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bookFerdinand Elefant vol.1
GUNpower 22
By Tadeusz Melleman
Published by AJ Press
ISBN 83-7237-157-1
http://www.aj-press.com
104 pages soft cover

Review by Terry Ashley


This title in the TankPower series deals with the Ferdinand/Elefant and also takes in the earlier VK4501(P) with text in both Polish and English as are the photo captions.

The text deals with the development and service history with photos of the prototypes VK3001(P) and VK4501(P) with numerous photos of the vehicles on the production line and during testing, the text is accompanied with four sets of 1:35th plans of the initial VK4501(P) with dummy turret used for technical and field test, the first vehicle with 600mm track and the early turret fitted, the later type with 640mm tracks and Panzer III style turret bin and the final type that saw combat with sPz.lgAbt.653 in 1944 (subject of the Dragon Kit #6210), although the plans show the turret with two rear pistol ports and recent research has shown the turret on this vehicle had the rear escape hatch on the right rear.

The Ferdinand/Elefant are next with again text describing the development with numerous photos of the Ferdinand undergoing field tests as well as combat photos from the Kursk battles, these as you would expect are mostly of disabled or destroyed vehicles but show the cam schemes and other fittings. These is also extensive text describing this action as well as descriptive captions with the photos to give plenty of information.

Added to this are eight sets of four view 1:35th plans from the initial Panzerjäger Tiger (P) and different vehicles from the first deployments with 653rd, 654th Bttns to field mods added for the Kursk vehicles showing different equipment and storage box layouts carried out over time.

Following this is a section dealing with special vehicles on the Ferdinand chassis with extensive text on the development and history of the Bergepanzer Tiger (P), Berge-Ferdinand and Berge-Elefant with brief mentions of the Rammpanzer Tiger (P). Accompanying the text and just two photos of the Bergepanzer Tiger (P) are four view 1:35th plans of the Bergepanzer Tiger (P) and production Berge-Elefant.

The next 16 pages have large colour profile illustrations showing different cam schemes carried by Ferdinands/Elefants over their service life as well as brief history descriptions of the vehicle featured with mostly side views and some front and rear views which should be useful in painting your model.

Next is a section listing all available Ferdinand/Elefant kits and update/accessory sets in 1:35th scale with illustrations of the two Dragon kits and numerous ABER barrel and etched sets plus a five page layout with colour photos of the unpainted Dragon Ferdinand with the ABER etched sets and barrel fitted as well as Friulmodel track which can serve as a guide if you are building a similar kit.

Conclusion:

Overall a useful reference on the Ferdinand/Elefant with detailed text and while many of the photos have been seen before in different publications it is good to have these all together in one place and the many 1:35th plans show different details but as with any plans they should be used as a guide only as ongoing research can show anomalies and additional details.

The sections on colour schemes and available models/accessories could be a useful reference for modellers when building any of the kits mentioned.

Recommended.

Thanks to Michael from Airconnection for the review book.
Airconnection carry the full range of AJ Press books



Page created 13 March 2005