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.

Bartlomiej Belcarz is an aviation and modeling specialist. His published works (in Polish, French, and English) are well-known and highly regarded by military and aviation enthusiasts. Notable books include the staggering 456 page monograph on the Caudron Cr.714 C1 Cyclone, The Ultimate Story. He has been a prolific author for MMP with several contributions in the Polish Wings series and books in the MMP, Blue, Yellow, and Orange series.

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

Dariusz Karnas is a skilled modeler and amateur aviation historian. He lives in Przemyśl, Poland. He has authored or contributed color plates and / or scale drawings for over one hundred publications. These include MMP’s Polish Wings, Scale Plans, and Inside series as well as books in the MMP Yellow series: Fieseler 156 Storch 1938-1945 (2012) and Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15 (2004). You can find Dariusz Karnas on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/people/Dariusz-Karnas/100008987326348 .

The primary aviation manufacturer in Poland was the state owned PZL (Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze - State Aviation Works). Their initial designs were the forerunners of the PZL P.11, all high gull-wing, all metal fighters. Achieving its first flight in August 1931, it was considered (briefly) to be the most advanced fighter in the world. The PZL P.11 was Poland’s primary fighter throughout the thirties and faced Germany’s air power in 1939. Unfortunately by that time, the advances in fighter design had bypassed the PZL P.11 and it was not competitive with the Messerschmitt Bf.109s that it came up against. Many of the 325 PZL.11s that had been manufactured were destroyed in short order, although as many as 36 may have escaped to Romania. They would join the Romanian IAR license built P.11 (known as the PZL P.24) would serve as trainers and spare parts. The sole surviving P.11c is on display in the Polish Aviation Museum.

This latest monograph by Bartłomiej Belcarz and Tomasz J. Kopański is a revised and extended second edition on the PZL P.11c. This effectively replaces the smaller format version of this series published October 19, 2013, that consisted of 128 pages. The cover photograph depicts a PZL P.11c of the 113th Fighter Flight, based near Warsaw, probably flown by Lt. Hieronim Dudwaɬ. Artur Juszczak’s color side profile graces the rear cover and depicts an early PZL P.11c. I counted 143 black and white photographs along with 120 color pictures. There were 28 color side profiles along with four color top views with lower wing colors displayed. Color scrap details (see Page 125) are also included alongside their respective side profiles. There are seventeen 1/48 black and white line drawings. You will also find eighteen tables and a majority of these tables focus on the combat victories for each of the Fighter Flights listed below in the contents. You will also find a labeled, full page color illustration of the instrument panel along with a color paint chip chart. The Table of Contents includes the following sections:

• Introduction
• Development [Page 007]
  • PZL Family Map
  • PZL P.11 Versions [Table]
• Pre-War Operations
• P.11 Goes To War
  • Pursuit Brigade
  • 111th Fighter Flight “Tadeuśz Kosciuszko”
  • 112th Fighter Flight
  • 113th Fighter Flight
  • 114th Fighter Flight
  • 123rd Fighter Flight
  • 121st Fighter Flight
  • 122nd Fighter Flight
  • 131st Fighter Flight
  • 132nd Fighter Flight
  • 141st Fighter Flight
  • 142nd Fighter Flight
  • 151st Fighter Flight
  • 152nd Fighter Flight
  • 161st Fighter Flight
  • 162nd Fighter Flight
• Forţele Aeriene Regale Române (Royal Romanian Air Force
  • 49 and 50 Fighter Flights
  • The Fate of PZL P.11c Evacuated to Romania [Table] [Page 048]
• Other Users
• Technical Description of PZL P.11c
  • Wing
  • Fuselage
  • Cockpit
  • Tailplane
  • Control
  • Undercarriage
  • Engine
  • Performance Based on the Tests [Table]
  • Aircraft Weight Distribution
• Scale Drawings
  • 1/48
    • PZL P.11/I
    • PZL P.11/II
    • PZL P.11/III
    • PZL P.11/IV
    • PZL P.11a
    • PZL P.11b
    • PZL (IAR) P.11f
    • PZL P.11g Kobuz
    • PZL P.11c [Page 059]
• Detail Photos [Page 093]
• Camouflage of Fighter Aircraft in the Polish Air Force in 1939
  • Pre-WWII Polish Military Aircraft Camouflage and Markings in Brief
  • Makers of Paints for PZL
  • Factory-Applied Painting Scheme on PZL Fighters
  • Factory –Applied Painting Scheme on PZL Fighters
  • Painting Schemes Applied on Fighters in Unit Service
  • Camouflage Colours
    • ‘Khaki’
    • ‘Blue-Grey’
    • Remarks
  • Polish National Markings
  • Factory Markings
  • Serial Numbers
  • Underwing Codes
  • Unit Codes [Table]
  • Flight Markings
  • Special and Temporary Markings
• Color Profiles [Page 125]

This is truly an impressive tome, on par with other monographs in the big format Orange series from MMP. I really enjoyed the use of color photographs of the existing airframe and detailed drawings to illustrate the Technical Description section. I would also note that one of my favorite parts of this book, and many other in this series, is the use of color profiles alongside actual historical photographs.

While this monograph is not the first on the PZL P.11, and may not be the last, it certainly is the most complete that I have seen to date. Bartłomiej Belcarz and Tomasz J. Kopański have delivered a great history on the PZL P.11 gull wing fighter that not only covers the development and operational aspects, but provides a good basis for the modeler with nice detail shots of all the aircraft components. The development sections include many period photographs, even a few in color. Kit wise, there are quite a few good options in 1/32, 1/48, and 1/72 along with supporting decals, resin detail parts, masks, and photoetch. This includes 2020 new releases by IBG in 1/32 and in 1/72.

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

Highly recommended!