PZL P11 III “Cleveland” 1932 from scratch scale 1/32

[Marcin_Matejko]

Hi everyone,
The reason for stopping work on the "eight ball" model is to choose a new model for rationalization. I started this project a month ago after reading the invitation to participate in the competition announced by the Kagero publishing house in the model magazine "Super Model". The aim of this competition is to choose the best PZL P11 airplane model. Because this is one of my favorite aircraft structures (I've already made them in a variety of scales), I thought I could not miss this venture. I decided to combine in this model my two model worlds, my passion - Polish air force in the interwar period and the American air racing from the same period. The choice was obvious to me; PZL P11 prototype III, the most "racing" of all Polish aircraft.

In 1932, on the plane, the pilot Jerzy Kossowski raced in the American city of Cleveland in the most spectacular competition of sports aircraft in the world "National Air Races" for the Pulitzer Prize. The competition is not won but the fact of participation is unquestionable and very interesting in the history of Polish wings, unfortunately little known. The plane was fully metal construction designed in Poland, it was equipped with a Bristol Mercury engine with a capacity of about 560 horsepower, it reached speeds above 350 km / h. This aircraft was one of the first prototypes on the basis of which the famous PZL P11c and PZL P24G planes were created later.

I had the idea to build a model of this airplane a few years ago when I finished the LT 14 "Meteor" model. However, at that time I was able to collect only the documentation and partially prepare the drawings, then for various reasons I did nothing more. However, you can see now the time has come for him, so I act. I have picked the model from scratch in 1/32 scale because I chose this scale for my "racers".

(photographs from AJpress monograph number 36)

During the construction I use standard methods for the production of elements that are made of polystyrene boards by the method of machining. In this case, the exception is the fuselage, the propeller hood and the engine cover (cone) which I shaped in a vacuum on the hooves. Photos of the current state and several photos from various stages of construction are presented below.

Will I be able to carry out this project to the end, and will it be possible to complete it within the time limit foreseen in the competition and will it be the best model of the PZL P11 aircraft? It is difficult to answer these questions, we need to work and see what will happen.

 (drawing by myself on the basis of drawings of the PZL P11b version)

 

On this primitive equipment, I molded the hull and other elements in a "vacuum" way.

 

The hull itself was formed on hooves which I originally prepared for the PZL P6 model, in 2008. The P11 model was perfect because the hulls of these planes were almost identical.

 

The internal engine cover made of extrudate was processed by files, giving it such a shape

 

Then I fitted it to the hull

The "Bristol Mercury" engine is an excellent Vector product:

 

The outer shield of the engine, Townend ring, made on a lathe from a block of polystyrene glued from the layers of tiles:

 

[dodgem37]

Nicely done.

 

Sincerely,

Mark

[LSP_Kevin]

Terrific work, and great to see another scratch-build project!

 

Kev

[Marcin_Matejko]

Thanks boys

The photos from the construction phase of the wings and ballasts probably disappeared at once with the hard drive of my home computer, which broke down two weeks ago. The wings and ballast are made as full of polystyrene tiles. I gave shape to them by processing files of various gradations. The wings have a steel wire girder inside (a bicycle spoke) that helped me shape the characteristic shape of the "seagull wing".

What I have done up to this point is presented as follows:

I also made a prototype of the wheel which I will copy and pour from the resin.

I made a new inner engine cover, the previous one was too long and the ventilation holes were bad shape.

I made imitation of the inner hull structure with plastic "sticks"

And I started painting

From that moment I will try to update the progress of building the model on a regular basis

[Iain]

Absolutely beautiful work!

 

Iain

[kensar]

Excellent scratchbuilding!

 

[Out2gtcha]

Lovely scratch work for sure.

[RBrown]

Incredible!

[R Palimaka]

What a fabulous project, and a very historic subject!! Very clever use of technology and your skills. Will definitely be following this one, I love Polish aircraft.

 

Richard

[Thomas Lund]

wow impressive work.

 

You make it look so easy...

[TorbenD]

Inspirational work - so many top-notch scratching skills on display. 

 

Torben 

[MikeMaben]

 

                   

 

 

[SCRATCH BUILDER]

Nice work!

[AlexM]

This is just amazing, excellent scratch building!

 

Cheers

Alex

[Marcin_Matejko]

Thanks to colleagues

Last week did not spoil me with free time, so I did not create as much as I would like to do, but it's not bad

I cast the wheels:


The fuel tank was created:


I also saw the struts :


I added imitation hinges to the fin:


I also made several elements of the interior of the hull :


Well, that's it