The Men Inside The Metal: The British AFV Crewman in WW2
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Volume 1
Author: Dick Taylor
Publisher: MMP Books
ISBN: 978-83-89450-66-1
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 112
The Mushroom Model Publication Green Series continues to document British AFVs, with several titles covering vehicles. Now they have turned their attention to those who operate the various AFVs. This book covers the British AFV crew from the Second World War in detail, including equipment and weapons.
The book begins with the uniform, and this section is further broken down according to specific items. So there is a section on footwear and two separate sections on helmets and headgear. Differences for desert and the Far East are also documented separately. Once the uniform is laid out, the book then turns towards badges and insignia. These include cap badges, rank badges, titles, ribbons, and more. The remaining two chapters cover personal equipment such as webbing and crew equipment & weapons.
Each section has a written overview of the various uniform components, followed by extensive photo coverage. The photos are a solid blend between modern actors' attire, museum examples, and period photos. In addition to these photos, there are quite a few illustrations of various pieces of clothing. The badges and insignia section also features extensive drawings, highlighting the diversity of design.
For those interested in the men behind the machines, this is a great start to documenting AFV crews. According to the last page of this book, Volume 2 will cover Regimental Insignia, making for a very thorough coverage. My thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy.