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This Wings & Wheels publication is the perfect companion to anyone building Tristar's or Dragon’s Pz 38 (t) kits. Inside the softcover, we find 48 pages full of in focus photos. One hundred eighty one (181) color photos including those on the outer covers illustrate every detail of the vehicle except the belly pan. The subject is the LT vz. 38 in the Czech Army Technical Museum at Lešany. Many of the details correspond to the Pz.Kpfw. 38 (t) Ausf.A through Ausf.D. However, no key is given as to which feature correlates to a German variant.
As with any museum exhibit, there are several details which are incorrect for the LT. vz. 38 but most are pointed out in the text. One photo, on page 48, is an advertisement for the museum but I wish it was foretelling of a book to come on the T-34/85.
The book measures 9 by 9.5 inches in a landscape format with heavy card stock covers. The heavy pages have a semi matte finish which reproduces details well.
The first nine pages of the book begin with a 14 photo walk around of the subject. Within is a simplified history of the vehicle. Then the book goes sections of the tank to include:
Turret Exterior, 19 photos, pp. 10-13
Hull Front Side, 27 photos, pp. 14 & 18 (includes one page on the headlight)
pp. 24-33
Antenna Holder Details, 4 photos, p. 19
Mudguard Details, 7 photos, p. 20
Hull Exterior Details, 5 photos, p. 21
Hull Rear Side, 11 photos, pp. 22-23
Wheel Details, 13 photos, pp. 24-25
Track Details, 5 photos, p. 27
Engine Hood Details, 16 photos, pp. 28-31
Engine Details, 20 photos, pp. 32-37
Engine Compartment, 8 photos, pp. 38 & 39
Commander’s Turret (reviewer’s note: Commander’s Cupola), 8 photos, pp. 40 & 41
Gun Breech, 4 photos, p. 42
Turret Interior, 8 photos, pp. 43 & 44
Hull interior, 4 photos, p. 45
Driver’s Compartment, 4 photos, p. 46
Engine Bulkhead, 4 photos, p. 47
Here are some notes about the sections:
The machine gun view from above on page 19 shows various sizes of the cooling fins. Two appear to be larger with the ones behind the same size but having the outer edges machined into vertically parallel lines. This is probably an optical illusion but another photo could have been used to clear that up.
The road wheels are of different types and are correctly identified in the text. Of interest is that the Jagdpanzer 38 wheels are riveted while the LT vz. 38 wheels are bolted. Not as easy to see are the diameter size differences between the wheels. The idler wheels are also of different types showing two of the possible cut outs seen on these Czech vehicles.
The interior details are a great help to those adding the CMK interior and Plus Models engine or to those adding the new Tristar interior to their tank model.
This book represents an excellent value for hard to find large format detail photos of the Panzer 38 series and is a great companion to the MBI & Panzer Tracts books. The latter book provides very good drawings which illustrate the changes which is not prevalent in most scale plans.
More images can be found on Wings & Wheels web site.
http://www.wwpbooks.com/index.php?lang=en&page=showbook&book=59
The book is available from the North American exclusive distributor; 4+ Publications North America.
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