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Bing -> Encyclopedia of Weapons of WW2 (12/13/2002 1:28:46 AM)
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About two years ago, Wild Bill recommended this title as one of the best overall single volume references for the subject. Brown Packaging Books (UK) held the original rights and Barnes and Noble published the title in the States. The title was at that time OP, I located a copy via a Used Book-Op search service and paid $45. US, which I believe was a good price.
Chris Bishop is general editor - while you will not find every last PzrKpw model, down to the last detail and rivet, Bishop has a way in all his compendiums of working in references to virtually all important models and variants. There are sections for tanks, TD's, AVRE-"Funnies", HT's, A/C's, trucks, SP guns, heavy and field artilllery, heavy and light AA guns, rockets, inf support weapons, rifles, pistols, MG's, SMG's. Aircraft sections are fighters, heavy, light and medium bombers, jet aircraft, ground attack aircraft, carrier aircraft, the list goes on and on and ends with eleven sections devoted to Axis and Allied ships and LC.
Hundreds of illustrations and photos, many in color and a sprinkling of two-page cutaway of selected important items such as the B-17.
Here's the really good news: This volume has returned to the active list and is available for about half of what I paid two years ago. Due to an accident my first copy became unusable. I ordered the current edition from Barnes and Noble. UK rights have changed, B&N is no longer the US publisher, however they stock this item and it is available on two day service.
Barnes & Noble: http://www.bn.com/
The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II
Chris Bishop (Editor)
Retail Price: $29.98
Our Price: $23.98
Format: Hardcover, 540pp.
ISBN: 1586637622
Publisher: Friedman, Michael Publishing Group, Incorporated
Pub. Date: November 2002
(B&N Readers Advantage card holders get another buck or so off the discounted price, I justify the annual fee by using the difference to pay for express shipping.)
I can't think of a better gift for anyone who wants a really good single volume work on the subject, especially those who are just getting into SPWAW and WW2 weapons in a serious way.
So far as I am concerned the price makes this the Christmas bargain book of the season. The reprint is not "virtually" identical, it is absolutely the same as the original edition including all color plates.
Five out of five stars.
Bing
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