Arma Hobby 40001 - 1:48 PZL P.11c - Expert Set

Plastic model kit of the Polish PZL P.11c fighter aircraft in 1:48 scale – Expert Set

The most recognisable Polish fighter of the September 1939 campaign, reproduced in 1:48 scale in Arma Hobby's most comprehensive boxing. Kit 40001 is based on the new tooling of 2021 and allows a highly detailed model to be built without reaching for anything outside the box.

The tooling was developed with the characteristic P.11c surfaces in mind: corrugated skin panels, fine rivets and the strips securing the covering. The model features a very well appointed cockpit, fixed undercarriage and wheels moulded with the tyres flattened under the weight of the aircraft. The Expert Set boxing adds a brass photo-etched fret and self-adhesive masks for the windscreen and wheels.

The Techmod decal sheet covers four marking options: the 114th Fighter Squadron aircraft flown by 2nd Lt Tadeusz Sawicz, Poland, September 1939, together with a bonus scheme of the same machine before repainting; the aircraft of 2nd Lt Wacław Łapkowski, Poland, September 1939; a Pursuit Brigade machine in the experimental disruptive camouflage of khaki and green, September 1939; and a Romanian example from the Air Force Officers' School, 1942–1943.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the airframe parts
• Sprue with the transparent parts
• Brass photo-etched fret
• Self-adhesive masks for the windscreen and wheels
• Techmod decals for four marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalogue number: 40001
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Model length when assembled: approx. 157 mm
• Model wingspan: approx. 223 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (photo-etched parts, small details, rigging done by the modeller)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

We suggest starting with the cockpit – it is very richly detailed and remains clearly visible through the open canopy area, so it is worth painting and finishing the interior before joining the fuselage halves. The brass photo-etched parts are used mainly for the small interior and equipment details; cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers work well for attaching them. The self-adhesive masks noticeably speed up the preparation of the windscreen and wheels for painting.

The September 1939 schemes are typified by Polish khaki on the upper and side surfaces with light blue-grey undersides; the Pursuit Brigade option additionally calls for green patches of disruptive camouflage, while the Romanian scheme of 1942–1943 uses a separate set of colours given in the instructions. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps to limit silvering, and a satin varnish makes a suitable final finish. The rigging and the bracing tapes on the undercarriage legs are made by the modeller – usually from fine modelling thread or wire.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes or an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise panel lines and details
• Gloss varnish under the decals and a satin coat for the final finish
• Optional: fine modelling thread or wire for the rigging and the undercarriage bracing tapes

About the aircraft – PZL P.11c:

The PZL P.11c was the final link in the family of fighters designed by Zygmunt Puławski – parasol monoplanes with the distinctive gull wing cranked down at the fuselage, remembered in aviation history as the "Polish wing". The layout gave the pilot an exceptionally good field of view forward and upward, and allowed an all-metal airframe covered largely with corrugated duralumin sheet. The P.11c of 1934–1936 differed from earlier versions in its lowered engine mounting, cockpit moved further aft and strengthened armament.

In September 1939 the P.11c formed the backbone of Polish fighter aviation. Aircraft of this type fought in the squadrons attached to the field armies and in the Pursuit Brigade defending Warsaw. Although by then the design was outdated compared with the new generation of German fighters, its manoeuvrability, short take-off run and ability to operate from improvised airfields allowed Polish pilots to score a number of aerial victories, including over Luftwaffe bombers.

The P.11c was notable for its carefully finished all-metal structure, open cockpit with a windscreen and fixed, spatted undercarriage. Standard armament consisted of two machine guns in the fuselage, with some aircraft receiving an additional pair in the wings; light bombs could also be carried. A single original airframe survives today, on display at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.

Original aircraft specifications (PZL P.11c):

• Type: single-seat fighter, parasol monoplane
• Length: 7.55 m
• Wingspan: 10.72 m
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: PZL/Bristol Mercury V.S2 radial engine of approx. 560 hp
• Gun armament: 2 x 7.92 mm wz. 33 machine guns in the fuselage (some aircraft carried 2 additional guns in the wings)
• Bomb load: up to 4 bombs of 12.5 kg

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Warsaw-based manufacturer of injection-moulded model kits that has been releasing its own products since 2016. The brand grew out of Attack Squadron, previously known for resin accessories, and has relied on its own design facilities from the start. Kits are developed using 3D design software and scans of surviving airframes, and the moulds are made in Poland. The company's signature is very fine surface detail – rivets, panels and reinforcements – combined with thin trailing edges. Considerable care also goes into the clarity of the transparent parts and the quality of the decal sheets. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48, with a strong focus on Polish aviation, including the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra, as well as Allied types of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have repeatedly been recognised in industry awards, among them the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The manufacturer also continues to expand its use of 3D-printed parts and downloadable files for home printing.