PZL P.11c Junior Set 1/72

PRODUCER: ARMA HOBBY, POLAND

Type: Airplane model kit

Scale: 1/72

New tool model of famous P.11c. Recommended not only to beginner modeller but also for experienced hobbyst who is looking for a quick built for collection.

Set contains

• plastic parts - neww tool, metal moulds

• Techmod decals with marking for two aeroplanes from 1939 Capaign

• small photoetched fret with the most important minute details

Colours and markings of the PZL P.11c Junior Set

• PZL P.11c, 121. Fighter Squadron from Cracow, in 1939 in „Kraków” Army. Today the only preserved „eleven”. After September campaign captured by the Germans and displayed in Berlin. After the war in Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow. Marking scheme of the Museum example.

• PZL P.11c, 122. Fighter Squadron from Cracow, in 1939 in „Kraków” Army. Flown by Cadet Władysław Chciuk (2 victories), damaged in combat on 1st September and left in Bielsko-Aleksandrowice airbase. After the war outbreak squadron marking, „8” number on the fuselage and national markings on the rudder and on the wing upper surface overpainted.

• History of the PZL P.11c fighter

  Legendary PZL P.11c is known as a defender of the Polish skies in September 1939. It has been created three years after the death of Zygmunt Puławski, designer of the gull-winged PZL fighters family. The „c” version has been designed by Wsiewołod Jakimiuk as a development of the first production version, the PZL P.11a. Modifications included fuselage front (truss construction instead of stressed-skin), raising of the pilot's seat and lowering the engine, which improved visibility from the cockpit. Power unit was stronger, 600 hp variant of the British Bristol Mercury version, license produced in Warsaw. Armament was strengthened with two additional machine guns in wings and racks for four bombs. Jakimiuk introduced also completely new rounded fin shape and longer streamlined fairing behind pilot's head.

  First P.11c from the ordered batch of 150 airframes reached the units in 1935. Air force re-armament process lasted for two years, but in fact was never fully finished due to creation of the new squadrons. As a result, almost all the fighter wings went to the war with PZL P.11 in both „a” and „c” versions and for three squadrons there were no „elevens” at all, so these had to use obsolete PZL P.7a. 

  In 1939 the „elevens” fought the Germans since 1st September morning till the evacuation forced by the Soviet aggression on 17thSeptember. Despite being already quite obsolete and inferior in speed and armament even to the German bombers, thanks to extraordinary maneuverability and pilot's skills P.11 fighters managed to effectively oppose the enemy, sometimes even to win in dogfights against most dangerous foe, the Messerschmitt. While the losses have been high, 35 airworthy PZL P.11c were evacuated to Romania. These planes have been confiscated by Romanians and joined their PZL P.11b, P.11f and P.24 in combat units and aviation schools. Since 22nd June 1941 the „elevens” marked with yellow crosses took part in the war against Soviet Union, remaining in frontline units till the September 1943!

  Today exists only one PZL P.11c example. It is the „white 2” in the Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow. It survived the war as a part of the Berlin aviation collection.

  Researched by Grzegorz Mazurowski