Modelling and Painting World War II US Figures and Vehicles

Author: Ray Haskins
Published: The Crowood Press
ISBN: 978 1 78500 715 6
Paperback, 250 colour photographs. Also available as an e-book.

Bookshelf Browse with Geoff Coughlin (October 2020)

Get this title here now at The Crowood Press

Any book or digital resource that is designed to help scale modellers should be applauded. This title is comprehensive in its coverage of the units and their soldiers and vehicles relating to the US forces during WWII. This is a real strength.

On the flip side no real mention of the very popular 1:35 scale is made, Ray preferring his 1:72, 1:56 and 1:76 subjects and the fact that this isn’t obvious in the title description will likely disappoint many readers expecting the latter to be included. Given the tiny size of the smaller scales, real finesse and very fine detail is much harder to achieve. Indeed, 1:48 scale and 1:35th are incredibly popular and yet are hardly represented in this book.

The close up photography is very helpful as is the extensive coverage of subjects although the quality of photography is very inconsistent across the book.
I feel that this book should appeal to wargamers for sure and will help them build and finish the popular small scale subjects that are common with this genre. The technical information included is very good and will help all modellers.

My overall feeling is one of disappointment, primarily for the omission of 1:35 or 1:48 scale content. Even the publisher’s website description suggests 1:35 is included yet I couldn’t find it.

Geoff C.

Here’s a little more information from the publisher

This book covers the modelling and painting of US armed forces in the Pacific, on D-Day and during the liberation of Europe in 1/35, 1/56, 1/72 and 1/76 scales. Historical overviews set the scene followed by detailed step-by-step modelling and painting guides for the creation of accurate and realistic models, whether for display or wargaming.

With over 250 colour photography, this book includes the following models:

• Personnel: infantryman, paratrooper, Ranger, Marine, airmen, combat engineers, tank crew and General George S. Patton
• Weapons: small arms and artillery
• Vehicles: tanks, half-tracks, tank destroyers, jeeps, armoured cars and many more