I gotta start off by telling you that I'm impressed by what military modelers in general and armor modelers in particular are able to do with their subject. I basically build aircraft and as airplane guys will tell you, tanks are not easy. Conversely, tank guys will tell you that they find airplane models difficult to build and we both agree that car models are impossible!

Anyway, continuing with Osprey's successful series of 'Modelling the...' comes this one on the Jagdpanzer 38(t) 'Hetzer'. There seems to be a common thread in most books in this series where you are given an introduction which often includes a brief history of the type and available kits. Then one moves on to tools and accessories that one will find useful to complete the job and then into a series of construction articles.

For the Hetzer, this is somewhat complicated by a dearth of available kits. In the most popular scale, 1/35, there are two major manufacturers who have done Hetzer kits; Italeri and Dragon/DML. Only the Dragon kits are generally available, and checking the 2004 Squadron catalogue confirms this. There are resin kits by JPModels but cost and availability make those less than good subjects. In the smaller scale, only Fujimi and ESCI have produced this vehicle and neither are particularly available at the moment so there is no small scale build in this book at all.

The construction articles are just what we want for a build article. They are full of 'here is what is needed and here is how I did it' type of things. Adding to it are superb 'underway' photos that show just what modifications and updates were accomplished. This is followed by a number of photos of the completed model from all aspects.

The build articles are:

• May 1944 BMM Production Hetzer

• May 1945 Skoda Production Hetzer

• 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschutz 33/2 (Sf) auf Hetzer

• Bergepanzer 38(t) and vignettes

This last article includes how to complete a really neat little diorama, including making the base and other bits and pieces.

This is all capped with excellent appendices that include book and web reference, museums, a color chart of camouflage schemes, and finally, a listing of current (late 2004) kits and accessories for the Hetzer.

In all, I think you'll find this to be a most useful book when it comes to building this particular kit and you'll also learn a few new things as well. Highly recommended along with all the books in this series.

Available in bookstores everywhere, through Classic Motorbooks at (800) 826-6600 or at www.motorbooks.com. For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has nearly 300,000 visitors a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.