This is a real cracker of a book, giving all we could possible ask for about its subject. The only kit available at present is the superb DES Kit rendering in 1/35 scale resin, but that may change with such a good reference available.
The text starts with a short description of German development of halftrack tractors, short because a detailed account has already been given in N&B 12 on the Famo 18 tonne SdKfz 9. Then comes a good, detailed section of the development of the 12 tonne tractor – 12 tonne, by the way, being its designed towing capacity not its weight as sometimes thought. There were actually 6 different sub-types with various improvements, including a complete change of chassis and suspension: DB s 7 to DB10 were series-produced, DB11 was a projected successor with a more powerful engine, and MK1601 with a 16 tonne towing capacity was only built in prototype form. The book concentrates on the four main types, with their variations in bodywork as well as in chassis, and also covers the rare closed--cab type as well as the two armoured types – one the tractor for an 8.8 cm Flak and the other with an 8.8 cm Flak mounted on its back. The service use of each is described, with some information about the user units so modellers can put the correct guns behind their tractors.
With so many units having these tractors there’s no possibility of a detailed “markings” section as given by some other N&B books, but many of them are illustrated in the splendid selection of in-service photographs. 54 pages of them with three good, big photos to a page and yes, the armoured ones are included! Next come four pages of colour plates – no markings shown, but they serve very well to emphasise the differences between the sub-types. 3 pages with 9 photographs then show the known survivors, all DB 10s but with some interesting differences. Ten pages of 1/35 scale multi-view plans follow them, including isometric drawings of the chassis types and also including the armoured type with its rear-mounted 8.8 cm Flak gun. 50 pages, again with three photos to a page, follow with detailed shots of DB 10s in museums and private collections. Alas, the fully-armoured type is not included - though one has been recently been recovered it was presumably not available for photography – and there are no know survivors from the earlier production series or of the fully-armour tractor, but the interesting closed-cab version is covered.
This is a superb reference, very highly recommended to anyone wanting to build the DES kit or have information “just in case” a styrene model appears. Tony Greenland’s built-up model from the DES kit is illustrated to show what can be done with it, so don’t think a styrene kit is essential!
