Stratus goes back to 1991 when they launched Fanatyk Plastiku for modelers in the Polish market. The original editorial team included Marek Bronkowski, Wlodzimierz Debicki, Artur Juszczak, Dariusz Karnas, Robert Panek, and Robert Peczkowski. A collaboration with MMP in 1997 later expanded into book publication in 1999 with Stratus, and since then they have built up a list of hard- and soft cover titles on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history. Stratus / MMPBooks are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications.

This English language book, RWD-14 “Czapla” [Heron], is authored by Andrzej Glass and illustrated by Dariusz Karnas and Andrzej M. Olejniczak. European publication was on March 20, 2025 with US release by Casemate in September 2025. A Polish text version authored by Andrzej Glass has been published under the Samolot series by Stratus. This volume follows Rare Birds 01 on the PWS-10 by Andrzej Glass. This full-size square back soft cover book [A4: 11.5” by 8.3] comes in at 24 pages. The front cover features a color side profile of the forward fuselage of a RWD-14 in Romanian Air Force markings by Andrzej M. Olejniczak. This former Polish 55.37 is in standard 1942 markings and was based at the Scola de Perfectionare in Tecuci, Romania. The full-length profile can be found on Page 23. The rear cover features two illustrations of the nine-cylinder radial PZL G-1620B “Mors II” engine by Wojciech Nieweglowski. I counted 35 black and white photographs / illustrations, but there are no color pictures. There are four color illustrations by Andrzej M. Olejniczak. Dariusz Karnas contributes 5-1/2 pages of black and white scale drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 of the different variations along with cross-sections and scrap drawings.

Andrzej Glass kicks off with a development history of the RWD-14 Czapla followed by a summary of its operational service. Four prototypes were built to meet a Polish requirement of an observation / liaison aircraft, with first flight achieved in 1936. The Polish state factory, LWS, or Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów (Lublin Aircraft Works), would end up manufacturing 65 aircraft. The Czapla entered Polish service early in 1939 with several observation squadrons. Most in service saw their end during the German 1939 invasion of Poland. Some (14 to possibly 17) were flown to Romania where they were utilized for training and liaison duties. Several aircraft were captured by Germany and Russia but were not known to have flown. Not a single RWD-14 managed to survive the war.

The RWD-14 was not publicized by the Polish military with the consequence that any photographs are quite limited. The next six pages show the Czapla in captioned black and white photographs as can be seen on Page 7. Both the top and bottom pictures of 55-39 with its wings folded next to a Breguet 19. The next section presents photographs and drawings from the Czapla Aviation Maintenance Manual. Details can be seen on Page 15 with labels, although they do require translation from Polish. Dariusz Karnas’ scale drawings are up next with line drawings in 1/48 and 1/72-scale. The Czapla in 1/48-scale in profile and sections is shown on Page 17. The offset of the engine is shown to great effect here. The grand finale section is from Andrzej M. Olejniczak with his color illustrations of Romanian and Polish RWD-14b Czaplas as shown on Page 23. The sections include:

• [Development]
• Construction
• Paint Scheme
• Aircraft Maintenance Manual Photos and Drawings
• Scale Drawings by Dariusz Karnas
• 1/48-Scale Line Drawings
• Technical Data [Table]
• 1/72-Scale Line Drawings
• Pilot’s Instrument Panel [Color Illustration]
• 1/24-Scale Line Drawing of Engine and Propeller
• Color Illustrations by Andrzej M. Olejniczak

There are a multitude of releases of the RWD-14 Czapla in 1/72-scale going back to ZTS Plastyk’s release in 1977. ZTS Plastyk has released this kit over the years with its last release in 2012. Fear not, though, as it has also been released by Mirage Hobby, MasterCraft, and BIGMODEL, with the most recent release in 2022. Lukgraph has released limited run multi-media kits of the RWD-14b in both 1/48 and 1/32-scales, complete with cast resin, 3D-Printed parts, brass photoetch, and decals.

Andrzej Glass has delivered a nice English history, and probably the first English history, on the RWD-14 Czapla. This monograph not only covers the development and operational aspects but provides a good basis for the modeler with photographs, line drawings, color illustrations, and detail excerpts from the manual. I enjoyed reading this monograph and plowed through 24 pages in one evening. United States distribution is through Casemate.

My thanks to Stratus and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great book.

Highly recommended!