Book Review of
PZL P.11c
Authors: Grzegorz Szymanowski, Witold Szewczyk,
Robert Wasik, Rafal Z. Lebioda, Vitor Costa,
Andrej Marchwicki and Wojciech Buba
Kagero Famous Airplanes no. 5014
Polish-English Publications
ISBN: 978-83-66673-64-9
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $51.95
Polish-English Publications
ISBN: 978-83-66673-64-9
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $51.95
HISTORY:
The PZL P.11 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed and constructed during the early 1930s by Warsaw-based aircraft manufacturer PZL. Possessing an all-metal structure, metal-covering, and high-mounted gull wing, the type held the distinction of being widely considered to have briefly been the most advanced fighter aircraft of its kind in the world.
The design of the P.11 commenced during the late 1920s, initially designated as the P.1. The primary individual responsible for its development was Polish aeronautical engineer Zygmunt Puławski, who has been attributed as having designed many of its innovative features.
While the majority of the world's forces were still using biplanes, the P.1 used a high-mounted and aerodynamically clean gull wing, which provided the pilot with a superior field of view. During September 1929, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. The design quickly drew international attention; the general layout became commonly known as the "Polish wing" or "Puławski wing".
The P.11 served as Poland's primary fighter defence throughout the 1930s, including during the Polish campaign of 1939 by neighbouring Nazi Germany. However, as a consequence of the rapid advances in aircraft design during the late 1930s (seen in such fighters as the Messerschmitt Bf 109), it was outclassed by its rivals at the onset of the war.
The majority of the Polish Air Force's P.11s were destroyed during 1939; however, it is believed that as many as 36 were flown to Romania and were subsequently taken over by the Romanian Air Force.
The P.11 was a considerable export success. During October 1933, deliveries of Polish-built P.11bs to Romania commenced. From 1936, Romanian aircraft manufacturer Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR) constructed a further 95 aircraft under the designation of IAR P.11f, powered by the Romanian-built IAR 9Krse engine.
A dedicated export model of the P.11, which was designated as the PZL P.24, was developed during the late 1930s. Reportedly, Greece, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Republican Spain were at one point interested in procuring the P.11; these eventually resulted in several nations, including Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey purchasing the P.24 instead.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: PZL & IAR
Designer: Zygmunt Puławski
First flight: August 1931
Introduction to service: 1934
Retired: 1944
Primary users: Polish Air Force, Royal Romanian Air Force
Number built: 325
Developed from: PZL P.7
Variants: PZL P.24
THE BOOK:
Kagero Books is located in Lublin, Poland.
This book is soft-cover of 204 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format. It comes in a self-sealing clear cello envelope.
The cover art shows a color photo of a PZL P.11c flying above the countryside. It is overall khaki, with grey under-carriage. It has a white no. 3 and a white cross with a blue condor on it on the fuselage sides and a red and white Polish Air Force checkerboard insignia on the rudder flap.
It was with the 152nd Fighter Esquadrille. pIloted by 2nd Lt Anatol Korwin-Piotrowski on September 1, 1939. There is argument between 2 ex-pilots that the condor was not blue, but red.
The book contains 4 black and white photos and 173 color ones taken of a PZL P.11c in the Polish Aviation Museum. Sixty of those color photos are the walk-around type, showing every inch of the aircraft.
There are 13 color side profile illustrations in the book and three 3-views. Two of the side profiles are on the back cover. All these illustrations are in overall khaki, with grey-under-carriages.
There are chapters on building 6 different models of the PZL P.11c.
1. The 1/72nd scale Arma Hobby brand kit. With 28 photos of it being built and 8 photos of it finished.
2. The 1/72nd scale IBG Models brand kit. With the box art and 24 photos of it being built and 8 photos of it finished
3. The 1/48th scale Mirage Hobby brand kit. With 71 photos of it being built and 8 photos of it finished.
4. The 1/48th scale Arma Hobby Expert Set kit. With a photo of the box art and 50 photos of it being built and 14 photos of it finished. Five of the finished one showing it posed on a grassy airfield diorama base.
5. & 6. Two-boxing's of the 1/32nd scale IBG Models brand kits. With the box arts and 117 photos of them being built and 20 photos of them finished.
A page has a full page black and white cover art of Kagero’s Lublin R-XIII book no. 71 recommended.
The end of the book has a 1/48th scale 6-view line drawing profiles of a P.11a with Mercury IV 52 Engine.
A 1/48th scale 3-view line drawing profiles of a PZL P.11b-1 with Gnome Rhone 9K rsd engine.
A 1/48th scale side-view line drawing of a PZL P.11B-1 with its exhaust manifold.
A 1/48th scale side-view line drawing of it without the exhaust manifold.
A 1/48th scale side-view line drawing of a PZL P.11F with Gnome Rhone 9K rse engine and a Romanian version of it on skis.
A 1/48th scale 3-view line drawings of the PZL P.11F.
A 1/48th scale 6-view line drawings of the PZL. P.11c.
1/72nd scale 5-view line drawings of the PZL P.11a and b.
1/72nd scale 2 view line drawings of the PZL P.11f, showing on wheels and on skis.
1/72nd scale side view line drawing of the PZL. P.11b-L and the PZL P.11 b-K.
1/72nd scale 3-view line drawings of the PZL P.11F
1/72nd scale 2-view line drawings the PZL P.11C and two 3-view drawings of it.
Inserted into the book are 2 sheets of more line-drawings. The biggest sheet is printed on both sides in 16 ½” x 22 ½” format, folded twice to fit the book.
On its 2 sides there are 6 1/32nd scale line drawings of the PZL P.11c.
The second sheet is the same size, but folded 4 times to fit the hook.
It has six 1/24th scale line drawings on its sides of the PZL P.11c.
This book is aimed at modelers wanting to do a model of the PZL P.11.
The PZL P.11 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed and constructed during the early 1930s by Warsaw-based aircraft manufacturer PZL. Possessing an all-metal structure, metal-covering, and high-mounted gull wing, the type held the distinction of being widely considered to have briefly been the most advanced fighter aircraft of its kind in the world.
The design of the P.11 commenced during the late 1920s, initially designated as the P.1. The primary individual responsible for its development was Polish aeronautical engineer Zygmunt Puławski, who has been attributed as having designed many of its innovative features.
While the majority of the world's forces were still using biplanes, the P.1 used a high-mounted and aerodynamically clean gull wing, which provided the pilot with a superior field of view. During September 1929, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. The design quickly drew international attention; the general layout became commonly known as the "Polish wing" or "Puławski wing".
The P.11 served as Poland's primary fighter defence throughout the 1930s, including during the Polish campaign of 1939 by neighbouring Nazi Germany. However, as a consequence of the rapid advances in aircraft design during the late 1930s (seen in such fighters as the Messerschmitt Bf 109), it was outclassed by its rivals at the onset of the war.
The majority of the Polish Air Force's P.11s were destroyed during 1939; however, it is believed that as many as 36 were flown to Romania and were subsequently taken over by the Romanian Air Force.
The P.11 was a considerable export success. During October 1933, deliveries of Polish-built P.11bs to Romania commenced. From 1936, Romanian aircraft manufacturer Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR) constructed a further 95 aircraft under the designation of IAR P.11f, powered by the Romanian-built IAR 9Krse engine.
A dedicated export model of the P.11, which was designated as the PZL P.24, was developed during the late 1930s. Reportedly, Greece, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Republican Spain were at one point interested in procuring the P.11; these eventually resulted in several nations, including Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey purchasing the P.24 instead.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: PZL & IAR
Designer: Zygmunt Puławski
First flight: August 1931
Introduction to service: 1934
Retired: 1944
Primary users: Polish Air Force, Royal Romanian Air Force
Number built: 325
Developed from: PZL P.7
Variants: PZL P.24
THE BOOK:
Kagero Books is located in Lublin, Poland.
This book is soft-cover of 204 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format. It comes in a self-sealing clear cello envelope.
The cover art shows a color photo of a PZL P.11c flying above the countryside. It is overall khaki, with grey under-carriage. It has a white no. 3 and a white cross with a blue condor on it on the fuselage sides and a red and white Polish Air Force checkerboard insignia on the rudder flap.
It was with the 152nd Fighter Esquadrille. pIloted by 2nd Lt Anatol Korwin-Piotrowski on September 1, 1939. There is argument between 2 ex-pilots that the condor was not blue, but red.
The book contains 4 black and white photos and 173 color ones taken of a PZL P.11c in the Polish Aviation Museum. Sixty of those color photos are the walk-around type, showing every inch of the aircraft.
There are 13 color side profile illustrations in the book and three 3-views. Two of the side profiles are on the back cover. All these illustrations are in overall khaki, with grey-under-carriages.
There are chapters on building 6 different models of the PZL P.11c.
1. The 1/72nd scale Arma Hobby brand kit. With 28 photos of it being built and 8 photos of it finished.
2. The 1/72nd scale IBG Models brand kit. With the box art and 24 photos of it being built and 8 photos of it finished
3. The 1/48th scale Mirage Hobby brand kit. With 71 photos of it being built and 8 photos of it finished.
4. The 1/48th scale Arma Hobby Expert Set kit. With a photo of the box art and 50 photos of it being built and 14 photos of it finished. Five of the finished one showing it posed on a grassy airfield diorama base.
5. & 6. Two-boxing's of the 1/32nd scale IBG Models brand kits. With the box arts and 117 photos of them being built and 20 photos of them finished.
A page has a full page black and white cover art of Kagero’s Lublin R-XIII book no. 71 recommended.
The end of the book has a 1/48th scale 6-view line drawing profiles of a P.11a with Mercury IV 52 Engine.
A 1/48th scale 3-view line drawing profiles of a PZL P.11b-1 with Gnome Rhone 9K rsd engine.
A 1/48th scale side-view line drawing of a PZL P.11B-1 with its exhaust manifold.
A 1/48th scale side-view line drawing of it without the exhaust manifold.
A 1/48th scale side-view line drawing of a PZL P.11F with Gnome Rhone 9K rse engine and a Romanian version of it on skis.
A 1/48th scale 3-view line drawings of the PZL P.11F.
A 1/48th scale 6-view line drawings of the PZL. P.11c.
1/72nd scale 5-view line drawings of the PZL P.11a and b.
1/72nd scale 2 view line drawings of the PZL P.11f, showing on wheels and on skis.
1/72nd scale side view line drawing of the PZL. P.11b-L and the PZL P.11 b-K.
1/72nd scale 3-view line drawings of the PZL P.11F
1/72nd scale 2-view line drawings the PZL P.11C and two 3-view drawings of it.
Inserted into the book are 2 sheets of more line-drawings. The biggest sheet is printed on both sides in 16 ½” x 22 ½” format, folded twice to fit the book.
On its 2 sides there are 6 1/32nd scale line drawings of the PZL P.11c.
The second sheet is the same size, but folded 4 times to fit the hook.
It has six 1/24th scale line drawings on its sides of the PZL P.11c.
This book is aimed at modelers wanting to do a model of the PZL P.11.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review copy. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Kagero books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.