It is published in A4 portrait format and on very good quality paper in semi hard back. Surprisingly it is published in full English text with German and Russian captions to the photographs and line illustrations.

It has 112 pages crammed full of totally new black and white photographs of the Fire Engine in service in Russia.

It contains 367 black and white photographs of varying quality form poor to outstanding. It also has 73 very good clear line drawings mainly side views of the vehicles and the stowage of ladders and equipment etc.

So just what does this book contain, in essence every detail about the fire services trucks from 1700 to present day. It contains all the reference material you could every wish for about these fascinating vehicles.

With the new Russian 1/35-scale kits now on the market it would be possible to build any of these models. Pre WW2 GAZ AA Fire trucks, ZIL Fire Trucks, were used up to the mid sixties. Post war, ZIL 151 Fire trucks and tenders, Ural 4329 series, GAZ 66 Fire tenders and trucks, UAZ 3151 Chief's wagon, T55 and MTLB and even the mighty Dragon kit of the Scud MAZ can be converted into a crash fire truck.

For me two photographs stand out and inspire me to scratch build the models.

A Fire Tanker on page 19, I saw a photograph of one burnt out and was never able to recognize it for what it was; now all is explained.

The second one has to be one of the MAZ 543 of which there are at least 5 different types what a project and model.

So if you want something different and fire trucks and equipment is your field of the hobby then this book is a must for you.

Remember not all these vehicles serve in the Civilian Service but also for the Armed Forces on bases and airfields.

The potential is endless and the information is truly staggering.

I have kept the best bit till last this is only part one as the second part is going to be twice as large in terms of pages and information and photographs.

I give the authors top marks for the quality and depths of the subjects covered and highly recommend this book.

I look forward to more in the series from this publisher may they go from strength to strength.

Buy your now before it sells out, as they are limited to short runs of about 3000 copies worldwide.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 1,300 visits a day, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.