Introduction
AK Interactive provide a very broad range of modelling materials, to improve the finished look of your models. They also provide a growing number of reference books, covering everything from how to use modelling materials, and visual reference on vehicles and events. In this title we get an in-depth look at the Willy's Jeep.
Review
This offering from AK Interactive is a soft backed book of 148 pages and a card cover. The author of this release is Michael P Reuvekamp. The paper inside is a good quality paper of a reasonable thickness, with a gloss finish which shows the images to good effect. The majority of this title is of a visual nature, with a short preface provided.
The images in this title are a mix of photographic, drawn and operational manual inserts. The photographs of the vehicle both period and new are of a very good quality, with captions as a guide to clarify what you are looking at. The book begins with a broad coverage of the vehicle as a whole, and rather than covering just one vehicle, three different vehicles are covered in this title, which are logically split up.
After getting a look at the vehicles as a whole, you are then presented with images showing very specific areas of the vehicle as an example, a variometer and fire extinguisher clamps. Stripped chassis are also photographed in detail, which results in a very comprehensive guide to the Canadian Willy's Jeep. Another example of going the extra yard, is coverage of items such as the tool kit provided with the vehicle which just provides that little bit of extra information that makes the difference between an OK title and a GOOD title.
Of particular benefit to this book, are the period photographs that cover the Jeep in interesting positions, in great clarity with one even showing how to make a Jeep float to get it across a river. Another benefit of the period photographs, supposedly showing the wiper blade motor, but which shows a field drawn sign of a topless lady and the words “Slow dangerous curves ahead”. The result of this book being a complete guide to the Willy's Jeep and some great looks at it in use during WWII, which further adds to its appeal.
Conclusion
It the Willy’s Jeep has any appeal to you as a modeller, or for that matter someone who owns a Willy’s Jeep and wants to make it as accurate as possible. This release from AK Interactive will give you a great starting point for either project. The written content is very light, but the photographs and captions more than make up for that.