Model builders of military vehicles and aircraft have come to rely on Kagero Publications for well-researched reference books. Their Topcolors series provides builders with a pairing of detailed color profiles of specific military vehicles or aircraft in a softcover book packaged with decals needed to reproduce the subjects covered within the publication. Topcolors 12 Eastern Front (Part 1) focuses on the camouflage and markings of (drum roll please…) forty-four different military vehicles that the Polish People’s Army used on the Eastern Front from 1943 to 1945. This 26-page all color book is presented in a larger (landscape) format than most previous Topcolors books and, because of the number of subjects that are covered, it comes with a clear sleeve containing two large-size decal sheets. The sheets are filled with everything that will be needed to replicate the markings of any of these subjects in all three major AFV scales: 1/72, 1/48, and 1/35. One sheet provides the markings in 1/72 and 1/48 scales, and the second sheet provides the markings in 1/32scale. The decals are well printed in opaque colors on thin film, and the markings for each vehicle are separated by dotted lines.

The book is well thought out. The first page provides a comprehensive description of the way the vehicles were painted and the paints that were used. One of the more interesting paragraphs describes the recipe for making the whitewash. This introduction is in English. From then on, each page serves a canvas for the beautiful color profiles, which are accompanied by bilingual captions in English and Polish. The subjects covered include a number of IS-2M heavy tanks, ISU-122 self-propelled guns, ISU-152 self-propelled guns, Studebaker US-6 trucks, SU-76M self-propelled guns, SU-85 self-propelled guns, and T-34-38 medium tanks; with each of these vehicle types organized in blocks. The profiles are well rendered and depict the subjects as they would have appeared in service with faded paint or whitewash, often dirty and showing the abuse typical of combat conditions. Model builders may find the profiles to be as inspiring as colorfully painted kit box art and similarly motivating.

Topcolors 12, just like many other books from Kagero, fills a void for many model builders by focusing on subjects that have been poorly presented in print or, in some cases, not presented at all. It should be popular with those who would like to add some variety to their array of miniature military vehicles employed on the Eastern Front in the last two years of World War II. And, it should prove to be a real bargain if a model builder plans to build and decal more than three or four.

This publication is highly recommended to AFV modeler builders. My thanks to IPMS/USA and Casemate Publishing for the opportunity to review this interesting book.