Always happy to see new items for the PTO. Not real sure on this one. I found all 4 photos that were shown in either one of these books; The 2 colorized photos are new, and the plate of the Type 97 is the same but different in that it is a 2 sided view, which actually helps in determining some finer points then in just the normal side view. Of course I still have to buy one just on the off chance there is something not in any other reference I have, as everyone else has stated, PTO is few and far between. Thanks for the heads up, Bob

I bought all 5 volumes of the AJ Press Japanese Armor series and they contain everything I always searched for for reference on IJA armor. They are right now the be-all and end-all of IJA reference. I saw this book last week at Jadar and ordered it immediately. I can't wait to get it. And you know what? I've looked, for years. 90% of the material in these AJ IJA books YOU CAN'T find on the internet!

Only 90%? Personally, the subject doesn't ring any bells for me, but with the increasing interest in Japanese AFVs, it should hopefully prove to be popular...

I have the 5 previous volumes and they are wonderful indeed, not just for the photos and plans but because they cover the use of the AFV's in very thorough detail, with an extensive write-up of most every AFV action in the war. However, I really need to thumb through this one in person as I'm not sure what will be new. Matt

Matt (and all), is there a "if you're going to buy one book, this is the one" book? I have such a wide-ranging interest horizon, I don't think I could justify all 5 volumes for a subject where I might build 1-2 Japanese tanks. But I'd like to know more about the topic.

The AJ Press books cover about 5 vehicles per volume, starting with the light tanks at the beginning of IJA tank development and progressing through to the mediums and experimental heavies at the end of the war. If you want one good "overview" book I would suggest Steve Zaloga's Osprey title, "Japanese Tanks 1939-45". If you would like to learn more online, I suggest Taki's IJA Page an excellent and accurate reference. I have 18 IJA vehicle kits myself.

Personally, I found the 5 volume series a Godsend. Partly because the first 20% or so of each book really explores all the IJA/IJN's tracked AFV's but even more because of the huge amount of text covering their use in most every battle they paricipated in. I've never found anything comparable in English for Japanese WW2 tank operations. Aside from a fair amount of grammatically dodgy translation in the text it's really, really lovely. Matt

Thanks for the reference, Matt. I should wait on which book to purchase until I decide which kit(s) to build.

Taki has already written an errata list for it and posted it on his site: http://www3. plala.or. jp/takihome/ Chris "toadman" Hughes Toadman's Tank Pictures