{"id":10027,"date":"2018-04-20T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-20T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hntdaab.co.uk\/blog\/?p=10027"},"modified":"2021-10-29T02:59:37","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T01:59:37","slug":"impressions-osprey-new-vanguard-technical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hntdaab.co.uk\/blog\/2018\/04\/20\/impressions-osprey-new-vanguard-technical\/","title":{"rendered":"Impressions: Osprey New Vanguard Technical"},"content":{"rendered":"

The historical wargaming hobby has many aspects to it for people to enjoy. One of the aspects I particularly like is learning the period as it’s a great way to learn tactics, be inspired for scenarios and find references for paint schemes. When looking for information, one of my favourite places to start is Osprey Publishing’s various ranges. Well written and formatted and with great artwork to illustrate the subject, these books help to provide a great overview. So when they showed off their new releases for April 2018, I noticed one book in there I just had to pre-order.<\/p>\n

Written by Leigh Neville, who has also done several books for Osprey (including the RAID book on Takur Ghar<\/a> and the hardback Special Forces in the War on Terror<\/a> book that lives in my reference pile), the latest book covers a subject that has been featured quite heavily on here – Technicals! So for the latest part of Project Technical<\/a>, we’re going to take a look at some reference material for building your own fleet of vehicles.<\/p>\n

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The book is the usual form factor for Osprey. Softback, 48 pages and colour throughout, the formatting makes the book an easy read. It’s also packed full of pictures (at least one on each page on average) and includes 13 pieces of Peter Denis’s incredible artwork. There are a whole host of base chassis shown ranging from the classic pickups to Land Rovers and trucks.<\/p>\n

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The book kicks off with a basic introduction to the concept of the technical as well as looking into the very early roots of the idea. A small section then looks at the most common weapon systems found in use with the technical. After that, it runs through various key conflicts the technical has been involved in starting with Beirut and The Great Toyota War in Africa, passing through Somalia (including an interesting bit of information on an alternative origin of the name “Technical”) and the Balkans before looking at their use in conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. It’s a pretty comprehensive look at the history, with a focus on showing the various unique vehicles from each theatre. This is a great inspiration for how best to make your technicals stand out.<\/p>\n

Finally the last section jumps the fence and looks at the use of technicals by Special Operations forces. This section covers the whole history of them, such as the use of Land Cruisers in Gulf War and some details on Russian technicals. There is a lot of information I here I hadn’t read before, as well as plenty of photos of pickups with the Special Operations modifications I have on my own Spectre vehicles.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Do I recommend the book? Wholeheartedly, yes. I think it’s a great little reference, covering all aspects of the topic with a great level of detail without bogging down trying to tell you them. The pictorial element helps to bring the information to life, showing off the weird and wonderfully variety of things people have made.<\/p>\n

The only problem with the book? It would have been nice to have last year when I started building mine own collection of these vehicles!<\/p>\n

If you want to pick up your own copy, it’s available in PDF, ePub and physical copy over on the Osprey Publishing website<\/a>. You can also get it via Amazon – you’ll find two affiliate links below (pointing to the UK and US stores)<\/p>\n