Read review

• www.scalemodelingnow.com • 2013-08-11
• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11
• Master Modelers no. 80 May 2010 • 2013-08-11
• www.Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11
• MiniReplika Nr 64 • 2009-12-21

• www.scalemodelingnow.com • 2013-08-11

  Review by: Bill Curtis

  This is a soft back book printed on good quality art paper and covers the Renault FT 17/NC 1/NC 2/TSF, Renault R35/40 and Hotchkiss H35/39 tanks used by the Polish.

  The book is divided into sections, as follows: From France to Poland, Between the Wars, September 1939, Soldiers and Tanks of General Maczek and finally Badges.

  Each section is broken down into chapters covering the tanks, their use and also the transport systems for moving them by road and rail. The section on Soldiers and Tanks of General Maczek covers the move from Poland and its set up in Brittany, the French campaign and finally the escape to the U.K. The final section deals with the badges worn by the tank crews and are shown in colour with some displaying the front and obverse.

  As previously stated the paper is of good quality as are the photographs, which are numerous throughout the book. These are supplemented with line colour drawings of the tanks with some showing the rail transport systems.

  The book is a mine of information in pictures alone and will be of great use to modellers and historians alike. The colour line drawings give camouflage schemes used on the individual vehicles.

  This is a part of history I have not seen covered and this book is interesting, informative and one which I think any modeller or historian interested in this period will well thumb.

  BC.

• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11

  Review

  The first Allied tanks facing Nazi fury during WWII were Polish. And French equipment comprised key components of Poland's defenses.

  That's the fascinating tale of MMP/Stratus' first "Polish Tracks & Wheels" installment – available from Casemate in North America. Author Adam Jonca recaps it in 104 color-packed pages. And the title succinctly sums it up: Renault FT 17/NC 1/NC 2/TSF, Renault R 35/40, Hotchkiss H35/39.

  It's impressively informative, too. Coverage courses from the end of WWI through battles with Bolsheviks and developments between wars to Germany's September 1939 assault – and eventual exile in France.

  Early-armor enthusiasts: grab your drool cups! At least 200 rare reference photos and 29 beautiful color plates flavor this fulsome feast. Illustrations logically track Jonca's chronological narrative. And for modelers, artwork – including heraldry – offer excellent modeling inspiration.

  I especially enjoyed the section on "attempts to modernise FT-17 tanks". Railroad-mounted variants also equally intriguing. And Gen Stanislaw Maczek's exploits illuminated the staggering saga of Polish armored forces in exile.

  A couple concerns cloud this otherwise outstanding effort. Captions proved decidedly difficult to follow against Stratus' gray and green background stripes. Boldface text – or a font with thicker strokes – would vastly improve readability. And Jonca's tale sometimes failed to translate smoothly to English – a common problem with MMP/Stratus productions. So assiduous attention to vernacular, diction and grammar might help, too.

  But, hey, I quibble. With its rotating turret, Renault's pioneering FT-17 – star of this impressive production – certainly sired the modern tank concept. And for that reason alone, it belongs in any collection of historically significant armored vehicles.

  At least 120 FT-17s saw Polish service. And over two turbulent decades, colorful examples fought both Soviet and Nazi invaders.

  Seeking spectacular WWII schemes for Takom's pending 1:16-scale model – or RPM's 1:35 item? Look here!

  Robustly recommended!

• Master Modelers no. 80 May 2010 • 2013-08-11
  
• www.Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11

  By Ray Mehlberger

  Date of Review May 2010

  Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) is based in the UK. They have their books printed in Poland by Stratus in the English language. MMP now has a U.S. distributor for their books, located in Pennsylvania by the name of Casemate.

  On 22 March 1919, the French 505 Tank Regiment (505 Regiment des Chars Blindes) stationed at Martigny les Bains in the Vosges Department, began it’s transformation into the Polish 1st Tank Regiment (1 Pulk Czolgow / 1-er Regiment des Chars Blindes Polonais. The newly formed Polish unit obtained all the equipment and armament, but a large part of the personnel remained French. The regiment retained it’s commander, most of the French officers and non-commissioned officers, as well as many tank drivers and gunners. The auxiliary sections consisting of the repair workshop and transportation units also kept most of their original staff.

  This book covers this story in it’s 96 pages, with 204 black and white photographs and 2 in color on the covers. There are 25 highly detailed color profiles (one of these is a 2-view and one is a 4-view). Also included are 3 color illustrations of unit markings, a color illustration of a French tanker’s badge emblem and 17 photos of various Polish tanker’s badges.

  The color profile illustrations are positioned on the same pages as the actual black and white photos of the vehicles being illustrated. Neat!

  This book will be of great interest to military historians and enthusiasts, but most of all to modelers. There are kits around of the FT-17 and the Hotchkiss H-35/39.

  Highly recommended.

• MiniReplika Nr 64 • 2009-12-21