As modellers, one thing most of us have is a passion for details.  To this end, many of us spend just as much, if not more, accumulating libraries of impressive scope.  For some of us, the library consists only of resources directly related to our fields of interest, be they cars, ships, planes, tanks or whatever.  However, from what I can tell, most modellers, like myself, are interested in a wide array of subjects, and therefore have libraries that reflect this.

As you can see by the other book reviews on this site, there is almost no end to the number of exceptionally in depth, well-researched tomes that a modeller can set about acquiring.  Indeed, it seems that there really is a book on nearly everything out there; all you have to do is be diligent enough to search it out.

I admit that I am, myself, increasingly drawn to evermore detailed sources of reference.  What used to represent a good amount of coverage on a subject now seems only cursory.  Of course, this is partially due to the fact that as we learn more, we need even more detailed information to satisfy ourselves.  That’s why the book I’m about to tell you about struck me as something of an odd find…

The book in question is “Look Inside Cross-Sections: Tanks.”  There is no misunderstanding the subject matter from the title; the book is indeed a series of cutaway and exploded views of important tanks throughout history.

This book is a children’s book, although it has been a long time since I’ve seen a children’s book on such a subject done with such obvious artistic care.  (The Scarry book on trains is about the closest equivalent that comes to mind.)  The book is in full colour, and there is a two page spread for each of the 10 armoured vehicles considered.  (The jacket says 13 vehicles are covered, but they are totally wrong.)

Each tank is presented in a very unique way.  Full colour exploded views detail both the internal and external workings of the tank in question.  These drawings are particularly interesting because they show the vehicle ‘in action.’  The guns are drawn firing, and the position, posture and sometimes even composure of the crew can be discerned.  This latter feature makes this book of particular interest for modellers.

While I’m sure there must be a lot of photos of tank interiors, and many even in colour, this book’s sense of action really brings a lot of value as a resource.  It is very difficult to get photos that clearly show how all the crew and the tank’s internal equipment relate to one another during battle.  This book manages to achieve that, and that alone is noteworthy!  For anyone wishing to do a vignette or diorama (or even brave enough to attempt a cutaway model), this book has a lot to offer.

The art itself is excellent, and what you see on the cover (part of the T-34 cutaway) is typical of what you get inside.  Each two page spread centers on an exploded cutaway drawing, but there is some text as well.  There are callouts to specific parts of the tank, and there are several short paragraphs giving interesting facts or little explanations.  There is also a paragraph of text giving a bit of the history of the tank in question, and there’s a (usually) two-view (side and head-on profiles) of the tank, including basic specs.

Despite the statement on the cover, there are only 9 distinct types of tanks covered in the book.  These are an interesting mix of almost entirely WWI and WWII types.  Four WWI tanks (Mark I, FT-17, Whippet and A7V) are all represented.  There are four WWII tanks (T-34, Churchill, Sherman and Koenigstiger) covered, as well as a separate entry for some WWII “Funnies,” although these are not cutaways.  The final cutaway is that of the M1 Abrams.

There’s a wonderfully illustrated table of contents, as well as a glossary including a few line drawings of such items as machine guns and bridgelayers.  There’s also an index, which is surprising given the book is very short!

The information provided is certainly nothing out of the ordinary, and I’m not entirely certain that all the facts are correct.  (I know the companion “Jets” book has numerous mistakes…)  However, this is not a book you buy to win a round of Armour Jeopardy!  If you want to learn hard facts, you’re going to have to look elsewhere.

One thing I found interesting is that the artist seemed to put much less effort into the Abrams than the more vintage vehicles.  Whether this is artistic prejudice or just that there’s not as much to see in a new tank (highly doubtful) is up for debate.  Also, most armour enthusiasts will probably be wondering “Why isn’t the XXXXXX” in here?   Well, because it’s a beginner’s book, that’s why!

Any serious modeller or armour enthusiast reading this book should remember its target audience is children.  This book isn’t supposed to be the pinnacle of armour literature.  However, taking that into consideration, the book is really very nicely, almost lovingly, done.

What it boils down to is this: this book is a refreshingly simple, yet amazingly innovative way for kids, modellers and armour fans to look at some typical, and important, tanks.  Any attempt to see it else wise is pure folly. So, just sit back and enjoy.  You’ll be amazed at just how much detail there is to pore over in the main drawings, and at how much time you spend with this little volume.   And there are no photographs anywhere within.