56 Model Military International - September 2019
Book Reviews
NUTS AND BOLTS VOLUME 41
BUSSINGS SCHWERER
WEHRMACHTSCHLEPPER (SWS). ARMOURED
AND UNARMOURED VARIANTS
BY DR NICOLAUS HETTLER
The German SWS class of halftrack was the pinnacle of German
halftrack design. The battlefield had changed however, and moves
had already been put in place to have towing and other duties
migrated to fully tracked vehicles. From a design point of view, the
halftrack concept was a technical dead end.
The “Nuts and Bolts” series of reference titles really need no
introduction. What they offer is a one-stop reference source for the
particular vehicle they cover. I like the convenience of these books.
For me, it’s is so much easier to just grab them, open a page when
required and basically getting on with it. In reality, these books
are more like five traditional books in one, a development history,
wartime photo coverage, line drawings and colour profiles and a
comprehensive walk around photo essay.
This new reference work has some 189 pages. This reference
work is logically broken down into segmented parts. The first 36
pages are devoted to the development and history of the SWS in
concept, prototype and in service. Within this section, selected
subsections discuss the development and technical description,
followed by the differences between the prototype and production
vehicles. The book is jammed packed with details like the variations
of the weapon system itself and how they were used in the field.
I particularly liked the way the authors have detailed each division
that operated these vehicles and in what time frame. 26 black and
white phots and drawings are in included. The second section
from pages 37 to 40 cover all the avaliable kits avaliable. The third
section is lavishly illustrated with a little over 75 black and white
war time photos. The clarity and captions on these photos are
noteworthy as they cover an infinite number of additions and
modifications adopted in the field.
The next 36 pages are devoted to 1:35 scale plans of all the known
versions. The illustrations and three-dimensional drawings by
Lieuen Coninck are wonderfully done. Twenty-two colour profile
drawings follow, over the next 11 pages and are wonderfully
executed and presented. What I like about these profiles is that
within the profile itself, a small black and white photo is inserted to
which the artist has given his interpretation. This, I believe should
be the industry standard. The next 46 pages consist of 121 colour
walk around photos of restored examples. The entire vehicle is
covered from the interior; engine through to a detailed study of
how all the various hatches opened. The last 6 pages are devoted
to three model builds by Tony Greenland and Vinnie Branigan.
In summary, if you plan to build this particular vehicle then,
you really can’t go past this book, it’s has everything you could
possible need reference wise, with lashings of inspiration as well.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Nuts and Bolts for the sample.
Luke Pitt
NUTS A D BOLTS VOLUME 41