Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 25, 2020 Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2020 So for me, there hasn’t been a more anticipated 1/32 kit since the HK Lancaster came on the scene through assistance by a few esteemed members of LSM. In my eyes, the P.11 series of fighters by PZL epitomize the fighting spirit of the Polish people during the opening salvos of WW2. The P.11 should have gotten mauled by the new generation of German fighters, but these plucky little fighters gave back better than they received, knocking down over 110 Germans, for a loss of about 100 P.11s. Not bad for an outdated, outclassed, out gunned fighter from an earlier generation. This build will be a quick build review of the P.11 as presented in the standard kit by IBG. All it’s good points, and any pitfalls I encounter, up to and including total build FUBARs will be presented. If I build a winner, so be it. If I build myself into a corner so it is a candidate for the bin, so be it, it’ll progress as speedily and naturally as possible. Understand that during these trying world health times, the pace may speed up, slow down, or end altogether if the unthinkable happens and I reach my ‘best before’ date. So, on with the build. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 25, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2020 First things first. I sure hope you like fiddly, because it starts from the first moment of the build. The instructions are like most others, you start with the engine. The engine halves have ejection towers similar to Kitty Hawk, and just like KH, as super easy to clip off No biggie, right? Right. But then it gets interesting. The kit gives you PE plug wires. They’re flat PE, and I do sort of think they should be round, but no worries, this is OOB, so on they go. Each one needs to be bent in two spots, and when done, they fit perfectly. But Oh Heavin’ Stephen Who’s Done for the Evenin’, these are some seriously fiddly. Somehow, the the Grace of God and my fat gut, I only almost lost two. My ample belly served as a convenient backdrop. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 25, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2020 I’d say it’s a pretty decent representation of a Mercury 9 cylinder radial. As long as the plug wires don’t go flipping off into never never land, it really wasn’t that big of a deal. Some detail painting mañana. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted March 25, 2020 Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2020 lovely start! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1to1scale Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Beautiful engine! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Desmond Glazebrook Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 This is very cool. I have lost track. Is your P47 done? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Nice Start, I will follow with lots of interest. If you carefully brushpaint the PE-wires with not too thinned Colour they will appear a lot more roundish. BTW, some years ago I read this book and learned a lot about Polish pilots. The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in the Second World War (English Edition) Zamoyski, Adam Cheers Rob 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 25, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2020 1 hour ago, DocRob said: Nice Start, I will follow with lots of interest. If you carefully brushpaint the PE-wires with not too thinned Colour they will appear a lot more roundish. BTW, some years ago I read this book and learned a lot about Polish pilots. The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in the Second World War (English Edition) Zamoyski, Adam Cheers Rob Yep, that’s the idea,Rob. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 25, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Sir Desmond Glazebrook said: This is very cool. I have lost track. Is your P47 done? It’s getting some paint this weekend. Pics up then 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 Some have asked me how the fit appears to be on this kit, so I thought I’d take a quick opportunity to show you. This is simple friction fit with tape to keep the sides together. many question? If the rest of the kit is as good as this appears to be, IBG will sell me at least a half dozen more. Y’all notice how we see group builds of massed I-16s at shows? This could be the next step up from that pleasant little build. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smitty44 Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Hey Ern, I see Martin finished a kit!! 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 Some light flash on some parts but nothing serious. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Ernie, this really looks to be a fantastic first release of a 1/32 kit. I'm curious to see how they tackle the cowling knowing how much trouble it gave you on the Lukgraph kit. Carl 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 Ignoring the above comment, ahem, IF you love tiny bits of PE, you’ll love this kit. But, seriously, it all fits and fits perfectly. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, BlrwestSiR said: Ernie, this really looks to be a fantastic first release of a 1/32 kit. I'm curious to see how they tackle the cowling knowing how much trouble it gave you on the Lukgraph kit. Carl The cowl is in two pieces, which is exactly how Silver Wings should have made it. But the biggest issue with that one is the exhaust pipes into the collector ring, and that the cowl sort of floats free, attached just to the collector ring. Fun. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 A sample of what lays ahead. But I expect no problems. Stuff fits that nicely 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 Folks, looking at these pictures, you can see the passion for the subject that the designers had. If the details were too clunky in plastic, they chose PE, and I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt, they used PE where it’s actually needed. Not just PE for PE’s sake. I’m liking this more and more. Matter of fact, I’m seriously enjoying myself. If the rest of the kit goes together this nicely, I’ll be truly stoked. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 The key is, STUDY THE DRAWINGS, just like any kit, know what you have and where it goes. So far, but here are markings where stuff should be, which is good. One thing about the cockpit details. Much of it should be hidden completely from view if you close the gun access doors on the side of the fuselage. But if you leave them open, all will be visible, just like peeling the side panels off a T-6 Texan. It’s all there, the good, the bad, and the ugly. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1to1scale Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Where did you get this from? I have not seen any in the US yet, and EBay is warning about long delivery times (understandable). I guess I’ll have to wait. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Great pics Ernie. I was looking at the pedal assembly and thinking no way that'll work but you've proved it goes together the way they show. This is definitely a labour of love for the kit designers. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 57 minutes ago, 1to1scale said: Where did you get this from? I have not seen any in the US yet, and EBay is warning about long delivery times (understandable). I guess I’ll have to wait. I got it from eBay, literally 18 seconds after they became available. Polish Post doesn’t ship anywhere overseas, so for me, eBay was fast and easy without having to sort out UPS with IBG. Hannants carries them, BTW, and Sprue Bros lists them but has no stock. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 43 minutes ago, BlrwestSiR said: Great pics Ernie. I was looking at the pedal assembly and thinking no way that'll work but you've proved it goes together the way they show. This is definitely a labour of love for the kit designers. It actually builds quite easily, and I’m one who detests PE. But, I’d do just about anything for a good P.11, and this one seems like a GREAT P.11. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Looking good, I've been waiting for an IM kit of this subject for ages and this one looks great, keep up the good work. Cheers Dennis 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Ernie, this looks great, I like their adage not to over do the PE, looking forward to seeing more..... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted March 27, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2020 51 minutes ago, Bomber_County said: Ernie, this looks great, I like their adage not to over do the PE, looking forward to seeing more..... Phil, there’s plenty of it, but only in areas where it would be the best medium to use. The design and construction of a typical 1930s cockpit lends itself well to PE improving things and keeping detail a scale size. Just think “T-6, or Harvard”. Metal cladding over metal exterior panels. Lots of tubes, gussets, braces, etc. a detail junkie’s best friend. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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