Charged by Kevin Wheatcroft with
chronicling the efforts his team are putting into restoring Panther
FG. No. 158 134, The Research Squad and bring us this beautifully
bound compilation presented in a magnificent format.
It is the dedication and passion of benefactors like Kevin
Wheatcroft that keep vehicles like this one alive and in such good
condition, as museums tend to let these historical artefacts fall
into disrepair and rot away unfortunately, and personally I think it
is a fantastic idea to compile the efforts of Mr. Wheatcroft and his
team in this printed format.
I have found it impossible to find any fault in this book, finding
it a fascinating read, and it will quite obviously be an excellent
resource for modelling projects due to its unprecedented and
thorough examination of the components of the Panther during
painstaking restoration.
I am an analogue being at heart, and I much prefer the format of a
book, as it is much easier to sit back, relax, and enjoy the
contents within in a suitable setting, rather than staring into a
monitor. There are a great many things that the internet and CD-Roms
are fantastic for, and no doubt provide endless amounts of
information in an instant, but nothing can substitute the
gratification that comes from reading something that has been
crafted with care, pride and expertise, on a subject that
fascinates.
Click the
thumbnails below to view larger images:
The layout and graphic design are
superbly carried out by Lee Lloyd which perfectly compliments the
highly professional and well lit photography. Page after page of
intensely detailed and thoroughly captioned photographs portray the
various stages of the restoration work carried out on the drivetrain
and hull to perfection. Following a logical progression throughout,
the end of the book leaves us ready and anxiously awaiting the
release of the second part, the Engines and extras.
The history of the particular Panther covered in this volume is
covered and is laid out in an article prepared specifically for the
Research Squad by Paul Anderton and Yann Jouault, which is a
fascinating read unto itself, and nicely rounds out the thorough
nature of the publication.
As previously mentioned, the Panther will be divided into a few
volumes, and I can imagine that each volume will be as thorough and
as interesting as this one, so I will be anxiously awaiting that.
But what is also very exciting is the revelation on the inside back
cover that there is to be a companion book covering the Tiger that
currently resides at the Wheatcroft Collection.
There is no doubting the fact that this is a spectacular book, and
one that will provide all of the reference detail a modeller could
want as well as a fascinating read for any fan of Armour, German
Armour, or Panthers in General.
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