Osprey Roundup

By John Prigent

First, an apology to anyone who’s tried to buy the SEAL book reviewed last month. It’s publication was delayed to August after a copy had been sent to me for review.

Osprey Modelling 18, Modelling the Marder Self-propelled Gun, by Sam Dwyer, ISBN 1-84176-855-3, 82 pages

This is a very useful guide to Marder modelling. First there’s a short introduction with the background of these SP anti-tank guns and ideas about tools. Then the first build, a Marder I on Lorraine chassis using the Ironside kit. Like the several other kits, this is hard to find but Mr Dwyer shows how to improve it using an AFV Club Pak 40 gun and Friuli tracks. The Alan Marder II D is next and again he upgrades it, this time with the gun from Tamiya’s Marder III and Modelkasten tracks. The third model is the Tamiya Marder III itself, much improved with a CMK interior set, K59 resin gun and upper works, Aber details and trackguards, and Friuli tracks. Next comes the Tamiya Marder III M, backdated with a TMD resin set and again using Aber details and trackguards but this time with Modelkasten tracks. Finally he shows how to improve the old but good Italeri Marder III H with Royal Model detail and interior sets, the gun from the Tamiya Marder III again plus its wheels, and a Moskit exhaust. He also shows how to make a small scenic base with figures, a Schwimmwagen and the MIG demolished T-34. As well as all this there’s a list of all the available kits, conversions and accessories plus notes on reference material and on where to see surviving Marders. The book has a host of ideas on painting and weathering as well as some very handy hints on soldering etched parts, making it a great reference for other models as well as for Marders. Recommended.

Elite 110, Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224-642, by Dr Kaveh Forrokh, illustrated by Angus McBride, ISBN 1-84176-713-1, 64 pages

Anyone with an interest in the ancient world knows that the Sassanians fought the Roman Empire to a standstill and defeated three Emperors in open battle. One of them was Julian the Apostate, and his death still resounds today since without him the attempt to revive the old Roman gods failed and Christianity triumphed in the Empire. Here is the story of the Sassanians, concentrating on how their heavy cavalry evolved and fought. With Angus McBride’s gorgeous plates to back up the very authoritative text this is a book that no ancient fan should miss, either as a modeller or as amateur or professional historian. Highly recommended!

Osprey Modelling 17, Modelling the Panzer IV in 1/72 scale, by Alex Clark, ISBN 1-84176-824-3, 82 pages

Here’s a very good guide to modelling Pz IVs in small scale, not just the Ausf H gun tank but also Jagdpanzer IV, Sturmpanzer IV, StuG IV and Wirbelwind. PART etched sets and both ARMO and Aber barrels are used, and so is the Extratech driver’s compartment. Resin conversions from ARMO and ALby are combined for the Sturmpanzer IV, the StuG is kitbashed from the Revell StuG III and Pz IV J kits, and the Wirbelwind is the Hasegawa kit with parts from Revell’s Pz IV H and a scratchbuilt turret. Special sections of the chapters give ideas on creating a worn winter white finish, on modelling Zimmerit in this scale, and on creating a scenic base, and there are five pages of colour photos of the Borden Wirbelwind as reference material. There are also lists of reference books and websites, of surviving Pz IVs and variants, and on kits and accessories. A very full package – recommended!

Campaign 160, Battle of the Boyne 1690, The Irish campaign for the English crown, by Michael McNally, illustrated by Graham Turner, ISBN 1-84176-891-X, 96 pages

This is the whole story, not just the battle but also the political background after James II’s expulsion from the throne and the manoeuvring that went on in Ireland between various factions. Anyone who’d like to know what really went on in those much-disputed days will find the book fascinating for this alone, but of course the battle and the military events before and after it are the main interest. There are good plates, maps and bird’s-eye views to show how matters developed, and also some fine small plates of uniforms on both sides. It wasn’t really a conflict between Catholic and Protestant ideas at the time, no matter what has been made of it nowadays. Read the book to find out! Highly recommended.

Men-at-Arms 424, The Chinese Army 1937-49, World War II and Civil War, by Philip Jowett, illustrated by Stephen Walsh, ISBN 1-84176-904-5, 48 pages

This book covers the Nationalist Army from the Japanese invasion of 1937 through to its evacuation to Taiwan in 1949. After an introduction there’s a detailed chronology of the Sino-Japanese war, the Chinese involvement in World War II, and the Civil War. Next are descriptions of the organisation and weapons of the armies and Nationalist guerrillas, and then detailed descriptions of the uniforms. Although the uniforms were locally-made the weapons and helmets included a wide variety of imported types and local copies of them, giving a lot of possibilities for figure modellers and for armour modellers wanting Chinese figures to put on bases with the British, German, Italian and Soviet tanks imported before 1941 or the Stuarts and Shermans used in 1944 and later, or even with a captured or knocked-out Japanese tank. Highly recommended!

Fortress 32, Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1192-1302, by David Nicolle, illustrated by Adam Hook, ISBN 1-84176-827-8, 64 pages

This is another excellent addition to the series, great as a guide for anyone able to visit the Middle East and a fascinating read for the rest of us. It covers the period after the Third Crusade, when the Crusader States dwindled but their fortifications continued to be strengthened and new ones built. Fice castles are looked at in detail – Margat, Crac des Chevaliers, Atlit, Casesarea Maritima and Arsuf – and then there are descriptions of life in them and the was they were defended. Some were obliterated after the Moslem reconquest and others rebuilt in new ways, but there’s still a lot to see at various sites. Highly recommended to all fans of the period.

Warrior 98, US Army Infantryman in Vietnam 1965-73, by Gordon L Rottman, illustrated by Kevin Lyles, ISBN 1-84176-887-1, 64 pages

This is an excellent reference for anyone modelling the Academy Sheridan or any M113 variant in Vietnam and wanting to put infantry figures beside it. In typical Warrior-series style we follow one fictitious man through recruitment, training and combat to his eventual return to the US. He is Airmobile with 1st Cavalry Division, but his dress, weapons and equipment are the same as those of any straight-leg grunt so the information here is just as valid for any other US foot soldier. Period photographs show the men and the vegetation types in country, and the excellent plates give colour details for many typical items of gear. Although this isn’t intended as a “uniform book” it gives just what a modeller needs. Recommended.

Campaign 153, Toulon 1793, Napoleon’s first great victory, by Robert Forczyk, illustrated by Adam Hook, ISBN 1-84176-919-3, 96 pages

Toulon was one of France’s major naval bases in the Mediterranean and its declaration against the excesses of the Committee of Public Safety gave Britain the chance to gain a foothold on French soil. Unfortunately the Toulonnaise were not against the French Revolution itself, and they were not trusted despite the reprisals that were bound to follow if the Committee regained control. The British failed to appreciate their opportunity until it was almost too late and then compounded the error by failing to support the troops that had eventually been landed. Command was divided and slipshod, and the presence of Spanish allies made matters worse by mutual distrust between three parties instead of only two. Maybe it’s not surprising that the French managed to regain their port! Here we get the whole course of the campaign, complete with Napoleon’s contribution as artillery commander. Was he a military genius, or just an astute crawler who gained support from political appointees and seized all the credit? Read this and judge for yourself. There are plenty of period illustrations as well as interesting colour plates, plus the series’ standard maps and bird’s-eye views to help you follow the action. Recommended to anyone interested in France’s Revolutionary Wars r in naval matters.