Review of M42 Duster
A Visual History of the U.S. Army's
Modern Mobile Anti-aircraft Platform
Author: David Doyle
Ampersand Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9895547-7-0
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $29.95
ISBN: 978-0-9895547-7-0
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $29.95
HISTORY:
The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun, or "Duster," is an armored light air-defense gun built for the U.S. Army from 1952 until December 1959. Production of this vehicle was performed by the tank division of the General Motors Corporation. It used components from the M41 light tank and was constructed of all welded steel.
A total of 3,700 M42s were built. The vehicle has a crew of six and weighs 22,500 kg (49,500 lb) fully loaded. Maximum speed is 45 mph with a range of 100 miles. Armament consists of fully automatic twin 40 mm M2A1 Bofors, with a rate of fire of 2 ×120 rounds per minute (rpm) and either a .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 or 7.62mm M60 machine gun. The 500 hp, six-cylinder, Continental (or Lycoming Engines), air-cooled, gasoline engine is located in the rear of the vehicle. It was driven by a cross-drive, 2-speed Allison transmission.
Although the M42 Duster was initially designed for an anti-aircraft role, it proved highly successful when used in the Vietnam War against unarmored ground forces.
THE BOOK:
Ampersand Publishing is a Hobby Link Japan company. They are based in Delray Beach, Florida USA.
This book is soft-cover of 128 pages in 11" x 8 1/2" page format, with the pages opening to the 11" width. Similar to how Squadron in Action books are laid out.
This book was printed in China. It came in a self-sealing clear envelope.
The book contains 178 color photos and 80 black and white ones. All are very sharp, well-focused shots.
The T141 prototype for the M42 is shown.
There are 2 data lists provided.
A number of M42 Dusters survive in the U.S. and several foriegn countries. There are 102 walk-around type color photos of one that is owned and restored by the National Museum of Americans in Wartime at the end of the book.
This is one neat book and will be of great interest to modelers and armor enthusiasts alike.
There are two M42 model kits available. One is by Tamiya and the other one by AFV Club.
Highly recommended.
I want to thank the folks at Ampersand and at Hobby Link for this review sample.
All Ampersand books can be viewed on their website at:
www.ampersandpubco.com
The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun, or "Duster," is an armored light air-defense gun built for the U.S. Army from 1952 until December 1959. Production of this vehicle was performed by the tank division of the General Motors Corporation. It used components from the M41 light tank and was constructed of all welded steel.
A total of 3,700 M42s were built. The vehicle has a crew of six and weighs 22,500 kg (49,500 lb) fully loaded. Maximum speed is 45 mph with a range of 100 miles. Armament consists of fully automatic twin 40 mm M2A1 Bofors, with a rate of fire of 2 ×120 rounds per minute (rpm) and either a .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 or 7.62mm M60 machine gun. The 500 hp, six-cylinder, Continental (or Lycoming Engines), air-cooled, gasoline engine is located in the rear of the vehicle. It was driven by a cross-drive, 2-speed Allison transmission.
Although the M42 Duster was initially designed for an anti-aircraft role, it proved highly successful when used in the Vietnam War against unarmored ground forces.
THE BOOK:
Ampersand Publishing is a Hobby Link Japan company. They are based in Delray Beach, Florida USA.
This book is soft-cover of 128 pages in 11" x 8 1/2" page format, with the pages opening to the 11" width. Similar to how Squadron in Action books are laid out.
This book was printed in China. It came in a self-sealing clear envelope.
The book contains 178 color photos and 80 black and white ones. All are very sharp, well-focused shots.
The T141 prototype for the M42 is shown.
There are 2 data lists provided.
A number of M42 Dusters survive in the U.S. and several foriegn countries. There are 102 walk-around type color photos of one that is owned and restored by the National Museum of Americans in Wartime at the end of the book.
This is one neat book and will be of great interest to modelers and armor enthusiasts alike.
There are two M42 model kits available. One is by Tamiya and the other one by AFV Club.
Highly recommended.
I want to thank the folks at Ampersand and at Hobby Link for this review sample.
All Ampersand books can be viewed on their website at:
www.ampersandpubco.com
They invite dealers for their books.