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Movies as Modeling References
One Year Build: The A-55E Razorback
One Year Build II: The Fi-103Z Volksangriffer - The Concept
One Year Build II: The Fi-103Z Volksangriffer - The Result
Restoration of a 1/200 Nichimo Glaug
Second World War Veterans Lecture
A Silk Purse From a Sow's Ear?
The Unknown Valkyrie in 1/200 (?) Scale

Allied-Axis: The Photo Journal of the Second World War

Published by Ampersand Publishing Company, Inc.

Price: $24.95 CDN per issue

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Allied-Axis is currently my favourite magazine, bar none.  While aircraft modelers have a plethora of outstanding reference magazines at their disposal covering all eras and types of aircraft, armour modelers have it a bit tougher.  Unless you can read Japanese or an East European language, there is not very much available for armour modelers to satisfy their thirst for photographic references in a journal format.  Fortunately, Ampersand Publishing, the folks who bring you Military Miniatures in Review, began publishing Allied-Axis back in 2000.

 

This magazine’s mission is simple: to present large, high-quality photos of Second World war military equipment.  These photos are chosen with the modeler in mind, and either show interesting aspects of the vehicle in service or detail shots of preserved vehicles either in museums or in private collections.  The articles are all about vehicles that there are either kits for (e.g., Karl Morser, M26 Dragon Wagon, FAMO, Wespe, Hummel, DUKW, etc.), or vehicles that there should be injection-moulded kits for (e.g., Diamond T tank transporter and wrecker, Ward LaFrance M1A1 wrecker, Sherman Flail, Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. A, etc).  I wish that model companies would take some of their cues for future releases from the pages of Allied-Axis!  The magazine also maintains a commendable balance between Allied and Axis subjects, as well as having a healthy dose of softskins, something that can be difficult to find.

 

Each issue has 96 pages and is presented in landscape format.  While some of the photos have been seen before, Allied-Axis usually presents them in very clear, full-page size, allowing us to discern details like never before.  Also, the articles often show multiple images from a sequence, giving us multiple views of vehicles.  As well, the articles are often timely, providing us with fresh reference material just as a new kit is hitting the shelves (the Academy M36 tank destroyer hitting the shelves at the same time as issue #12 is a case in point).  All in all, an excellent reference that provides very good value for money.

 

 

Index:

Issue 1

A4/V2 Missile

26 pages of photos of V2 operations, including shots of support equipment such as the Fries gantry, Hanomag SS100, Meillerwagen, and fuelling vehicles

Panther Attack in Alsace-Lorraine, 1944

26 pages of in action photos of Panther Ausf. Gs of Panzerbrigade 111, panzergrenadiers, 7.5 cm PaK 50 AT gun, and captured M8 Greyhounds and M3 halftrack

Tetrarch Airborne Tank

13 pages of in action photos of Tetrarch and M22 Locust airborne tanks, including M22 inside a Hamilcar glider, and detail photos of a preserved Tetrarch at Bovington

Sherman Flail

13 pages of in action and detail photos

Wirbelwind Antiaircraft Tank

17 pages of in action photos plus a history of the vehicle and detail photos of preserved examples at Meppen and CFB Borden

Issue 2

Kleines Kettenkraftrad Sd.Kfz. 2

12 pages of in action photos and detail photos of preserved examples, including a cargo trailer, at Beltring and Munster

World War II Dodge ½ Ton and ¾ Ton Military Trucks

36 pages of period photos (including Patton’s WC57) and detail photos of preserved examples (at Beltring) of the WC23 and WC 56/57 command car, WC42 panel truck, WC51/52 and WC62/63 weapons carrier, WC53 carryall, and WC54 ambulance

2.5 Ton Amphibious Truck, 6x6, GMC DUKW-353

29 pages of in action photos of American and British DUKWs plus tech manual illustrations and detail photos of a preserved example at Beltring

SIG 33/1 Grille SPG

18 pages of in action and interior photos plus a history of the vehicle plus photos of the recovery of a vehicle in Austria

Issue 3

Schwerer Zugkraftwagen Sd.Kfz. 9 “FAMO” and Tiefladeanhanger Sd.Ah.116

25 pages of in action photos showing the recovery of a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J of 23. Panzer Division in the Caucasus in summer 1942 by a FAMO and the Pz.Kpfw. III’s engine change by an Sd.Kfz. 9/1

M25/M26 Dragon Wagon (part 1)

56 pages of in action photos of M26 and M26A1 Dragon Wagons with M15 and M15A1 trailers and a variety of loads (including various Shermans, M5A1, M7 Priest, M8 GMC, Firefly Vc, M24, M26 Pershing, M32, M39 AUV, M47, LVTs, and Panther Ausf. A), plus detail photos of an example formerly at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and many drawings and tech manual illustrations

M3A1 Scout Car (part 1)

14 pages of tech manual illustrations and detail photos of a preserved example at Beltring

Issue 4

Schwere Panzerspahwagen 8-Rad Armoured Cars

20 pages of in action photos of Sd.Kfz. 231, 232, 233, and 263 (8-rad) armoured cars

M32B1 Recovery Vehicle

9 pages of in action photos of M32B1s of the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion in Czechoslovakia

Sherman Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Mk 1

6 pages of in action and detail photos

Sherman Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Mk 2

11 pages of in action and detail photos

M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer

24 pages of in action photos plus detail photos of a preserved example at Beltring

Panzerselbstfahrlafette V “Sturer Emil”

10 pages of in action photos plus detail photos of the preserved example at Kubinka

Panzerbefehlswagen IV

7 pages of detail photos of a preserved example in Brussels, plus a single in action photo

7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschutz 36

4 pages of in action photos of the 7.5 cm mountain gun

10.5 cm Leichtgeschutz 40, 40/2

3 pages of in action photos of the 10.5 cm recoilless gun

Issue 5

M26 Dragon Wagon (part 2)

10 pages of in action photos of the M26 and M26A1 tank transporters

Japanese Type 89 Medium Tank

9 pages of in action photos plus detail photos of the preserved example at Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Wespe im Einsatz

28 pages of in action photos plus detail photos of an example under restoration at Koblenz

M8 Armored Car

29 pages of in action photos plus tech manual illustrations and detail photos of a preserved example at Beltring

M1 and M1A1 Heavy Wreckers

19 pages of in action photos plus tech manual illustrations and detail photos of a preserved example at Beltring

Issue 6

Tigers at the Front

16 pages of in action shots of Tiger Is

Japanese Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank

7 pages of wartime in action and detail photos

Sd.Kfz. 11 Zugkraftwagen 3-ton Halfttrack

14 pages of in action photos

M20 Diamond T Tank Transporter

34  pages of in action photos of the Diamond T 980/981 tank transporter and M9 trailer in US and British service with a variety of loads (including LCVPs, Panther Ausf. A, and LVTs) plus tech manual illustrations and detail photos of a soft cab Diamond T 981/M9 combo at Beltring

4-ton Diamond T 969A Wrecker

24 pages of in action photos of the Diamond T 968A cargo truck and 969A wrecker plus detail photos of a preserved example in England

Issue 7

M26 Pershing

38 pages of in action photos in World War II, Korea and Germany postwar plus tech manual illustrations and detail shots of a preserved example at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, as well as coverage of the M45

Japanese Type 94 Tankette

4 pages of in action photos

Japanese Type 95 Tank

10 pages of in action and interior photos plus detail photos of a preserved example at Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Japanese Type 1 Ho-Ni SPG

9 pages of in action photos plus detail photos of a preserved example at Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Panthers at the Front

20 pages of in action photos

German 10.5cm leFH 18 Howitzer (part 1)

14 pages of in action photos, including a sequence shot in North Africa of a deployment and firing sequence

Issue 8

German 10.5cm leFH 18 Howitzer (part 2)

10 pages of in action photos

Marine Corps Shermans

21 pages of excellent in action photos of Marine M4A1s, M4A2s, and M4A3s in the Pacific

LVTs at the Front

42 pages of in action photos of Amtracs plus detail shots of a preserved example at Beltring

Kursk: Porsche’s Heavyweight in Action

22 pages of in action photos of Ferdinands at Kursk and detail photos of the example at Kubinka

Issue 9

Heavy Mortar Great 040

19 pages of in action and detail photos, including the loading and firing sequence and photos of the Munitionsschlepper IV

Panzerjager I

23 pages of in action photos plus detail photos of a preserved 47mm gun and an example under restoration at Koblenz

Sd.Kfz. 10 1-ton Halftrack

26 pages of in action photos of Sd.KFz 10, Sd.Kfz. 10/4, Sd.Kfz 10.5, and 5.0 cm PaK 38 SPG plus detail photos of a preserved Sd.Kfz. 10 at Beltring

U.S. M2 Treadway Bridge

12 pages of in action photos showing the deployment and construction of an M2 Treadway Bridge, including Brockway 666 bridge erector trucks

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. A

8 pages of in action photos

Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank

7 pages of in action photos

Issue 10

Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)

21 pages of photos, including combat shots and detail photos of the preserved vehicle at Aberdeen Proving Grounds

M3 Lee Tank

17 pages of photos, including training shots from the Desert Warfare Centre and with the 2nd Armored Division in England and detail photos of a preserved vehicle in the Canadian War Museum collection

Sturmgeschutz at the Front

23 pages of in action photos of StuG III Ausf B to G

U.S. Rockets in WW2

10 pages of in action photos of the M10 and M14 rocket systems mounted on jeeps and Shermans

German SdKfz.250 alte Halftrack

24 pages of in action photos and detail photos of a preserved vehicle at the 2000 War and Peace Show

Issue 11

15 cm Schwere Panzerhaubitze auf Geschutzwagen III/IV (sf) Hummel

14 pages of in action photos, including factory shots and a firing sequence

Allied Crawler Tractors

27 pages of in action photos of many vehicles, including British armoured Caterpillar D7, Caterpillar D4, D7, and D8, and International Harvester TD-18 and TD-19, all with a variety of blades and fittings

Kradschutzen and Kradmelder at the Front

14 pages of in action photos of German motorcycles, including BMW R75 with sidecar, Zundapp KS600W with sidecar, and DKW NZ350

Wartime Sherman Variants

17 pages of in action photos of M32 recovery vehicle (6 pages), Sherman DD (7 pages), and M4 Sherman dozer tank (4 pages)

Cargo Carrier Weasel, M28, M29, M29C

22 pages of in action photos

Issue 12

Sturmtiger in Detail

19 pages of wartime photos and detail shots of the preserved specimen in Sinsheim

GMC Dump Trucks

16 pages of in action photos with a variety of equipment plus detail shots of a preserved example at Beltring

M3 Scout Car

(part 2)

14 pages of in action shots

M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers

34 pages of in action shots of M10 and M36 tank destroyers in US service

Krupp Boxer Light Truck

12 pages of in action photos

Issue 13

M3 Medium Tank (part 2)

19 pages of in action photos showing the M3 and M3A1 variants, including some excellent shots of the engine and engine compartment

German 38(t) Tank

14 pages of in action photos showing gun tank and command variants in German service

U.S. Long Tom and M4 High Speed Tractor

26 pages of in action shots of the 155mm and 8 inch variants of the Long Tom in service in Italy, northern Europe, the Pacific and Korea, as well as in action photos of the M4 High Speed Tractor (including 2 shots showing M4 HSTs towing 88mm FlaK and PaK guns!)

Sherman Early and Late

28 pages of in action shots of early M4A1 and M4A2 variants in stateside service and late M4A3 (mostly HVSS) variants in service in Northwest Europe, the Pacific and Korea

U.S. Bofors Gun

8 pages of in action photos of the 40mm Automatic Gun M1 in service in Northwest Europe and Italy, plus a colour photo on the back cover

Issue 14

240 mm Gun (sic)

29 pages of in action shots of the 240 mm howitzer M1, including shots of the weapon being set up and towed

Nebelwerfer

16 pages of in action photos and technical manual images of both the 15 cm and 21 cm versions, plus detail photos from Allied technical evaluations

Mercedes G4

7 pages of in action photos and detail shots of a preserved specimen at Sinsheim

M3 Lee, Part 3

25 pages of photos of vehicles of the 13th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Tunisia, 1943, including photos of M2 halftrack and many excellent shots of the crews of these vehicles

Horch 901 Type 40 E.Pkw

18 pages of in action photos of the Horch 4x4 staff car during the Austrian annexation and the Polish, French, and Russian campaigns, plus detail photos of a preserved specimen at Sinsheim

Issue 15

Harley-Davidson WLA

21 pages of in action and factory photos, plus detail shots of a preserved example

6-rad: German Armored Cars Sd.Kfz. 231, 232, 263

28 pages of in action photos, including shots of the rooftop AA MG mount, plus tech manual images of the interior and exterior of the Sd.Kfz. 231 (6-rad)

M24 Chaffee Light Tank

36 pages of in action photos of vehicles in action in World War II and Korea, plus many detail photos of a preserved example at Beltring

2.8 cm schwere Panzerbuchse 41 anti-tank gun

10 pages of in action photos, plus detail photos of a preserved specimen at Aberdeen and two pages of photos of the gun fitted to the Sd.Kfz. 250/11

Issue 16

Chevrolet One and Half Ton Truck

29 pages of in action photos of the Chevrolet 1.5 ton cargo and dump trucks, plus detail photos of preserved examples at Beltring of each type

Nashorn Tank Destroyer

26 pages of in action photos, plus detail photos of the preserved example at Aberdeen and one page of detail photos of the PaK 43/41 antitank gun at Aberdeen

7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40

19 pages of in action photos, plus detail photos of a preserved specimen at Beltring

Odd DUKW, Modifications and Uses

21 pages of in action photos of DUKWs transporting unusual loads (e.g., M4 Sherman, P-38 Lightning) and with odd modifications (e.g., mat-laying, floating bridge)

 

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