SINGLE Series & more…from MMP Books, 2020

MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) Books 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 humour.

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 history, plus military vehicles and military history (naval themes included). MMP books are sold around the world, and have received great critical acclaim. In 2006 the decision was made to stop producing the magazine, to concentrate on book production, the books being a logical follow-on with much the same overall philosophy. Their emphasis is on well researched and written books, with top-quality photos and artwork, printed to a high standard but still affordable. In fact it is difficult to find a decent modeling library today without some or several MMP books in it, as they have been proved most valuable and useful through so many years!

Recently the editorial team sent us some of their newest titles.

The “Singles” (Aircraft) series, with the dinstictive yellow/orange cover, is one of the most popular. It combines well known WW2 aircraft, packed with good quality scale plans in 1/72 and 1/48 scale, period action photos, close-ups, detail diagrams plus drawings from wartime technical manuals and color profiles in 24 pages and extra low price.

We studied the following titles: Me410A-1/U4 Single No.08, P-38G-15-LO Single No.18, Bf109F-4 Single No.20 & P-51B-1-NA Single No.23. (There are many other similar titles you can browse in the MMP Publications website/e-shop).

These books are ideal for the modeler who is going to build the respective aircraft. There's no real text, other than the photo captions but there's a bunch of good information to help build and detail a model kit.

The first 4-9 pages are excellent line drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 scale. Then several pages of detail drawings of canopy, landing gear, instrument panel, and aircraft construction detail. There follows 8-14 pages of black/white photos of aircraft details and in service. Finally, 3 pages of color photos, and a large 3-view of the aircraft in full color profiles which takes up the last 3 pages. The photos give a very good idea of what the aircraft looked like when in service, and the color photos are wonderful in that they give good color info on the cockpit interior.

Ιn Conclusion: Fully and well recommended. If you're going to build one of these aircraft in scale, this is a low-cost option to get the detail and information you need to do a well-detailed model.

Talking about scale drawings you can’t miss the “Scale Plans” Series in 1/72 scale. No.66 deals with the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and includes detailed 3-view scale plans in 1/72 scale in 16 pages (4 fold-outs X 4 pages each). They cover all versions from YB-105A to F-105B/D/F/G and also various armed configurations (bombs, air to air missiles, tanks, etc) to help you choose your armament in external pylons. All plans are extremely useful when you decide to rescribe panels and/or rivets of your model, not only in 1/72 but practically in any scale.

Another new MMP book is from the “Spotlight ON” series. No.24 deals with the artwork of Polish designer Andrzej M. Olejniczak, titled “Battle of Britain Defenders – 80 years Battle of Britain”. This is a hardcover, large dimension book (21,5 X 30 cm), printed in heavy glossy paper (43 pages) full of large color profiles of Hurricanes, Spitfires and Defiants which fought in the Battle of Britain. The profiles are as large as the 30cm of each page allows, so the detail is exceptional in every one. There is an explanatory caption under each profile giving useful historical and camouflage color information. The last pages include two extra large paintings of Hurricane & Spitfire Mk.I instrument panels with a detailed guide and a table of the top BoB Aces.

Last but not least is a military vehicle title, the “Krupp Protze Lorry” in “Camera No.22” series by Alan Ranger. This also a large book, 21 X 29,5 cm, softcover, with 80 pages, full of period, action photographs of the real vehicle. Each page has two photos with the relative explanatory caption. Many interesting ideas for weathered models and dioramas!

All MMP titles are fully recommended!

You can see the complete range of MMP Publications books in their website here.