The latest title from the Nuts & Bolts team is part three of the Pz.Spähwagen series. This book does provide some new insight into the elusive Sd.Kfz. 234/2 interior (erroneously called the Puma by many). Although I have other great reference works such as the Panzer Tracts for scale plans and production information, this is a great addition to the library. Since the title’s target group includes modelers, I will state that Dragon offers the best kits of the Sd.Kfz. 234 in 1/35th scale.
As printed, the book has 208 pages not including the heavier covers which also are used and are bound in a glossy heavy paper. The authors are Holger Erdmann and Martin Block but the editor is still Heiner F. Duske, color artwork by Carlos de Diego, and models built by Vinnie Brannigan and Tony Greenland. It should be noted that this is the first volume with scale plans by Lieven E. De Coninck, taking over for the late John L. Rue. While not easy, he has done a great job.
The images are a mix of color and gray tones. A total of a whopping 335 are provided of which 143 archival photographs of the subjects in service with two colorized (not including the many insets showing details close up), 151 color images of museum items (since there aren’t any known surviving vehicles), and the last are 41 color images including 2 black and white photographs of superbly done models.
Text is included which provide a bibliography, some background in the form of chapters. They cover the deployment, Camouflage and markings, Judgment, a short anecdote, surviving vehicles, and models.
It is worth mentioning that the captions are most informative and all text is in dual English/German languages.
The scale plans include the Büssing-NAG 8-Rad Tp. trial vehicle / Versuchsfahrzeug (5 views), Sd.Kfz. 234/2 prototype / Prototyp (5 views), Sd.Kfz.234/1 early model / frühes Modell (5 views and 4 perspective drawings), Sd.Kfz. 234/1 late model / spätes Modell (5 views and 4 perspective drawings), Sd.Kfz. 234/2 (5 views and 4 perspective drawings), Sd.Kfz. 234/3 (5 views and 4 perspective drawings), Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (5 views and 4 perspective drawings), Sd.Kfz. 234/3 with/mit 2 cm Schwebelafette 38 (5 views), Sd.Kfz. 234/2 with/mit “Luchs” turret/Turm (5 views), Sd.Kfz. 234 with/mit 7.5 cm K. L/48 (Rheinmetall) (proposal/Vorschlag) (5 views), Sd.Kfz. 234 with/mit M.G. 151 Drilling (proposal/Vorschlag) (5 views). These are followed by eighteen color profiles which include an inset with a photograph of the actual vehicle and others clarifying markings plus a 5 view scheme showing the Anstrich-Muster camouflage.
The next section covers components used on the vehicle found in museums and private collections with 151 color photographs and the book ends with a plastic modeling section. It should be noted that one will find radios ammunition, and all necessary items to detail out the model parts.
The bottom line is simple, pick up this one as it will be invaluable when tackling either the many 1/35th scale mutations with the multiple detail sets available for each. Of course, many of these subjects have been released in other scales.
