MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modelling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly”, a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor. From 1997 the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999, and since then they have built up a list of books on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history. MMP Books are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications.

The Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone was part of a series of light fighter aircraft developed for the French Air Force prior to the outbreak of World War II. Based on earlier Caudron-Renault racing aircraft, the C.710 prototype first flew on July 18, 1936. Development continued with the C.711 and C.712 outfitted with stronger supercharged V-12 engines, leading into the C.713 that introduced retractable landing gear. The prototype C.714 achieved its first flight in April 1938 with an updated engine capable of inverted flight. Production was limited to around 90 aircraft (a source variable number) out of planned orders of 200. Some sources indicate that as many as 80 aircraft were eventually sent to Finland, but the actual number was probably substantially lower.. Although the CR.714 was lightweight and fast, its wooden airframe ultimately limited future engine enhancements. After Poland fell to Germany, many Polish pilots flew the CR.714 against the Germans in the Polish Warsaw Squadron I/145. Despite being no match for the Messerschmitt Bf.109, the Poles managed to achieve 12 confirmed victories (plus 3 unconfirmed).

This booklet is one of the latest in Mushroom Models' series, Scale Plans. This series format consists of a 4-view black and white scale plans; in this case the Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone. Since this series is meant to support a much more detailed Mushroom Models monograph, you won’t find an introduction or background summary, as this series dives straight into the scale drawings. In this case, what you get is detailed scale plans on six A3 size for a total of twelve fold-out pages. This book is a supplement to the monster 456-9age MMP book: Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone. The Ultimate Story by Bartłomiej Belcarz, Kari Stenman, Marek Ryś, Franciszek Strzelczyk that was released on September 20, 2019. The drawings in each scale cover top, bottom, front, port, and starboard profiles. These drawings depict variations in landing gear, trim tabs, machine gun ejection ports, and canopy positions. You will also find fuselage and wing sections along with detailed scrap views of the exhaust ports and propeller.

The contents includes the following sections:

• 1/72 Drawings [Page 01]
• 1/48 Drawings
• 1/32 Drawings [Page 12]

MMP Books’ Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone Scale Plans provides a quick reference for modelers. The drawings in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 support the wide range of model kits available. I have always liked the ‘racer’ style of the CR.714, even if it was not the most successful fighter it was hoped to be. New releases of the Cr.714 are available in all three scales from Special Hobby (1/32), RS Models (1/48 and 1/72). I already have the CR.714 in all three scales in the form of Special Hobby (1/32), JGMT resin (1/48), and the venerable Heller kit in 1/72. There are many aftermarket options available in decals, photo-etch, resin, and masking.

My thanks to Casemate Publications, Mushroom Model Publications and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great book.

Highly recommended!