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With the release of Trumpeter's T-62 series, modelers looked at different schemes for their models and many considered the Middle East. While there are many books of this theater of battle, not many concentrate on the particular vehicle in question. Therefore, I was glad to learn about Dr. Manasherob's book based on the previous two works. I therefore ordered the book as soon as the author announced in in a modeling forum.
In the Priority Mail envelope, I found a soft cover book measuring 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall and 80 glossy pages within the two heavy cardstock glossy covers. It utilizes perfect binding which will probably be damaged thanks to the heavy use I am planning for it. The covers do have an intentional crease parallel to the spine to allow them to be spread out.
Color is used throughout even on the tonal photos which in some cases have slight and attractive sepia tones to them. Flipping through, I saw many period photos, color detail photos, scale plans, and color profiles. I prepared myself a cup of coffee and sat down to read the text.
Once I was past the color cover artwork, the inner cover provided some details of the labor of love this book is for Dr. Robert Manasherob. The name of the publishing company is based on the names of his children. They are listed in the acknowledgments along with many others who helped.
What follows are 316 photos, 57 of which are tonal photos with the rest being in color. The tonal photos are clear and in several cases show details which are usually censored. While they are in a chronological order, with excellent captions that go in depth, they do not necessarily follow the text.
The text goes into detail about the needs of the Arab Forces after the defeat at the hands of the Israelis in 1967. Then it covers the development of the T-62and ends with a brief history of the tank in Arab hands. Photos are included to go with the detailed descriptions of the prototypes, upgrades, and production vehicles. On the pages with the main text, photos are kept to one a page. This is then doubled and on a very few occasions tripled.
Seven pages of 16 1/35th scale plan views (even the bottom) are included. These include the Model 1967, the model 1972, a Model 1972 with engineering attachments and some illustrations from the manual.
The color section contains 258 photos covering every imaginable detail of the T-62 including an exhaustive collection of the road wheels showing wear, weathering, and damage.
Arkadiusz Wróbel’s artwork includes nine color profiles and scrap views of markings found on the T-62. The rear inner cover is a testament to the amount of information that is being put out in this volume. While the rear cover displays a blurb for the book, the inner cover has more text on the markings, camouflage, and a very brief biography of the author.
The obvious omissions from this volume are sure to be addressed in the following books.
This book is highly recommended and serves to whet the appetite for the following books. It, along with the new Tankograd monograph on the T-62, are superb references for Trumpeter’s new series. To order the book, send the author an e-mail: sabingamartin@yahoo.com or visiting their web site:
http://www.sabingamartin.com/