of these Russian heavies. A bit more info on the T28 Bridgelayer is included as well. As a new venture, these really are first class and promise much for the future. Well done Russell.
Panzer Colours, Vol 1	Bruce Culver	Arms & Armour Press	German WW2 Camouflage & Markings	Plenty of photographic references and excellent colour illustrations. THE best grounding for German vehicle colour schemes of WW2
Panzer Colours, Vol 2	Bruce Culver	Arms & Armour Press	German WW2 Camouflage & Markings	More of the above
Panzer Colours, Vol 3	Bruce Culver	Arms & Armour Press	German WW2 Camouflage & Markings	Even more, but with lots specifically on Tiger Is, Stug units, and the Herman Goering Div amongst the rest.
Blitzkreig: Camouflage & Markings	Steve Zaloga	Arms & Armour Press	WW2 Camouflage & Markings	Same style as the above titles, but this time covering British, French German and Belgian equipment in 1940. Ideal modellers reference.
D-Day to Berlin	Terance Wise	Arms & Armour Press	Late WW2 Camouflage & Markings in Western Europe	Another one in the same style as Panzer Colours, and covers US, German, and British equipment
Eastern Front: Camouflage & Markings	Zaloga and Grandsen	Squadron Signal	WW2 Camouflage & Markings in Eastern Europe	Another one in the same style as Panzer Colours, with Polish, Italian, Russian, Hungarian, German and others
Vietnam Tracks	Simon Dunstan	Osprey	Use of armour in Vietnam, 1945 - 1975	A superb book on the armour used in the Vietnam Conflict, from immediate post WW2 involvment with France, through to the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975.
Making Tracks: The Carrier Story	Chamberlain & Ellis	Profile	The Bren/Universal carrier	Ideal basic reference on the Bren/Universal Carrier in all its forms
The Funnies: 79th Armoured Division	Geoffery W Futter	Bellona	WW2 specialised engineering equipment of the British 79th Armoured Div	Long out of print, but "the" book in my oppinion, complete with excellent 1/76th scale drawings of most of the equipment covered. Developed from a series of original magazine articles.
Automobile sans l'Uniforme	François Vauvillier	Massis Edition	WW2 French equipment	Best reference I have ever seen on French equipment of WW2, particularly for soft skin equipment. I have Russell at Barbarossa Books for introducing me to this one, and through who you should still be able to obtain this this.
Soviet/Russian Armour and Artillery	Hull, Markov & Zaloga	Darlington Productions	Modern Soviet/Russian equipment	Most up to date reference on all things modern and Soviet/Russian
Various Titles - Tanks Illustrated series	Various	Arms & Armour Press	WW2 and Post War titles, with 29 books in the series	Very good photo reference works all of these. Korea, Vietnam, WW2 and modern subjects are all covered.
Various Titles - Concord Books series	Various	Concord Books	WW2 and Post War titles, and still growing!	Very good photo reference works all of these. Korea, Vietnam, WW2 and modern subjects are all covered.
Various Titles - Militaria series	Various	Militaria of Poland	WW2 Military Vehicles	Lots of original photo coverage including lots of superb reference shots for modellers in "new" photos from Eastern Europe. Accompanied by high quality colour artwork. Text in Polish, captions dual Polish/English. Available in the UK from Pol Models.
German Artillery of WW2	Ian V Hogg	Arms & Armour Press	Self Explanatory	Best overall reference on the subject I've ever seen. Recently reprinted I believe (year 2000).
British & American Artillery of WW2	Ian V Hogg	Arms & Armour Press	Self Explanatory	Best overall reference on the subject I've ever seen.
Villers Bocage through the Lens	Daniel Taylor	After the Battle Publications	WW2 tank battle in Normandy.	Going through the known photos one by one and explaining the battle and its progress, along with explaining what happened where in the town.
German A7V	Hundleby & Strasheim	Haynes	Self Explanatory	Most comprehensive information and photos of the WW1 A7V
Riverine	Jim Mesko	Squadron Signal	US Brown Water Navy in Vietnam	In the common style of Squadron Signal books, with useful reference photos, good explanations and colour illustrations on a fascinating topic.
D-Day Then & Now, vol 1 & 2		After the Battle Publications	Self Explanatory	Most highly detailed work with loads of photo references and detailed captioning and text. I doubt anyone will beat this.
Armour in Vietnam	Jim Mesko	Squadron Signal	Self Explanatory	Great modellers reference.
Armour in Korea	Jim Mesko	Squadron Signal	Self Explanatory	Great modellers reference.
Combat History of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 653	Karlheinz Munch	Fedorowisc Publishing	Self Explanatory	Superb photo journal and combat history of this unit, showing many unusual German AFV variants.
Ground War - Desert Storm	Jim Mesko	Squadron Signal	Self Explanatory	Great modellers reference.
Tech Intel Vol 1 & 2	Jeffery D McKaughan	Darlington Productions	Reprints of wartime US intelligence reports	Fascinating to read the reports of the time when items of equipment were first captured and reported on. Lots of useful reference photos as well.
Encyclopedia of German Tanks	Doyle, Chamberlain & Jentz	Arms & Armour Press	WW2 German Armour	Basic 'bible' for those interested in German equipment of WW2.
Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars	Crow & Icks	Barrie & Jenkins	Armoured Cars of all Nationalities	Ideal basic reference for all armoured cars  from WW1 through to post WW2.
Italian Tanks & Fighting Vehicles of WW2	Ralph Riccio	Pique Publications	Self Explanatory	Ideal basic reference for Italian WW2 equipment.

Magazines
Title	Publisher	Comments
Military Modelling (UK)	Nexus Special Interests	I'm obviously biased here, as Small Scale Scene has been in Military Modelling since 1986. Concentrates on Military subjects, so no ships or aircraft. Modelling articles (vehicles and figures), photo references and original research features (especially on uniforms) as well as all the usual columns, news and letters.
Military in Scale (UK)	Traplet Publications	An established UK title, regularly has good AFV dioramas, some excellent aircraft build-ups and good coverage of various shows. Less figure articles. To be honest I enjoy this one for the aircraft content as I'm in to them as well. All the usual columns, news and letters
Military Modelcraft (UK)	Model Activity Press	Another established title. A variety of military modelling articles, mixed between figures and AFVs. Has a growing inclusion of coverage of rallies and similar events with photo coverage of real "green machines" as well as just models. All the usual columns, news and letters
Military Miniatures in Review (USA)	Ampersand	A quarterly magazine from the USA. All armour, and almost entirely large scale (1/35th). High quality articles and content, if a little 'zany' for some tastes occasionally. Also do additional titles on occasion, and see the entry in the book section above for their Allied and Axis series.
Minitracks (France)	Editions du Barbotin	A new French magazine, started in 2002, and bi-lingual French/English. Devoted to small scale AFV modelling. Good quality magazine, with good articles and information. Neatly done with both languages for every article. Jointly run by Pascal Danjou plus Alain Laffargue, the man behind Al.By. models.
AFV Modeller (UK)	AFV Modeller Ltd	A magazine started in 2001 by Dave Parker, a regular magazine contributor over the years, and a fine modeller. This is a bi-monthly magazine, only available by subscription I believe. Very high standard of modelling displayed, and very well presented with high quality photos.
Finescale Modeller (USA)	Kalmbach	Long running magazine from America. Tends to have high quality articles but across every type of model, including ships, AFVs, Sci-Fi, aircraft, cars and others. Tends to stay with plastic kits, though not entirely. Does very little in small scale ("Braille Scale").
HobbyWorld (Spain)
Tankette (UK)	MAFVA	Six issues a year, this little A5 format magazine is the regular publication of MAFVA (Model Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association). Mainly aimed at 1/76 scale, but includes all others as well, including 1/35. Usually has lots of useful scale drawings, plus news, reviews and a good deal of original reference information over the years. More than worth the membership of MAFVA by itself.
Tracklink (UK)	Friends of the Tank Museum	This publication is for the Friends of the Tank Museum, here in the UK. Reminiscences of veterans and news of what is happening with exhibits at the Bovington Tank Museum, and events that the Friends have been involved with.
Boresight (USA)	Darlington Productions	This bi-monthly magazine is produced for the American based AMPS (Armor Modelling and Preservation Society. Mainly reviews, with models built by their members, and some features on improving old kits. Often things to do with the club and its competitions.
Journal Of Military Ordnance (USA)	Darlington Productions	CEASED PUBLICATION Not a Modelling magazine as such, this is to do with the real thing. Originally named the Museum Ordnance, it still regularly contains reference articles on historic vehicles, as well as detail of new ones. Even contains the odd vehicle photo Recognition test put together by yours truly! Frequently has content on what I might describe as less 'mainstream' subjects, such as South African and modern Russian equipment. An excellent reference source.