Arma Hobby 70005 - 1:72 PZL P.7a - Deluxe Set

Plastic model kits of the Polish PZL P.7a fighter aircraft in 1:72 scale – Deluxe Set (two models)

Two complete PZL P.7a models in one box and eight marking options to choose from – the Deluxe Set is the most comprehensive 1:72 boxing of this aircraft in the Arma Hobby catalogue. It lets you display two very different machines side by side, for example a pre-war example in silver finish and a front-line aircraft from September 1939.

Besides the doubled sprues, photo-etched parts and self-adhesive masks, the box contains resin wheels in two types – Dunlop and Stomil – matching different production batches and service periods. The resin parts offer noticeably crisper detail than plastic mouldings and allow the correct wheel type to be chosen for a specific airframe.

The Cartograf decal sheet covers eight options: 123rd Fighter Squadron, Kraków, 1939, aircraft of Capt Mieczysław Olszewski; 162nd Fighter Squadron, Lwów, September 1939; Romanian Air Force, Scoala de Perfectionare, November 1940; a captured machine in Luftwaffe markings at Dęblin, with two spinner versions; 132nd Fighter Squadron, Poznań, during manoeuvres in the mid-1930s; the aircraft of Capt Leopold Pamuła of III/4 Squadron at Toruń; 122nd Fighter Squadron, Kraków, 1933–1936, aircraft of Cpl Karol Pniak; and the 111th "Kościuszko" Fighter Squadron, Warsaw, 1933–1935.

What's in the box:

• Two complete sets of plastic sprues – for two complete models
• Two sets of photo-etched parts
• Two sets of self-adhesive masks for the windscreen and wheels
• Resin wheels in two types: Dunlop and Stomil
• Cartograf decals for eight marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70005
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Model length when assembled: approx. 99 mm
• Model wingspan: approx. 143 mm
• Skill level: intermediate/advanced (photo-etched parts, resin components, two complete kits in the box)

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

Building the model:

Building two models in parallel makes it convenient to paint sub-assemblies together, but it also calls for planning – it is worth deciding on the chosen schemes at the start, as they determine the type of resin wheels and the spinner version. Resin parts are separated from their casting blocks with a fine razor saw or knife, sanded smooth and attached with cyanoacrylate glue. We suggest painting and finishing the cockpit with its photo-etched parts before joining the fuselage halves, and using the self-adhesive masks on the windscreen and wheels.

The 1930s schemes are reproduced in a silver aluminium dope finish, where an even, smooth surface and a gloss coat matter a great deal. The 1939 machines wear Polish khaki with light blue-grey undersides, while the Romanian and Luftwaffe options call for separate colour sets given in the instructions. Decals go on best over a gloss coat, with a satin varnish as the final finish.

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.7a:

The PZL P.7a was one of the first production fighters of all-metal construction, developed from the P.6 and P.7 prototypes designed by Zygmunt Puławski. It used the same parasol monoplane layout with the "Polish wing" that gave the pilot excellent visibility, and was powered by a licence-built Škoda-Bristol Jupiter VII F radial. Series production ran in 1932–1933 and close to 150 aircraft were completed.

Once the P.7a entered service, Polish aviation became one of the first air forces in the world equipped solely with all-metal fighters. Until the mid-1930s the type was the standard equipment of the fighter squadrons, after which it gradually gave way to the newer P.11 and passed to training units – among them the Air Force Cadet School at Dęblin and the aerial gunnery schools.

In September 1939 P.7a fighters were still serving with several front-line squadrons and with training units, and despite being far slower than their opponents their pilots managed to score aerial victories. Some aircraft were evacuated to Romania, where they were used for training, while a few captured examples fell into Luftwaffe hands and were used at the Dęblin airfield.

Original aircraft specifications (PZL P.7a):

• Type: single-seat fighter, parasol monoplane
• Length: 7.16 m
• Wingspan: 10.30 m
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Škoda-Bristol Jupiter VII F radial engine of approx. 527 hp
• Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns (Vickers wz. E, wz. 33 in later production batches)
• Maximum speed: 317 km/h

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Founded in its present form in 2016, Arma Hobby is one of the best-known Polish manufacturers of plastic model kits. The brand originates from Attack Squadron, previously recognised for resin detail sets, which shaped its approach to fine detail. Kits are designed on computer, supported by scanning of surviving airframes, and the injection moulds are produced in Poland. The hallmark of the range is very fine surface texture with rendered rivets and panels, together with thinly moulded trailing edges. The manufacturer also pays attention to clear glazing and to the quality of its decal sheets. The catalogue includes 1:72 and 1:48 subjects, above all Polish aircraft – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – alongside Allied designs of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have been awarded in industry polls, including the Model of the Year title in Nuremberg, and the company today also develops 3D-printed parts and downloadable print files.