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• militarymodelling.com • 2013-08-11
• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11
• Cynermodeler.com • 2013-08-11
• InternetModeler.com • 2013-08-11
• IPMSUSA.org • 2013-08-11
• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11
• Kitmaniac.com • 2013-08-11
• Scalemodellingnow.com • 2013-08-11
• Model Military International 03/12 • 2013-08-11
• Scaleplasticandrail.com • 2013-08-11
• Plastikowe.pl • 2011-11-15

• militarymodelling.com • 2013-08-11

  By Robin Buckland

  ...a book from Mushroom Model Productions

  This is another recent A4, large format paperback, from MMP and second in the series on Polish military equipment of WW2. This particular one covers the use of the Vickers 6 ton tanks along with the artillery tractors based on the same chassis. The British company of Vickers who designed this series of 6 ton tanks didn't have much success with the British Army, but both Russia and Poland used them in large numbers.

  After WW1 ended and on into the 1920s, Poland fought against the Bolsheviks. They were using old FT-17 light tanks and knew they need replacements. The book tells this background story neatly and simply, as Poland began to but the Vickers 6 ton in the early 1930s. It also shows how Vickers seemed unable to build the initial deliveries to specification, which caused updates to the contracts and tanks whose armour was not giving the protection it should. Initial deliveries were the Type A, a twin turreted machine gun armed version. The later ones used the single turret of the Type B, but again the question of what gun to fit caused a few questions. The story goes on, taking you through the training and eventual combat stories of the Vickers 6 ton series in Polish service and in a very readable style.

  The bulk of the book is heavily illustrated to add to the story in the text, with scale drawings, colour profiles and some excellent archive photos. With their use of multi-colour camouflage schemes from the outset, the Polish service machines offer some interesting finishes for the modeller, and as there are plenty of models available in both small and larger scales, plenty to try them out on. Then of course there are the artillery tractors based on the same chassis, the C6P, C6T and C7P recovery and engineer variants. These feature details of the heavy artillery units they towed, and include scale drawings and some of the most intriguing photos, virtually all of which I had not seen before. With heavy mortar barrels the cradles and the large ammunition trailers, these could make for a very interesting series of model combinations. While there are a couple of scale plans in 1/72, the most interesting are in 1/35, on a separate folded sheet that is tucked in the back, but these can be reduced to smaller scales with modern copying and scanning machine if you need to.

  Certainly a book I think modellers will value, especially the artillery tractors and their associated special equipment, then I happily suggest that this is one well worth reading, along with handy scale drawings. It has certainly added a lot to my knowledge of these smaller AFVs while in Polish service at the outset of WW2.

• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11

  By David L. Veres

  Review

  In reforging its military after WWI, a renascent Poland initially relied on French armor – notably Renault's pioneering FT-17, 120 of which entered service in 1919.

  Polish tanks first drew blood against Bolshevik Russia. Fighting, though, proved the FT's top speed inadequate for maneuver warfare. And after an aborted attempt to produce American Christie vehicles, the Poles eventually chose Vickers' then-ubiquitous 6 Ton tank.

  That's the subject of Adam Jonca's excellent monograph – second in MMP/Stratus' superb "Polish Tracks & Wheels" series, and the first of two volumes on variants of this classic British vehicle.

  Available in North America from Casemate, the absorbing, highly informative account follows the publisher's proven prescription. Text traverses 6 Ton evaluation, purchase, training and operations. Over 200 archival photos grace its 96 pages. At least 40 color plates offer ample modeling inspiration. And scale drawings supplement book illustrations.

  The same series nitpicks, however, remain. Boldface text might prevent captions from vanishing against dark backgrounds. And carefully checking vernacular and diction could improve MMP/Stratus' translation for grammarians like me.

  Another thing: even today, Slovakia might doggedly dispute calling Poland's late-1938 border incursion a "correction"!

  Still, I loved this installment of "Polish Tracks & Wheels". MMP and Stratus: more, please!

  Robustly recommended!

• Cynermodeler.com • 2013-08-11

  Reviewer: Scott Van Aken

  It is always a delight to receive a book from Stratus. Over the years I have come to rely on them for producing books on subjects that are interesting with an excellent historical section, great color profiles and equally well chosen photographe.

  This edition is no exception.

  For their second volume of Polish Tracks, they have chosen the Vickers 6 Ton light tank and some variants. This is the first volume that covers only those tanks that were produced in the UK and not the license built ones, which will be in the second volume. This edition also covers the C6P and C6T artillery tractors, as well as the much more successful C7P version.

  To provide a bit of background, in the late 1920s, it was realized the the Polish Army needed a tank that was better than the WWI vintage Renault FT-17s that were used successfully against the Bolsheviks. However, money was tight and finding a replacement was not easy. Though many different designs were tested, none were really an improvement on what they already had and some were a step back.

  It was also important that these tanks be rugged, easy to maintain and contain guns that could use extant Polish ammunition. Some consideration was given to a Christie tank, but it was a demonstration of a British Vickers Mark E. It seemed to have all that was required in terms of being a solid build and one with a good automotive section.

  Still, the situation regarding a decent gun was not found. Rather than wait, the Polish Army ordered a number of twin turret tanks, these using Hotchkiss machine guns. But a cannon was really wanted. Later a cannon was found and several single turret kits were purchased to upgrade the tanks already purchased. One of the main issues with these tanks was that the production tanks were not up to specs based on the demonstrator. To make a long story short, the British made Vickers were used mostly as training tanks while the Polish built versions (the 7TP). Eventually, the war situation required the use of these training versions against the invading Germans, where they had little success.

  Derived from the Vickers tank was a tractor. Prototypes wer ethe C6P and C6T differing only in where the drive sprocket was located. The definitive production version was the C7P. Not only was it used as an artillery tractor, but also as a recovery vehicle and as an engineering vehicle with the war stopping development of the latter.

  Throughout the book are photos of various vehicles with full color profiles based on the images. In the very back of the book are a set of plans of these vehicles in 1/72 and 1/35 scale. This includes all the different variants that are covered in the book.

  Like all of Stratus' books, this one is a keeper and a must have by those interested in light tanks.

• InternetModeler.com • 2013-08-11

  By Chris Banyai-Riepl

  Following the First World War, many nations started to view armored forces as a necessity to their military doctrine. Poland was no exception, and in 1919 accepted over a hundred Renault FT-17 tanks. Conflict against the fledgling Soviet Union gave the Poles invaluable experience, and the recognition that the slow Renaults would need to be upgraded or replaced. Following several years of experimentation and testing, it was determined that a new tank was needed. After several evaluations, the choice became the Vickers 6-ton tank, with deliveries occurring in the early 1930s.

  The newest title in the Stratus Polish Tracks & Wheels series examines the Polish Vickers tanks, a story that is broad enough to warrant two volumes. This first volume covers the Vickers Mark E Type A (the twin-turreted version) and the Mark E Type B (with a single turret), as well as the tractor variants, the C6P and C6T/C7P. The second volume will cover the remainder of the Vickers tank derivatives.

  The Polish Tracks & Wheels series provides a very nice history of vehicles in Polish military service, combining a detailed text with copious photographs and color illustrations. This book does an excellent job of detailing the history of the Vickers tank, from the origins in the immediate post-war period through to the operational record. The photographs are excellent, presenting quite a few interesting details and color schemes. Complementing the photographic record are the color profile illustrations, which highlight many of the interesting camouflages of both the tanks and the tractors. Finally, there are a set of 1/72 scale drawings printed in the book, and 1/35 drawings included in a separate pull-out sheet.

  Overall, this is a nice addition to the armor library, covering a lesser-known vehicle as operated in a lesser-known army. I am looking forward to the second volume to complete the history of the Vickers 6-ton tank in Polish service.

• IPMSUSA.org • 2013-08-11

  Reviewed by: Michael Novosad, IPMS #36721

  This publication covers the development and acquisition of armored vehicles for the Polish army from 1919 until 1939. Each page has several period images of the miscellaneous vehicles. Included are color profiles along with some line drawings and one blueprint of a Polish tractor. Although the text is minimal, it is quite informative. One gets the sense of the lambs being lead to the slaughter inflicted by the much superior German armor in September, 1939.

  Vehicles addressed include the Vickers 6 ton Mark E types A , B and E, the C6P and C6T Tractors, the C7P artillery, and recovery and combat engineering tractors. Granted, these vehicles are certainly not as well known at those of the major World War II powers, but are quite interesting in their design and performance, and provide some unique topics.

  The text includes a summary of the efforts of the Polish government to obtain Vickers tanks from Great Britain and some of the modifications required by the Poles. Performance limitations are also revealed.

  Many of the images include Polish soldiers and tankers wearing the uniforms and headgear of the day. Also included are several images of Polish vehicles damaged or destroyed in combat with the German military. The image at the top of page 38 depicts the Czechoslovakian border guard building in the 1930s that still stands today.

  I found this book to be quite informative and interesting. The color profiles depict the evolution of camouflage schemes from the hard edge outlined in black to the soft edge variation. The majority of the images are quite clear and show great detail that will be important to scratch builders. Highly recommended for those interested in armor development in one of the smaller eastern European nations between the wars.

• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-08-11

  by Ray Mehlberger

  Date of Review December 2011 VReview

  Mushroom Model Publications is based in the UK. All their books are printed in Sandomierz, Poland by their partner Stratus in the English language. Stratus also prints their books in Polish too. Casemate is the U.S. distributor of MMP books and I received this book from them.

  The book is 88 pages long, soft-cover and in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format. C

  omplementing the well-established and successful Polish Wings series on aircraft of the Polish Air Force, this book is the second in a series on Polish army vehicles. It is the first volume on the Vickers 6 ton variants. There is to be a second forthcoming volume in the future.

  It tells the story of four major tanks of British origin used by the Polish army in the 1930’s, some still in use at the time of the German invasion of WWII.

  Training and operations with these tanks are described and illustrated with 191 black and white photos and 2 color photos that are on the front and back covers.

  The following full color illustrations and art works are included: A two-view general arrangement line drawing of the Vickers 6 ton tank, twin turreted.

  A blue print drawing of a French 13.2mm Hotchkiss large-caliber machine gun.

  A technical drawing of a Polish 7.92mm Browning WZ30 heavy machine gun (external and cut-away views)

  A two-view general arrangement line drawing of the Vickers 6 ton tank, single turret.

  A cross section line drawing of the inside of the single turret.

  A two-view blue print drawing of the C7P artillery tractor.

  Color profiles of:

  French Renault FT-17

  Czolg Type M

  A Polish built FT-17

  Fiat 3000

  WZ26/27 (NC2) tank

  NC-1

  St. Charmond M1921

  Carden-Loyd tankette

  Twin-turreted Vickers 6 ton tank (3 profiles) Vickers E Mk.B, three-view, two-view & 4 profiles White platoon symbols C7P/II artillery tractor, a two-view C7P/I artillery tractor, a two-view C7P with gun barrel trailer, two profiles C7P with 220mm mortar base plate trailer C7P with “R” type trailer C7P loading onto a rail car

  At the back of the book are 1/72nd scale 3-view line drawings of the Vickers 6 ton single and double turreted versions and the C7P.

  There is a loose sheet that is 15 ¾” x 11 ½” folded in the center and inserted into the book. On one side there are black and white 1/35th scale line drawings of the Vickers twin turreted version with 7.92mm Hotchkiss machine guns in the turrets (a two view).

  A side profile of one of the twin turreted version mounting the 7.92mm Hotchkiss in the right turret and a 37mm in the left turret A two-view of the twin turreted version with 7.92mm Browning machine guns in both turrets.

  A six-view of the single turreted version with Browning in turret.

  On the other side of this sheet are 1/35th scale black and white line drawings of: the C7P artillery tractor (a three-view), the 220mm mortar base trailer, the 220mm barrel trailer, the C7P pulling the ammo trailer for the 220mm mortar and left and right side drawings of the 220mm mortar cradle trailer.

  This book will be of interest to both armor historians and modelers.

  Highly recommended.

• Kitmaniac.com • 2013-08-11

  The Mushroom Model Publications became famous by the high accuracy of your books. This accuracy make your books became reference for modelers around the world. The Mushroon is based in the UK. All their books are printed in Sandomierz, Poland by their partner Stratus in the English language. Stratus also prints their books in Polish too. This new book is a comprehensive research about the operational life of early tanks on the Polish army colors, the book is 88 pages long, soft-cover and in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format. It is the first volume on the Vickers 6 ton variants. There is to be a second forthcoming volume in the future.

  The Book:

  The book is dedicate to review the story of various British tanks that served on Polish Army during the 1930’s until the initial years of WWII. All details of the operational life of these vehicles are present, training and action operations with these tanks are illustrated with more 190 black and white photos and 2 rare color photos that are on the front and back covers. The following full color illustrations and art works are included: A two-view general arrangement line drawing of the Vickers 6 ton tank, twin turreted. We too find a blue print drawing of a French 13.2mm Hotchkiss large-caliber machine gun, technical drawing of a Polish 7.92mm Browning WZ30 heavy machine gun (external and cut-away views), two-view general arrangement line drawing of the Vickers 6 ton tank, single turret, a cross section line drawing of the inside of the single turret, two-view blue print drawing of the C7P artillery tractor.

  But the most amazing representation on the book are the amazing color profiles of various tanks, like:

  French Renault FT-17, Czolg Type M, A Polish built FT-17, Fiat 3000, WZ26/27 (NC2) tank, NC-1, St. Charmond M1921, Carden-Loyd tankette, twin-turreted Vickers 6 ton tank (3 profiles) Vickers E Mk.B, three-view, two-view & 4 profiles White platoon symbols C7P/II artillery tractor, a two-view C7P/I artillery tractor, a two-view C7P with gun barrel trailer, two profiles C7P with 220mm mortar base plate trailer C7P with “R” type trailer C7P loading onto a rail car.

  Conclusion:

  With a high quality of photographic material and a excellent research work, this book is a very important font of studies for both armor historians and modelers. Read this book is a compromise for all that want understand the situation of the Polish Armor units and your configuration on the late 1930’s, just before the WWII begins. Was a very elucidative read to Me. Highly recommended.

  Best Regards,

  Pompeo

• Scalemodellingnow.com • 2013-08-11

  Review by: Bill Curtis

  Initial Assessment This is an A4 format book with 88 pages and is prolific with its illustrations and line drawings of the various vehicles.

  It is the second volume in this series covering AFV’s and other vehicles in Polish service. It describes the acquisition and use of the various versions of the ubiquitous Vickers 6 ton tanks.

  These vehicles served with the Polish forces through the 30’s and some could still be found in service with them at the time of the German invasion in 1939.

  The illustrations help tell the story of training and operational uses, as well as the special vehicles which were built on the basic chassis.

  Throughout the book, there are many photographs as well as line drawings which illustrate the colour schemes and markings applied during this period.

  Conclusion

  I enjoyed the first volume and I can say that this follows in the same vein.

  This is a good read, which takes you through the life of these vehicles with informative, clearly written text that is complimented with some very nice pictures.

  The line drawings are another very nice touch in this volume and will surely be of use to both the military historian and modeller alike.

  Highly Recommended.

  Bill C.

• Model Military International 03/12 • 2013-08-11
  
• Scaleplasticandrail.com • 2013-08-11

  Last year, it was my pleasure to review the excellent "Invincible Black Brigade" from MMP, a book which covered the history and military experiences of a particular Polish Cavalry Brigade. My knowledge of the Polish forces involved in the fight against the German invaders in 1939 really only covered the Air Force aircraft and units, so I found the book a fascinating volume on the subject.

  Now Stratus, who publish in Poland for MMP, have released the second in their series of books on specific AFVs in Polish service. Their first volume, which I did not get to see, covered various Hotchkiss and Renault tanks; this second book, on review here, is the first of 2 planned books on the various Vickers tanks that served with the Polish army.

  My knowledge of the Vickers Mark E tank is based to the 1/35 models from Mirage Hobby and RPM, which I have studied but never built. The series of 6-ton vehicles were basically late 1920s AFVs that had had their heyday but which, having been purchased in some numbers by the Poles in the early 1930s, were still in active service in 1939, albeit with upgraded armament and with many of the twin-turreted Mark E Type A tanks upgraded to Type B standard by the fitting of a larger, single turret supplied by Vickers-Armstrong.

  Once the tanks were in service, the Poles also designed their own series of heavy artillery tractors, using the Vickers running gear combined with a new Polish engine. After the C6P and C6T prototypes, production was standardised on the C7P variant; this was used, in many cases, as the transport vehicle for the Skoda 220mm mortars also in service.

  Adam Jońca has taken the bare bones of the stories outlined above to produce an excellent treatise on these vehicles and their operational use in Polish service. As with the normal MMP style, the informative text is well-mixed with original photographs (most unpublished previously) and high quality colour profiles.

  My choice of content this time was difficult, mainly because so much of it is striking and memorable. We have some of the early twin-turreted Mark E Type A tanks in service (below); [...photos...]

  The book covers each of the vehicle types in detail and the text is well-written, being both informative and involving. At the end of the book are some 1/72 and 1/35 scale plans of various vehicles which will be of use to the modeller.

  The book also opens with a few pages on the upgrades applied to the Renault FT-17 tanks inj the 1920s along with the efforts to obtain various replacement AFVs before the Vickers was chosen.

  So What Do We Think?

  An excellent second book on Polish AFVs; I will definitely be seeking out the first volume.

  Everything about this volume says "quality".

  Excellent value for money, as well.

  A high-quality reference source

  Our thanks to MMP Books for the review copy. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

  Robin Jenkins

• Plastikowe.pl • 2011-11-15

  Opis szczegółowy

  Tematyka

  To pierwszy tom historii czołgów Vickers w Polsce. Omówiono w nim tło historyczne, negocjacje dotyczących zakupu czołgów Vickers oraz realizację kontraktu i rozwój konstrukcji w Polsce, a także działania bojowe polskich czołgów Vickers we wrześniu 1939.

  Z perspektywy modelarskiej szczególnie interesujące będą informacje o modyfikacjach oraz wariantach rozwojowych. Warto zauważyć, że koledzy z forum poświęconego budowie modeli polskich pojazdów wojskowych przerobili już wiele „nieciekawych” modeli czołgu 7TP na warianty omówione w tej publikacji.

  Spis treści

  Upgrade necessity

  Vickers 6 ton Mark E

  Type A & Type B Light tank

  Vickers Mark E goes to the war

  C6P & C6T Tractors

  C7P Artillery tractors

  C7P Recovery tractor

  C7P Combat engineering tractor

  Jakość edytorska

  Tradycyjna dla Wydawnictwa Stratus — druk wysokiej jakości na świetnym papierze, całość zszywana, co ułatwia lekturę, papier umożliwiający nanoszenie notatek ołówkiem.

  Plany, zdjęcia i profile

  Plany modelarskie w skalach 1/35 i 1/72 opublikowano na wkładce formatu A3, za co należą się podziękowania. Znacznie łatwiej pracuje się z planami, które łatwo można rozłożyć na stole, a książka nadal może służyć pomocą.

  Zdjęcia w książce są bardzo liczne i niejeden czytelnik będzie zdumiony, że aż tyle ich zachowało się do naszych czasów. Autor gromadził je przez dziesięciolecia i należą mu się wielkie wyrazy uznania za tak cenną kolekcję oraz identyfikację pojazdów (oraz różnic konstrukcyjnych) przedstawionych na zdjęciach.

  Plansze barwne zrekonstruowano na podstawie zdjęć i są to bardzo dobre rekonstrukcje. Ich jedynym mankamentem jest wielkość, odrobinę przekraczająca skalę 1/35. Z jednej strony trochę utrudni to pracę modelarzom, którzy nie będą mogli przenieść schematów malowania bezpośrednio na model. Z drugiej strony większy rysunek to więcej detali, więc nie ma tego „złego”…

  Podsumowanie

  Plany w skali 1/35 oraz 1/72, 226 profili barwnych oraz (bardzo często nieznanych i niepublikowanych wcześniej) zdjęć czarno-białych plus bardzo dobry tekst, pozbawiony „wody”. To wszystko otrzymujemy za niecałe 60 złotych. Zdecydowanie warto i zdecydowanie polecam.

  Kto powinien kupić tę książkę? To pozycja obowiązkowa dla każdego, kto jest zainteresowany polskimi konstrukcjami technicznymi czy uzbrojeniem Wojska Polskiego w okresie międzywojennym. Jest to również pozycja niezbędna przy budowie i konwersjach modeli firmy Spójnia / Mirage Hobby w skali 1/35 i 1/72. Od dziś nie można się wymawiać brakiem materiałów.