In Box Review of RPM 1/72nd Scale
PWS 26 "Slepak" Biplane Fighter
Kit no. 72003
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $7.15 to $7.95
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $7.15 to $7.95
HISTORY:
The PWS-26 was a Polish advanced training aircraft, used from 1937 to 1939 by the Polish Air Force, constructed in the PWS (Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Podlasie Aircraft Factory). It was the second most numerous Polish pre-war aircraft, after the RWD-8.
The aircraft was a final development of a series: PWS-12, PWS-14 and PWS-16, designed in response to a Polish Air Force requirement for an advanced trainer. The chief designer was Augustyn Zdaniewski. The PWS-26 was a direct development of the PWS-16bis, sharing the same silhouette, being a more militarized variant - with strengthened construction, which allowed dive-bomber training. Contrary to its predecessors, the PWS-26 could be armed with a forward-shooting machine gun and practice bombs. It also had other improvements and was capable of aerobatics. A visual difference from the PWS-16bis were the canvas-covered struts of the landing gear.
The prototype was flown in 1935. After trials, its production started in 1936. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939, 320 had been built.
The PWS-26 was used in Polish military aviation from early 1937, becoming a standard type of advanced trainer for fighter pilots. It replaced most of the older PWS-14s, PWS-16s, PWS-18s (a licence-built Avro Tutor) and Bartel BM-5d's. They carried numbers starting with "81-". The PWS-26 was regarded as a successful aircraft, with good flight characteristics. During its Polish service, there were 10 fatal crashes, which was not a high number.
After the German invasion of Poland, some PWS-26s were used in liaison flights, three aircraft in each, assigned to Armies (basic equipment of liaison flights was the RWD-8). The PWS-26 was mostly used as a replacement aircraft.
According to a report by Jan Falkowski, on September 3, 1939, while flying a PWS-26, he made a chasing Bf 109 crash near Lublin, by performing low-level manoeuvres, but there was no confirmation from the Germans. A single PWS-26 and two RWD-8s of the Polesie Operational Group, were the last Polish aircraft in the sky during the campaign. Some Czech pilots flew these aircraft during the campaign on the Polish side. Account of Jan Falkowski of the above kill. "I was only 200 feet from the ground when I tried a trick. I put my plane into a dive, all the time watching one of the Germans who was trying to get on my tail. I did little twists and turns, not allowing the enemy to get me squarely in his sights. All the time we were getting closer and closer to the ground. I brought him to about 50 feet off the ground and in the last second, dived again, then immediately pulled into a left turn. I missed the ground by a scat 10 feet, I figured. The German wasn't so lucky." (account of Jan Falkowski causing the Bf 109 to crash, taken from his auto biography "With The Wind In My Face").
Some PWS-26s were shot down by the Germans, at least one was shot down by the Soviets on September 19. A large number of PWS-26s were destroyed on the ground by the Germans or burned by the withdrawing Poles. A dozen or so were evacuated to Romania and at least 33 to Latvia. This latter group were captured by the Germans - in 1941. After some modification, 28 of them were sold to Romania. The Romanian aircraft (including those evacuated), entered service in civilian and military aviation (and used there until the 1950s). Two were tested in Germany. A dozen or so were captured by the Soviets in Poland and also used by them for testing.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Trainer aircraft
Manufacturer: PWS
First flight: 1935
Introduction into service: 1937
Retired: 1953
Primary users: Polish and Romanian Air Forces
Produced: 1936-1939
Number built: 320
Developed from: PWS-16
I haven't a clue as to what Slepak means. Does anybody out there know?
The PWS-26 was a Polish advanced training aircraft, used from 1937 to 1939 by the Polish Air Force, constructed in the PWS (Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów - Podlasie Aircraft Factory). It was the second most numerous Polish pre-war aircraft, after the RWD-8.
The aircraft was a final development of a series: PWS-12, PWS-14 and PWS-16, designed in response to a Polish Air Force requirement for an advanced trainer. The chief designer was Augustyn Zdaniewski. The PWS-26 was a direct development of the PWS-16bis, sharing the same silhouette, being a more militarized variant - with strengthened construction, which allowed dive-bomber training. Contrary to its predecessors, the PWS-26 could be armed with a forward-shooting machine gun and practice bombs. It also had other improvements and was capable of aerobatics. A visual difference from the PWS-16bis were the canvas-covered struts of the landing gear.
The prototype was flown in 1935. After trials, its production started in 1936. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939, 320 had been built.
The PWS-26 was used in Polish military aviation from early 1937, becoming a standard type of advanced trainer for fighter pilots. It replaced most of the older PWS-14s, PWS-16s, PWS-18s (a licence-built Avro Tutor) and Bartel BM-5d's. They carried numbers starting with "81-". The PWS-26 was regarded as a successful aircraft, with good flight characteristics. During its Polish service, there were 10 fatal crashes, which was not a high number.
After the German invasion of Poland, some PWS-26s were used in liaison flights, three aircraft in each, assigned to Armies (basic equipment of liaison flights was the RWD-8). The PWS-26 was mostly used as a replacement aircraft.
According to a report by Jan Falkowski, on September 3, 1939, while flying a PWS-26, he made a chasing Bf 109 crash near Lublin, by performing low-level manoeuvres, but there was no confirmation from the Germans. A single PWS-26 and two RWD-8s of the Polesie Operational Group, were the last Polish aircraft in the sky during the campaign. Some Czech pilots flew these aircraft during the campaign on the Polish side. Account of Jan Falkowski of the above kill. "I was only 200 feet from the ground when I tried a trick. I put my plane into a dive, all the time watching one of the Germans who was trying to get on my tail. I did little twists and turns, not allowing the enemy to get me squarely in his sights. All the time we were getting closer and closer to the ground. I brought him to about 50 feet off the ground and in the last second, dived again, then immediately pulled into a left turn. I missed the ground by a scat 10 feet, I figured. The German wasn't so lucky." (account of Jan Falkowski causing the Bf 109 to crash, taken from his auto biography "With The Wind In My Face").
Some PWS-26s were shot down by the Germans, at least one was shot down by the Soviets on September 19. A large number of PWS-26s were destroyed on the ground by the Germans or burned by the withdrawing Poles. A dozen or so were evacuated to Romania and at least 33 to Latvia. This latter group were captured by the Germans - in 1941. After some modification, 28 of them were sold to Romania. The Romanian aircraft (including those evacuated), entered service in civilian and military aviation (and used there until the 1950s). Two were tested in Germany. A dozen or so were captured by the Soviets in Poland and also used by them for testing.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Trainer aircraft
Manufacturer: PWS
First flight: 1935
Introduction into service: 1937
Retired: 1953
Primary users: Polish and Romanian Air Forces
Produced: 1936-1939
Number built: 320
Developed from: PWS-16
I haven't a clue as to what Slepak means. Does anybody out there know?
THE KIT:
RPM is a model company base in Poland. This kit has a copyright date of 1995.
The kit came in a end-opening type box that is a good 4 to 5 inches too long. Way too big a box.
The box art shows a PWS 26 taking off of a grassy airfield with 2 parked Me-109's in the background.
It is dark green above a light blue undercarraige It has the white fuselage code of VG+AS.
The bottom of the box has 4 color box arts of othe kits that MPM manufactures: a PWS 16 bis, a TK-3 tankette, a OT-26 flame-thrower tank and a different boxing of the PWS 26. No kit numbers for these 4 is shown.
One side panel repeats the box art smaller.
The other side panel also repeats the box art smaller followed by the statement "Model suitable for ages 6 to adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesive not included" The copyright date is given as 1995 and MPM's address in Warsaw, Poland is provided. Kit was made in Poland.
RPM is a model company base in Poland. This kit has a copyright date of 1995.
The kit came in a end-opening type box that is a good 4 to 5 inches too long. Way too big a box.
The box art shows a PWS 26 taking off of a grassy airfield with 2 parked Me-109's in the background.
It is dark green above a light blue undercarraige It has the white fuselage code of VG+AS.
The bottom of the box has 4 color box arts of othe kits that MPM manufactures: a PWS 16 bis, a TK-3 tankette, a OT-26 flame-thrower tank and a different boxing of the PWS 26. No kit numbers for these 4 is shown.
One side panel repeats the box art smaller.
The other side panel also repeats the box art smaller followed by the statement "Model suitable for ages 6 to adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesive not included" The copyright date is given as 1995 and MPM's address in Warsaw, Poland is provided. Kit was made in Poland.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 2 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree, the decal sheet and instructions in a cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that is printed on both sides. It is 8 1/2" x 12" format. It is all in Polish only.
The face side has a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the aircraft in Polish only. This is next to the parts trees and decal illustrations. Below them is four 3-views of marking schemes. These illustrations are very dark and inky and hard to make anything out on them. Bad move RPM.
1. A Luftwaffe marked one in dark green above a light blue undercarraige. The fuselage code shown here appears to be white VG+A, but is very hard to make out. It shows the aircraft mounted with a solid blind-flying training hood over the cockpit. This is the box art scheme.
2. A Soviet marked PWS 26. Red stars are only provided for this one on the decal sheet, but there appears to be a number 70 on the fuselage sides and below the wings?? I'm assuming it is in the same colors as the Luftwaffe one, but that is not certain due to the inky drawing.
3 and 4 are Romanian marked PWS 26's. Romanian crosses are shown and on the decal sheet. However, no other marks are possible to make out. There are some other numbers on the decal sheet that are: YR-REA, YR-REB and YR-REC. I haven't a clue if these are intended for the Romanian ones or not??
MPM should have done a better job on their scheme drawings...sigh.
The reverse side of the instruction sheet has 9 assembly steps that are numbered with Roman numerals.
The parts trees are not alphabetized. They have number tabs next to the parts on the sprues,
but very strangely only one tree has raised numbers on these tabs. The other sprue has pebbled surfaces on these tabs and no numbers. Wieerd to say the least !
The first medium-grey tree holds: the fuselage halves, elevators, cowling, engine face, propeller, landing gear legs, wing struts, blind flying hood etc. (18 parts)
This kit contains 2 medium-grey parts trees, a clear tree, the decal sheet and instructions in a cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that is printed on both sides. It is 8 1/2" x 12" format. It is all in Polish only.
The face side has a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the aircraft in Polish only. This is next to the parts trees and decal illustrations. Below them is four 3-views of marking schemes. These illustrations are very dark and inky and hard to make anything out on them. Bad move RPM.
1. A Luftwaffe marked one in dark green above a light blue undercarraige. The fuselage code shown here appears to be white VG+A, but is very hard to make out. It shows the aircraft mounted with a solid blind-flying training hood over the cockpit. This is the box art scheme.
2. A Soviet marked PWS 26. Red stars are only provided for this one on the decal sheet, but there appears to be a number 70 on the fuselage sides and below the wings?? I'm assuming it is in the same colors as the Luftwaffe one, but that is not certain due to the inky drawing.
3 and 4 are Romanian marked PWS 26's. Romanian crosses are shown and on the decal sheet. However, no other marks are possible to make out. There are some other numbers on the decal sheet that are: YR-REA, YR-REB and YR-REC. I haven't a clue if these are intended for the Romanian ones or not??
MPM should have done a better job on their scheme drawings...sigh.
The reverse side of the instruction sheet has 9 assembly steps that are numbered with Roman numerals.
The parts trees are not alphabetized. They have number tabs next to the parts on the sprues,
but very strangely only one tree has raised numbers on these tabs. The other sprue has pebbled surfaces on these tabs and no numbers. Wieerd to say the least !
The first medium-grey tree holds: the fuselage halves, elevators, cowling, engine face, propeller, landing gear legs, wing struts, blind flying hood etc. (18 parts)
The second medium-grey tree holds: the upper and lower wings, rudder, main wheels, tail skid, more cowling sections etc. (24 parts)
The clear tree holds 2 windshield parts etc.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
This looks like it will make up decent. I only wish that RPM had done clearer scheme drawings.
I got my kit in trade with a modeler that lived in Krakow years ago.
I got my kit in trade with a modeler that lived in Krakow years ago.