Stock #: KB11228
Author: William C. Stone

This book covers all the C&O Railway's wreck cranes, and other styles used in general operations in the 20th century. These cranes range in size from 60-tons to the giant 250-ton lift capacity. Many photos and diagrams/drawings not only document C&O's fleet of cranes, but also illustrate the technology of the crane as a piece of railroad equipment, showing how they were built and how they were used. All the nomenclature pertinent to cranes as a type, and for those used by C&O is covered. This book should give the modeler what is needed to adapt off-the-shelf models to C&O prototypes right down to accurate decals to letter them. Soft cover.

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Stock #: KB11192
Author: Waldemar Trojca

Now In Stock ~!

Volume 3 completes the three volume set on the history of the Tiger I tank and the units it served in. While a bit more expensive than volumes 1 and 2, it has been expanded to 520 pages and includes the histories of the following units: s.13./Pz.Rgt. GD, III Tiger Abt./Pz.Rgt. GD, s.8./SS-Pz.Rgt., s.9./3. SS-Pz..Rgt., s.Pz. Abt. (Fkl.) 301, Tiger Kp. Meyer, Pz.Kp. Hummel, Tiger Gruppe Fehrmann, Panzerkompanie Paderborn, Panzerkompanie Panther, Panzerabteilung Kummersdorf/ Munchenberg. Additional photos have been included for the following Panzer Abteilungen: 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 508, 509, and 424.

Also included is the continuation of the combat histories in 1944 and 1945 of the heavy tank battalions s.Pz.Abt. 501 through 510. In addtion units 13. s.Pz.Kp./SS-Pz.Rgt. 1 LSSAH until April 1944 and s.SS.Pz.Abt. 101 from November 1943 - August 1944 are also covered.1

The author has also added some photos which have been discovered since volumes 1 and 2 were published. For example, there are 30 photos from s. Panzer Abteilung 509, including a real nice one of a Königstiger.

The book contains 543 photos (either new or graphically improved), 174 new color profiles (includes some for units in two previous volumes), and 67 organigrams of all units in the three volumes. A number of photos and profiles of Panzer IIIs have also been included, as for a time they also served with the first five Tiger tank battalions. Hard cover.

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Stock #: KB11159
Author: Tim McLelland

Introductory offer!

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom is perhaps the best known and most popular of all post-WWII military aircraft. Its extremely long and diverse operational history, the huge variety of military roles it has undertaken and its broad international appeal - most notably with the US, Germany and UK - makes it an incomparable Cold War era supersonic aircraft.

When it first emerged towards the end of the 1950s, it represented a generational step from the first postwar jets and later 'Century Series' aircraft, to the modern high-tech fighters such as the F-16. The Phantom was the most significant fighter-bomber aircraft to serve with the US Navy and Marine Corps, and the US Air Force. It was also the most numerous and significant aircraft type to participate in the Vietnam War. Apart from being an iconic US aircraft it was also a hugely successful international design and was purchased by the UK, Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Turkey.

This detailed new volume provides an in-depth, comprehensive study of the development of the F-4 Phantom, tracing its full service deployment with the USAF, USN, and USMC, as well as with the air forces of a host of countries around the globe. The author also covers in detail the F-4 Phantom's role both as a tactical nuclear strike aircraft and an air defense interceptor for the US and UK air forces. Hard cover.

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Stock #: KB11157
Author: Waldemar & Gregor Trojca

Now in Stock! Introductory Offer!

Tigers and Königstiger of the LSSAH and s.SS-Pz.Abt 101/501 is the first volume in the series History and Equipment of the Waffen-SS. It portrays the combat history of the Tigers of 4. (s)Pz.Kp. and 13. (s)Pz.Kp. of  SS-Pz.Gren.Div. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, and from 22.10.1943 of 1. SS-Pz.Div. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. The members of these two companies were later used to establish the s.SS-Pz.Abt 101 and 501. In addition to many photographs and organigrams showing the composition of the two companies and two Abteilung, the book contains many colour drawings of Tigers and Königstiger from 1943 to 1945.

This stand-alone volume is a must for historians, modellers and collectors. With English/German text, this large-format, hard cover,  320 page volume includes: 36 pages of text, 282 photographs, including 3 in color, 216 color profiles, 3 color profiles in 3D and 10 organigrams. Hard cover.

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Stock #: KB10791
Author: Robert Johnson & Uwe Feist

This edition covers weapons employed by the Wehrmacht Heer (Army). Beginning with the Leuchtpistole (flare pistol) through Granatwerfer (mortars), Panzerfaust, Minen (mines), Goliath and the Ladungsträger (demolition tank), the book gives the reader an inside look of the vast Arsenal of Weapons of the German Infantry employed during World War II. English text, 502 color and B&W photos. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: KB10788
Author: Guy E. Martin

Biographies of the twenty-seven Holders of the Diamonds to the Knight's Cross from the Luftwaffe, Heer, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS: Werner Molders, Adolf Galland, Gordon Gollob, Hans-Joachim Marseilles, Hermann Graf, Erwin Rommel, Wolfgang Luth, Walter Nowotny, Adelbert Schulz, Hans-ulrich Rudel, Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz, Herbert Otto Gille, Hans Hube, Albert Kesselring, Helmut Lent, Sepp Dietrich, Walter Model, Erich Hartmann, Hermann Balck, Gerhard Ramcke, Wolfgang Schnaufer, Albrecht Brandi, Ferdinand Schorner, Hasso von Manteuffel, Theodor Tolsdorff, Dr. Karl Mauss, Dietrich von Saucken. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: KB10787
Author: Ralf Schumann & Wolfgang Westerwelle

This book is the second in a new series profiling the Knight’s Cross holders of the Wehrmacht in World War II. Concise biographies, rare photographs of personalities, aircraft, and award documents cover not only known soldiers and airmen, but lesser known KC holders as well. This volume covers two famed Luftwaffe fighter aces – Heinz Bär and Joachim Muncheberg – Army infantry officer Gerhard Turke, and Luftwaffe NCO Arnold Huebner.

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Stock #: KB10785
Author: Jens Westemeier

In this new historical investigation, German historian Jens Weste-meier portrays the rise and fall of an SS war criminal, and demolishes persistent myths of a Nazi icon. The picture revealed here is at odds with the popular Peiper mythology created by wartime and contemporary National Socialist propaganda, novels, motion pictures, and right-wing Peiper biographies. Using primary sources and personal interviews, a compelling image of the SS colonel emerges. The result is a highly readable and scholarly account with the first complete picture of Joachim Peiper. Now, a previously little understood Waffen-SS icon comes to life in a book that is at once an important contribution for our understanding of World War II history, as well as the place of the Waffen-SS in Hitler's Third Reich. Hard cover more»

Stock #: KB10764
Author: Thomas M. Johnson

This four volume set by Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, has been compiled to serve as a useful and authoritative reference on the daggers of Nazi Germany, and has been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basic patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational, and it adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject. Within these books one will see coverage of the historical background; the manufacturing techniques; constructional information; the actual basic patterns; variations and rarities; the art of collecting, and a whole host of other salient facts of absorbing interest. more»

Stock #: KB10763
Author: Jeremy Dixon

This extensive, two-volume set presents every recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, awarded during the Second World War, and presented personally by Hitler from 1940 until 1945. Described inside – and shown with at least one photograph – are each of the 889 recipients from the Luftwaffe, Heer, Waffen-SS, and Kriegsmarine, as well as foreign recipients. This work contains over 1000 photographs, from the author’s own collection as well as other private collections. This is first time such a work has been written in the English language and is a must for anyone interested in Germany’s highest decoration, as well as anyone interested in the careers of each recipient. Volume 1 is 320 pages ~ Volume 2 is 328 pages. Hard covers. more»

Stock #: KB10756
Author: Axel Urbanke

Text in English and German!! To the Allies they were target number one - the German submarine tankers. The Allied hunter-killer groups had express orders to sink the tankers first. The enemy knew that the German submarine tankers made it possible for U-boats to operate off the east coast of the United States, South Africa, the west coast of Africa and the Caribbean. Unlike conventional tankers, these large Type XIV submarines, also known as “milk cows”, could reach their areas of operation without being discovered. The submarine tankers carried sufficient fuel, provisions, torpedoes and spare parts for up to 24 U-boats, doubling or tripling their normal endurance. The “milk cows” also carried a doctor who could treat sick or injured crewmen.

In 1942 the submarine tankers were able to rendezvous with the combat submarines at prearranged locations largely undisturbed. In 1943, however, all this changed. From the beginning of the year, the Allies succeeded in decoding German radio transmissions and from these intercepts learned where the tankers and operational boats would be meeting. From then on the tankers were hunted down relentlessly. Wherever the “milk cows” surfaced, Allied anti-submarine groups were waiting. Rapid transfer of supplies, often in bad weather, rendezvous points changed at the last minute, and attacks by Allied ASW aircraft became a part of everyday life for the “milk cow” crews. They often worked to the limits of their physical and mental endurance to complete their mission. In the end, all of the submarine tankers were sunk by the Allies, the last in the summer of 1944. Hundreds of men went down with the submarines.

The story of the ten German submarine tankers in the Second World War has never been thoroughly documented in words and pictures. This book describes the difficult submarine tanker operations and the war waged by the crews against the power of the sea and the Allied anti-submarine forces and thus fills a significant gap in the history of the German submarine arm. Hard cover.

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Stock #: KB10755
Author: Kenneth D. Alford

NOW AVAILABLE!! Near the close of World War II, two hell-bent-for-leather American units moved relentlessly toward the village of Berchtesgaden, nestled in the Bavarian Alps. The much-decorated 101st Airborne Division had fought its way from Normandy, Bastogne and through much of Germany, and the illustrious 1269th Engineer Combat Battalion had followed suit, starting south at Marseilles. Both forces would converge on Hitler’s hideaway, and awaiting them was a dazzling treasure trove nefariously collected by none other than Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. The greedy, art-loving Nazi leader had accumulated a vast and dazzling array of paintings, precious jewels, and many other objets d’art – four trainloads’ worth. Following the age-old adage of "To the victor belong the spoils," the rendezvousing American soldiers helped themselves to the crème de la crème of the Nazi loot. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: KB10751
Author: Branislav Radovic and Martin Stiles

Due April 1st!!! This large-format book contains over 300 previously unpublished photographs in superb high-quality reproduction. Originally photographed in May 1941 by an SS-Kriegsberichter, the book depicts the 1st Battalion, Leibstandarte SS “Adolf Hitler” (LSSAH) during their victorious march through Greece in 1941. Among the many images are notable Waffen-SS personalities – including Peiper, Pleiss, Witt, Wunsche, Meyer, Wittmann, Himmler, and Dietrich – as well as clear, professional images of uniforms, vehicles and equipment, all fully captioned. Also included is a brief summary and map of the campaign, rank insignia illustrations, glossary of terms, plus several “then and now” images of the battalion crossing the Gulf of Patras in pursuit of retreating Allied forces. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: KB10749
Author: George A. Larson

This complete history of Ellsworth Air Force Base tells the story of the base, units, and personnel that have been defending the United States for over seventy years, and traces the proud heritage of this South Dakota military facility beginning in World War II. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, Convair B-36 Peacemakers, and Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers have all stood at the ready on Ellsworth’s runway. The current bomber out of Ellsworth is the B-1B Lancer, flown by the 28th Bomb Wing who continues to defend America now and into the future. Hard cover.

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Stock #: KB10740

The Eastern Front eviscerated the Wehrmacht. The massive turtle shape of the Russian ISU-152 that fills the gatefold will give you an idea of the size of the enemy forces that opposed the Germans in 1944-45. Nevertheless, the Germans resisted, using every weapon and means at their disposal, from concrete and mesh to infra red rays. Included in this volume are the perfect images for Panzerwrecks 14. Soft cover. more»

Stock #: KB10706
Author: Lee Archer

This volume contains 133 rare and unpublished large format photographs sourced from around the world. This volume features Weapons Dump - Italian Style, The Story of Nashorn '214', Elefants of 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653,Dug-in Panther: Concealed Killer. Recaptured Shermans from 760th US Tank Battalion and NZ 19th Armoured Regiment Sturmgeschütz IV fitted with concrete 'armour' Unseen and rare photos of the Panzerjäger Elefant, including how the Allies towed them Unusual field modification of a Sd.Kfz.10/4 with a 2cm Scotti Flak T34s in Italy - complete with veteran's story of their destruction, AB41s surrendered to US forces. Soft cover. more»

Stock #: KB10665
Author: Waldemar Trojca

The book contains full technical coverage, including many details regarding the ships and their aircraft. One of the sections is devoted to the development of radar equipment used on American naval vessels during WW II, with emphasis on the carriers (many CAD drawings of various radar antennas). Another section presents all types of radar equipment installed in the various aircraft (fighter, bomber and torpedo-bomber) that were stationed on the carriers. A chronology of operations of the Essex-class carriers is presented in a table. The history of each Essex is presented on many pages, with a description of practically all of the combat operations in which it took part. Data giving the locations of individual carriers during the actions in the Pacific during 1943-1945 is given in tables on 26 pages. This information is not limited to the Essex-class; locations of the CVL and CVE-class carriers are also given. Presented also are the names of the commanders of the individual ships, as well as the commanders and orders of battle of the various squadrons and air groups stationed on them. Additionally, the book contains 60 tables, which present the complete order of battle of all air groups (CAG/CVG) that operated on the decks of Essex-class carriers during WW II. The number and condition of each aircraft type is given. This information is presented in 2-week intervals, allowing for an examination of the history of their use. The book also contains a wealth of information regarding the various aircraft (Hellcat, Corsair, Dauntless, Helldiver and Avenger). A separate Map book is included. In addition to maps of the better-known operations and actions, such as in the Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima or Okinawa, many other actions at less-known atolls and islands, where aircraft from the Essex-class carriers participated, are presented. Many maps are devoted to the operations of Task Force 38 and Task Force 58 during 1944-1945. On them are marked the locations of the sinking or damage of almost all Japanese naval vessels, as well as the bombing of land targets. The book is completed with the addition of perfectly drawn colour profiles; all camouflage variants of the Essex carriers and all types of the aircraft stationed on them. The book and B2 sheets present computer drawings and 2D and 3D colour profiles of the following Essex-class carriers: INTREPID CV-11 from January, 1944 and June, 1944, LEXINGTON CV-16 from October, 1944 and RANDOLPH CV-15 from January 1945. 132 color photos in color and 465 photographs in B/W, 99 tables, 175 technical ddrawings, 430 color profiles and 95 maps. Hard cover.

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Stock #: 90123
Author: Waldemar Trojca

Volume 2 ~ TIGER Technical and Operational History will have approximately 88 pages of color profiles and 3D representations, 560 Black & White photographs and many line drawings. This volume covers the years 1944 to 1945. Also covered are the battalions 501-511 and 3 Waffen-SS battalions, the Grossdeutschland Tiger battalion and the various independent companies. Volume 1 & 2 will be the most comprehensive source to date on the history of the Tiger 1. Hard cover.

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Stock #: KB10573
Author: Brad Elward

A DEVELOPMENT and OPERATIONAL HISTORY. The story of how the Super Hornet and Growler came into existence is the focus of this new book. The F/A-18E/F has its roots in the late-1980s Hornet 2000 study, which itself evaluated ways to enhance the range, payload, and bring-back capability of the existing F/A-18 Hornet. Through a series of trade-offs imposed by largely limited defense funds, what emerged was a versatile, affordable strike fighter aircraft that has served the Navy well since its fleet introduction in 2002. The Growler has a similar history. Itself an offshoot of the Super Hornet program, the EA-18G brought many of the Super Hornet's attributes - speed, maneuverability, self-defense capability, and advanced systems - into the electronic attack community and is now posed to assume all such missions from the venerable EA-6B Prowler within the next few years. The book draws on interviews with many of the key players in the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G program and on many press reports of the day to tell the story of how these aircraft were designed, developed, and deployed. Moreover, the book provides insights into the problems faced by these key individuals as well as the management methods they used to produce aircraft that have consistently been delivered at or ahead of schedule, under cost, and under weight. Hard Cover. more»

Stock #: KB10572
Author: Jochen Kaiser

DIE RITTERKREUZTRAGER DER KAMPFFLIEGER - 2

Volume 2 covers 165 Ritterkreuzträger with the letter L till Z and one Oak Leave amendment, corrections and additions, photos of award ceremonies, successful crews, group photos, funerals and graves, as well as documents and log books. The book is illustrated with a portrait photo and three or four other photos each winner of the Swords and the Oak Leaves, and two photos of each winner of the Knight’s Cross, a portrait photo and another photo depicting a milestone event, an aircraft or a mission tally on the tail of an aircraft. Volume I thus contains more than 510 photos, Volume 2 more then 440 photos, some of them in color. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: KB10450
Author: Jochen Kaiser

DIE RITTERKREUZTRAGER DER KAMPFFLIEGER

65 years after the end of the war, this work by Jochen Kaiser fills a gap in the history of the Luftwaffe. These books will make it possible to finally identify many of the bomber crewmen who won the Knight’s Cross. The books will also document the military careers of these men for posterity, factually and without glorification or political bias. As we anticipate that this topic will only appeal to a interested circle of readers, and the publisher has decided to print just 600 copies. At present there are no plans for a second printing. Hard cover. Over 500 B+W photos, several in color. Published with both English and German text. Hard cover more»

Stock #: KB10179
Author: Michael Hill

Tidal Wave! August 1, 1943. The legendary low level raid on Ploesti, Rumania by the 376th, 93rd, 44th, 389th and 98th Bomb Groups, is described by author/historian Mike Hill in this new large format, 50th Anniversary book. Never before published photos taken during the raid, many from the original negatives, dramatically show the raid, and give the reader a sense of the intensity of fierce flak, and aerial combat. Mike has interviewed many of the surviving veterans of the mission, giving the story a personal flavor from the unique view-point of the crew members. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: 90124
Author: Axel Urbanke

This is one of the best books I have ever read V. Simpson. This book is quite simply superb with a mixture of clear black & whites (163), and excellently reproduced color photos(23). Axel Urbanke went through all the Archives in Germany to come up with these unpublished photographs. The theme is about the final battles for the Reich, late 1944-1945, on the North-Eastern Front. This is an extremely atmospheric book, providing great inspiration and references with compelling insights. Mostly photos and some maps, with supporting material through out the book. Great inspiration for armor modelers, dioramists and history buffs. Never before seen photos. Written in both English and German. Hard cover. more»

Stock #: 80036

As the first unit to fly the Merlin-engined P-51B in combat, the 354th Fighter Group adopted the nickname "Pioneer Mustang Group." Until D-Day, it escorted 8th AF heavy bombers to targets on the European Continent. The group then moved to France and supported Patton's Third Army from Normandy to Bavaria, and also participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Its pilots scored over 600 confirmed air victories, and forty-three of them became aces. P-47 from other fighter groups are covered too. Hard Cover. more»