Arma Hobby 40002 - 1:48 PZL P.11c - Model Kit

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

The PZL P.11c became the symbol of Polish fighter aviation in September 1939. Kit 40002 lets you build it in 1:48 scale from the same tooling used for the more comprehensive 40001 boxing.

The model reproduces the characteristic parasol monoplane silhouette together with the texture of the corrugated skin, the rivets and the strips securing the covering. The kit is supplemented with photo-etched parts covering the seat belts, gunsight and bomb racks, which raise the level of detail in the cockpit and on the underwing racks.

The Techmod decals provide two marking options: aircraft of the 131st Fighter Squadron with the Poznań Army, 1939 – the machines of 2nd Lt Henryk Bibrowicz and 2nd Lt Lech Grzybowski – and an aircraft of the 122nd Fighter Squadron with the Kraków Army, 1939, flown by Officer Cadet Władysław Chciuk.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the airframe parts
• Sprue with the transparent parts
• Photo-etched parts: seat belts, gunsight and bomb racks
• Techmod decals for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalogue number: 40002
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Model length when assembled: approx. 157 mm
• Model wingspan: approx. 223 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (small details and photo-etched parts)

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

Building the model:

The kit has a modest parts count and clear instructions, so it also works well as one of the first 1:48 aircraft models. It is worth painting and finishing the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves – the photo-etched seat belts and gunsight are clearly visible in the open cockpit. Cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers are handy for the photo-etched parts.

Both 1939 options are painted in Polish khaki on the upper and side surfaces with light blue-grey undersides. Applying the decals over a gloss coat limits silvering, and a satin varnish suits aircraft of this period well. For extra detail you may consider aftermarket accessories – metal pitot tubes or photo-etched sets – available separately in model shops.

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

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:

Behind the Arma Hobby name stands a Warsaw model company that has been releasing its own plastic kits since 2016. It previously traded as Attack Squadron, producing resin accessories for other manufacturers' kits – an experience that shows in the level of detail of every new release. Design work is done digitally, often starting from scans of surviving aircraft, and the moulds are cut in Poland. Typical features of the kits are finely rendered rivets and panel lines, thin trailing edges, well-made transparencies and high-quality decals. The range covers 1:72 and 1:48, with a clear emphasis on Polish aviation – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – and on Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Kits from this brand have won industry awards, including the Model of the Year title in Nuremberg. Increasingly, the company supplements its kits with 3D-printed parts and with files intended for home 3D printing.