Reference Library

Steel Dragons AFV

Many of the vehicles described on this website were often the result of trial and error both on, and off the battlefield.  Subsequently, the development of the AFVs came about in order to fulfill a particular need and/or navigate various types of terrain and field conditions.  The process of discovery can be a fascinating one with firsthand accounts by both designer and operator which add immensely to the enjoyment of this hobby.

Listed on these pages is a variety of reference materials in the form of books and periodicals.  Many of these provide first hand production data, deployment and testimonials by many of the individuals who either flew, drove, designed or fought against these armored vehicles.  Regrettably, a few of these reference books are out of production but some can still be acquired and continue to appreciate in value.  Here goes...

Tigers in Combat Volume One: One of the most popular titles in the J.J. Fedorowicz catalog. This book went out of print within a year of its original issuance. The meticulous color artwork, prepared by renowned armor artist Jean Restayn, has been completely rescanned to add even more fidelity to the reproduction of the WW2 painting schemes found on the Tiger tanks.

Tigers in Combat Volume Two:

     The followup to the first by Wolfgang Schneider,   This book is still available in hard cover, 12"x9", 460 pages, 590 photographs, 30 pages of color artwork of camouflage and markings. This volume covers the Tiger units of the Waffen SS as well as "named" units within the Army, such as Grodeutschland, Kompanie Hummel and Kompanie Meyer. Plenty of rare or previously unpublished photos and masses of combat diary information available for the first time. The color artwork by Jean Restyn is extremely accurate.  This book is available in limited quantities at a premium price.  ISBN: 0-921991-39-8

Germany's Tiger Tanks:

    This first volume, of a three-volume set, covers the history, development and production history of the Tiger tank variants from the idea's conception to the end of Tiger I production. This includes details on the development series known as the D.W., VK 30.01(H), VK 30.01(P), VK 36.01(H), VK 45.01(P) as well as the Tiger I. It is illustrated with scale drawings by Hilary L. Doyle, combined with drawings, sketches, and photographs depicting external modifications as well as internal views. Over thirty years of intensive research went into finding the original documents needed to create this history of the development, characteristics, and tactical capabilities of the Tiger. An exhaustive search was made for surviving records of the design/assembly firms (including Krupp, Henschel, Porsche, and Wegmann), the D656 series of manuals on the Tiger, and the war diaries with their supporting reports from German army units. This is supplemented by the authors' collecting hundreds of photos and climbing over, under, around, and through nearly every surviving Tiger I., 160 b/w photographs, 151 line drawings, 9" x 12"  ISBN: 0-7643-1038-0

Germany's Tiger Tanks: VK45 to Tiger II- Design, Production and Modification:

    This volume covers development from the VK 45.02(P), VK 45.03(H) to the modifications under design for the Tiger II at the end of the war. All of this illustrated with scale drawings by Hilary L. Doyle combined with drawings, sketches, and photographs depicting external modifications is well as internal views. Over twenty years of intensive research went into finding the original documents needed to create this new history on the development, characteristics, and tactical capabilities of the Tiger series. Tom Jentz has conducted an exhaustive search for suviving records of the design/assembly firms (including Henschel, Krupp, Nibelungenwerk, Porsche, and Wegmann), the Heeres-Waffenamt, the D656 series of manuals on the Tiger, and the war diaries and operations reports from the German units. The written records were supplemented by examining thousands of photos. On-sight research into almost all the surviving Tigers provided details that could only be obtained from actual specimens. New information was found on the evolution of the heavy tank series, the key decisons on the design of the Tigers, the significant modifications made during the production runs, production statistics, the Tigers characteristics and tactical capabilities, an exact accounting of the issue of the Tigers to the combat units, and combat account written directly after the actions.  ISBN:  0-7643-0224-8

Germany's Tiger Tanks- The Tiger I and II: Combat Tactics:

     This brand new volume covers the complete combat history of the Tigers I and II, and includes the operational characteristics, organization, tactics, operational strength reports, and after-action-accounts.  New information was found on the evolution of the heavy tank series, the key decisions on the design of the Tigers, the significant modifications made during the production runs, production statistics, the Tigers characteristics and tactical capabilities, an exact accounting of the issue of the Tigers to the combat units, and combat accounts written directly after the actions.  Published with over 130 b/w photographs, 50 charts and drawings, 9" x 12".  ISBN:  0-7643-0225-6

The Modeler's Guide to the Tiger Tank (Tamiya):

     The book starts out by describing the different variations of the Tiger I and II, highlighting all of the visible modifications through out the time the Tigers were in production.   Line drawings and diagrams fill the first section of the book, and it's a good place to start when researching a Tiger. The middle of the book has a cool color section showing the results of 13 completed 1/35 Tigers. Stansell built a prototype Tiger I, a couple of early Tiger Is, a few late ones, and three Tiger II's.

Also in this color section are some general techniques used on all or most of the models, such as tool fittings and zimmerit. The models seen in the color section are described in more detail in the following pages.  The models are built with aftermarket and a good deal of superdetailing, giving tips on how to use such products, and scratch build your own.

The book continues with a section that illustrates what must be every 1/35 kit or detailing kit available for a Tiger.  It concludes with a list of the known Tiger chassis numbers, when they were manufactured and what unit they were sent to. Stansell also added a "where are they now?" listing on surviving Tigers.  The book is littered with technical drawings that are invaluable including a reference section that is even better than this one!

The book covers all of the separate schwere Panzer-Abteilungen in the German Army which had the Tiger I/Tiger II as part of their organization. (Volume 2, which is still in print, covers the SS and several other formations which had the Tiger, such as Panzergrenadier-Division "Grossdeutschland.") A reprint is currently available and is also a revised edition, with numerous text corrections and additions as well as rescanned color artwork. Two of the color profiles have also been completely redone.  Used original copies are selling for over $260.00. 

ISBN: 0-921991-21-5

Tiger Colours 136 (Wydawnictwo Militaria):

    When I asked a friend of mine what he considered to be the best reference book on Tiger paint schemes, this was his answer.  He was right.  Tiger Colours offers every color scheme for the Tiger I and II tanks while referencing the panzergruppen, date and theater of operation.  Sadly, this 50 page softbound book is rarely available and I was able to find my copy literally in Warsaw, Poland where it was first published.  If you can find it, get it.  ISBN: 83-7219-105-0

Schutzenpanzer:

    This beautifully detailed book was written by Bruce Culver and Uwe Feist and published by Ryton Publications.   This is the ultimate book on German armored personnel carriers in World War Two. It covers both German armored troop transport types, the Sd.Kfz.251 and Sd.Kfz.250 series of which most of more important types are shown in 5-view scale drawings by renowned artist Uwe Feist. Aside from the authoritative text, the period photos show actual examples of the vehicles in action on all fronts where they saw service. The 320 superlative photos (most of them not previously published),contained in this book are very high quality images on quality paper, which allows a greater than average amount of detail to be noticed and appreciated. Also contained in the book are seven full color plates showing a variety of models in various paint schemes.

Tankograd In Detail: The Panther and Jagdpanther

   The technology of the PANTHER tank and the JAGDPANTHER tank destroyer were landmarks in tank development. The full-colour photographs in this publication are exceptional. Not only because they were taken on vehicles that are, despite some unresolved details, among the best preserved ones but also because they belong to an evaluation centre of the Modern German Army and are thus most of the time stored away in warehouses or collections rather than being displayed in bright daylight or even shown in action. 96 pages, illustrated with 8 b&w and 223 colour photographs. A4 landscape format.  The photograghs and closeup details are amazing and an absolute MUST for the serious AFV enthusiast.

ISBN: 978-3-936519-10.5  Available at J.J. Fedorowicz

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This page was last updated: February 10, 2012