- Author: Thomas. L. Jentz and Hilary Louis Doyle
- I.S.B.N. 0-9744862-7-2
Review by Bill Curtis
Initial assessment…
Let me start by saying this is not a new book but its one that I did not buy when it came out, but as I am researching a late war Panther Ausf G I thought it was time to invest in one.
The format of these books is paperback, size 81/2” x 11”with 68 pages within this volume is highly authoritive text covering all the Panther Gs, accompanied by good photographs and also a single cutaway drawing. The CAD drawing of the whole vehicle are in 1:35 scale while the detail items are drawn in 1:10 scale which is great if one is planning on making a super detailed vehicle. As one would expect these are clear and well drawn and a lot of research has gone into producing them to a very accurate standard. The authors have travelled to England, France, Belgium, Germany and the U.S.A. clocking up forty visits to measure actual vehicles while spending thousands of hours researching surviving original documents, drawings and photographs.
Included in the pictures are two half page photographs of the infrared searchlight and scope mounted on the turret and these are accompanied by clear drawings.
Smaller detail are described and drawn with such items as the cut-outs for the periscopes and the skid used as a replacement for the return roller fitted on some Panthers.
To sum up this is an indispensible for any one building a Panther G as this volume can show the builder at what stage the vehicle has been in the production run and what modification were therefore fitted.
A sad note is that Thom Jentz has passed away and his loss will be greatly felt in the world of researching German vehicles of World War Two. His books and seminars were always looked forward to by modellers, historians and vehicle restorers as he was meticulous in researching the facts from primary sources, taking measurements from surviving vehicles and would not put into print anything that could not be proved.
I believe that the series of books will continue with Hilary Doyle and another researcher who will have a tough act to follow.
Very highly recommended
Bill C.
www.panzertracts.com (I purchased my copy from http://www.barbarossabooks.eu/)