This tome is the third in this new series, Single. This series format consists of a 4-view colour profile, scale plans, and photo details of a single variant; in this case the Hawker Hurricane I. You won’t find an introduction or background summary, as this series dives straight into the drawings, illustrations, and photographs. 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. MMPBooks are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications.

Artur Juszczak has illustrated over forty books for MMP. Some of these titles include: Boulton Paul Defiant (MMP Yellow 6117); Hurricane Ace Josef František: The True Story (MMP Blue 9); Henschel Hs 123 (MMP Orange 8114); and Fighters over France and Low Countries (MMP Red 4).

Karolina Holda has illustrated several books for MMP. Some of these titles include: Finnish Fighter Colours 1939-1945 Volume 1 (White); Finnish Fighter Colours 1939-1945 Volume 2 (White); Finnish Bomber Colours 1939-1945 (White); Finnish Fighters WWII (Camouflage & Decals 3); Messerschmitt Bf 109F (Camouflage & Decals 5); and Petlyakov Pe-2 & Upe-2 / Tupolev USB (Polish Wings 26).

The front and back covers by Karolina Holda features Ltm Aarne Arte’s Hawker Hurricane I, HC458, circa September 1941 top view. Dariusz Karnas supplied six 1/72 line drawings and four 1/48 line drawings (including 11 cross-sections for both scales). I counted 37 black and white photos and five color photographs of the cockpit. These photographs include a mix of period pics, Hawker Hurricane I manual pages, along with detailed photographs of Hawker Hurricanes and Sea Hurricanes under restoration. Dariusz Karnas provided the page width sized color instrument panel (with instrument description legend). Karolina Holda finished the book with the full-page width color profiles (left, right, top, bottom) of Ltm Aarne Arte’s Hawker Hurricane I. The Table of Contents focuses on the following sections:

• 1/72 Drawings [Page 3]
• 1/48 Drawings
• Captioned Photographs [Page 9, 20]
• Color Instrument Panel Illustration
• Color 4-View Illustration

MMPBooks’ Hawker Hurricane I provides a quick reference for modelers. The drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 support the wide range of existing 1/72 and 1/48 model kits available and the captioned detailed photos provide a detailed reference. The color illustration of the instrument panel with its legend is noteworthy for those looking for that extra detail.

This tome is essential if you're considering building the 2015 tooling of the Airfix 1/48 kit (especially if you are still hanging on to the Airfix, Classic Airframes, Hasegawa, Italeri (Tamiya), and Pegasus kits). If you have any interest in Hurricane I, this is your book.

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

Highly recommended!