"WW2 Uniform Books by Andrew Mollo?" Topic

I see that there are 2 different books that cover WW2 uniforms by Andrew Mollo: Army Uniforms of WW2 (1974) & Armed Forces of WW2 – Uniforms, Insignia, Organization (1981).

Can someone tell me the difference between the two? I'm guessing the 1st one might not include insignia & organization, but for the uniform parts, are they pretty much the same?

Thanks

The second one is bigger and includes services other than the Army. I can't recall if the plates from the first are included in the second, or if they are a whole different set. It also includes more org data.

If I were you I'd get the latter one. There's a large edition (9" x 13"?) from 1981 that can get kind of pricey. However, I noticed a much smaller-sized edition (4" x 6"?) for sale (and on-sale) at a Half-Price Books store in
Seattle yesterday. I didn't note the price because I have the old edition, but I would guess it can be had for $10-$15 or so.

They are both great and the prints are not at all repeated.
There were actually two "pocketsized" books published in the early 70's, one covered armies of WWII the other the airforces, navies and marines. Both very worth it if you can find them. still see them on used bookstore shelves here in Va. (Charlottesville, Richmond)for about $9-$12 (they originally retailed for abour $9.95)
The latter work was larger, was organized chronologically and had sections on organization, uniforms and insignia that the smaller works did not have. If you collected 54mm or larger in the 70'sand 80's, the artwork from these three often provided the inspiration for many sculptors of the period.

I have those two by him.

Blandford Colour Series: Army Uniforms of World War 2.
ISBN 0 7135 0611 2

Simply a uniform guide but covers the main uniforms of the main nations of the war.

Its an A5 sized publication, hard back in light tan with a wrap round colour illustrated dust jacket. Credits Malcolm McGregor as the Illustrator.

The format is of a central section of colour plates bookmarked to the front with text on the subject divided by nation, and followed by descriptions of each plate (similar to the osprey formant, only just over 200 entries!)

Some nations only get one or two images(eg Finns 3 Images Slovakia 2 images, Rumania and Hungary each get one image yet Norway gets 2!). The focus is very much on the main 'name' combatants.

The image quality is reminiscent of computer coloured period photographs complete with that slightly fuzzy cartoon look. This should not distract you from the fact that as a painting guide for the WW2 wargamer there are few better that cover almost every nation you will want to paint. None will do it in such a compact little book (its almost pocket sized).

The contents have appeared in similar sized soft back compilation/reprint works (eg from Grange Books) that can be found in discount book shops. There was one covering the whole 20th century taking plated for Blandfords WW1 book (Also Mollo) and their post war Uniforms book. But that publication only reprints parts of each and focuses on major nations in major conflicts.

Then there is the 'Big One'
"The Armed Forces of World War 2: Uniforms, Insignia and organisation"
ISBN 0-85613-296-9.

I nickname it as the "Big One" as it is the over large reference book format (bigger than A4) and is pretty much authoritative. Hard cover, pale blue with a wrap round illustrated dust jacket.

The format is in 5 Main chapters, each chapter focusing in a theater of operations (Europe 39-40, the Med, Eastern front, North West Europe 41-45, Far East) Each chapter is further sub-divided in to the nations involved.

When each nation is examined, a regimental and divisional make up is examined first for the army/arms. Then their uniform then insignia. This is followed by the Airforce and finally the Navy. Both Navy and Airforce suffer from a comparative lack of organizational information

It is Colour through out and Illustrations commented next to or below them.
The image quality is sharper and tend not to suffer from the fuzzy colourised period photo look that is a feature of the first book.
This credit the illustrations as by Malcolm McGregor & Pierre Turner

Weaknesses:
Both works covers the combatant nations rank and file.
If you want detail on 'Colourful' units like the LRDG, Polish 10th Mechanised, Italian Bersilgleri etc, you would be better served by an Osprey book or other dedicated work.
Some very minor nations are not covered or simply mentioned (eg Brazil) and smaller combatant nations in Europe (Yugoslavia and Greece) get only small coverage, but more than in the first book.

It was reprinted in Softcover a few years ago.

** Beware of the A5 sized reprint,**

it misses the eastern front chapter out completely! Yet references to charts and plates in that chapter are retained. There was a larger reprint edition (A4 or similar size) in softcover which is complete.

Either will server as a one stop shop for a painting guide for WW2 war gamers. The second book is superior in its coverage of the smaller nations and so I would recommend it. The organizational information is helpful and so is some of the other tid-bits hidden away (such as some reference to weapons used by the smaller nations armies).

I have the A5 sized reprint of The Armed Forces of World War 2: Uniforms, Insignia and organisation.
I find it very useful but as said above, the section on the Eastern front is missing.
Regards
Mick

I have jsut ordered the original version of The Armed Forces of World War 2: Uniforms, Insignia and organisation. for £8.00 GBP on Amazon.

** Beware of the A5 sized reprint,**

Crikey that's good to know!

There's also a mis-bound edition of "The Big One." If I recall they printed the Finnish section of the Eastern Front Chapter twice and left out either the Hungarians and Romanians.

One thing to note about the colors in these books: At one time I had two copies of this book, the above-mentioned mis-bound edition and its replacement. There was a very notable difference in the depth of the colors, probably resulting from being different print runs. So I wouldn't take the color plates as being anything more than an approximation of the so-called 'correct' colors.

**Quote**
There was a very notable difference in the depth of the colors, probably resulting from being different print runs. So I wouldn't take the color plates as being anything more than an approximation of the so-called 'correct' colors.

** En Quote **

I think that is true of any printed material though. Maybe Osprey has a better quality control. Then again, no matter how hard you try when painting figures, the paint is always an approximation because of uniform fade and scale perspective issues. It is nice to know if your are in the right area though.

I forgot to add, the plates in both are different, I have noticed no repeats between the two. This may be contractual as both are by different publishers.

There was a very notable difference in the depth of the colors, probably resulting from being different print runs. So I wouldn't take the color plates as being anything more than an approximation of the so-called 'correct' colors.

I wouldnt even do that!

mollo's books made me look at reproduction uniform sites because his unforms can be so greened or browned. it seems that consistancey at the printers was worse than ww2 dyes.

he has given the myth that loads of uniforms are brown when they arent, especially russian and french. it seems that allied uniform stuff actually changed colour when a different nationality picked it up.