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posted on 1 month ago — updated on 1 month ago

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Tim looks at the first monograph in a new series ‘Rare Birds’ by Stratus/MMP, with the first subject being the Polish built fighter: the PWS-10

Andrzej Glass discusses in the first part of this twenty six page soft back book, the concept, design, development, and service of this distinctive looking elliptical parasol fighter. The PWS-10 was an interim design, while the more favoured PZL.P1 gull winged monoplane was being developed. The author describes the colours and markings of the PWS-10 in Polish service as well as its service with Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War.

There are thirty-three black and white good quality photos of the PWS-10 in both Polish and Legion Condor service. There is also what looks like factory drawings of the radiator unit and the cockpit. The cockpit drawing is particularly useful as it illustrates the airframe around the cockpit, 7.9mm Vickers gun installation.

Dariusz Karnas has created six pages of 1:48 and 1:72 scale plans feature side views of the PWS-10 and the Spanish PWS-10 Chiquita with several fuselage cross sections. There are upper and lower views as well as a head on view included.

Finally, there are two colour profiles by Andrzej M. Olejniczak featuring a Polish Air Force PWS-10 and a Legion Condor PWS-10 Chiquita.

Conclusions

‘Rare Birds’ is a welcome new series from Stratus/MMP. It has started of promisingly with this first book on the lesser-known fighter the PWS-10. It introduces many modelers and air historians to this rare bird and one that I was unaware off. It’s an inexpensive reference with some rare photos backed up with useful 1:72 and 1:48 scale plans and colour profiles. Some of the photos will inspire ideas for dioramas. Highly recommended