My first 1/48 model.

Marudek · 10-09-2007

Hello!
I’d like to present my first 1/48 model airplane I made some time ago. It is IIWW Polish fighter PZL P11c from Mirage-hobby. It is the one that bravely fought against German Bf 109s & 110s. Although it couldn’t match to German fighters’ speed and armament – it still could win a dogfight for it’s incredible manoeuvrability (thanks to it's unusuall wing construction).

About the kit: I think it’s a very well detailed kit, full of engraved panel lines, correct to drawings. The kit I bought comes with small PE fret and a resin radiator. The only problem I had is the instruction drawings are not clear enough at the interior/cockpit stage. So, after assembly I could not close up the fuselage halves. But eventually I overcame the problem by stripping and redoing the interior sides.

Don’t be disappointed; this is my first kit in this scale. Painted with a brush with lack of experience on plastic kits. Anyway here it is:

Regards,
Marudek

mattjack · 10-09-2007

Hi nice work, im thinking of doing a ww2 marauder plane which the raf used in 1944 but having trouble finding a kit, any ideas?....

maxidad66 · 10-09-2007

Nice one Marudek. It's a fine model brush-painted or otherwise. Unusual markings on the fuselage.

I would have liked to see the cockpit interior.

What are you working on at the moment?

**Bunkerbarge** · 11-09-2007

Nice model Marudek. The wing reminds me of the Lysander, which was also renowned for it's manoeuvrability and capabilities of very short take off and landing requirements.

AerynPk · 11-09-2007

That is a nice model well done for your first 1:48 scale. You have done a great Paint job on it.

Marudek · 11-09-2007

Hi guys!

I thought no one noticed my new thread. I am really glad you like it.

Mattjack: finding Marauder is no problem just click here and choose from wide range of kits and accessories.

maxidad66: these ‘unusual markings’ on the fuselage is Squadron badge. And the red/white checkerboard is Polish Air Force insignia. After all it’s a Polish construction. As far as I know the planes were also sold to Romania and Turkey (more decal options; unfortunately not available with this kit. Romanian markings are available with other kit of same scale and the same manufacturer).
When I have a chance I’ll post a picture of the interior.
At the moment I am struggling to go on with the scratch built loco I’ve started. I found I am not that much into rail models and it’s hard to finish it. I found I can’t force myself to build a model cause it would be a scrap. So the loco is waiting for better times while I finish Ju 52/3m I started some time ago.

Bunkerbarge: my mates at work said the same, but Lysander’s wing was on top of canopy. In this case pilot was sitting behind the wing. (I wonder what was the visibility like).

Now let me tell you what I don’t like about my model:
1)I shouldn’t have used that thick thread for the antenna
2)I wanted to make weighted wheels but took off a bit too much from the bottom of the main gear.
3)I didn’t let the under wing decals set properly (it was before I discovered Micro Sol).

P.S. My next projects will be better.

Regards,
Marudek

**Bunkerbarge** · 11-09-2007

I always used to use human hair for the antenna wires on 1/72nd aircraft. It may be a bit fine for 1/48th but I always think too thin is better than too thick!

Marudek · 11-09-2007

On the other forum they said women's tights thread is the best solution. I guess I have to nick some from my wife to see myself. Another way is stretching sprue over a flame. I'm not so sure about this one (is thickness the same on every point of the length?).

Have you ever tried to make weighted wheels yourself? On this model I simply grinded them but I'm tempted to heat up a knife and gently "squash" the bottom of some kit wheel.

Regards,
Marudek

maxidad66 · 11-09-2007

Regarding stretching sprue: this first subject I wrote to Scale Model Forum about! Getting stretched sprue fine enough for 1/72 is hard. I have tried it and used it on the Bf109 and Hellcat in my gallery pics. As you can see in the Bf109 it's way out of scale, but not so bad on the Hellcat. I switched to using "invisble thread", fine monofilament used in dress-making. It's probably still too thick for 1/72, but it is looks OK to my untrained eye. By the way, if you stretch the sprue thin enough and hold it while it cools down, the bit in the centre should be fine and straight enough to use.

Regarding weighted wheels: Maybe I'm not fussy enough, but I just sand them flat on the bottom. I reckon your heated method is better - try it on some spares ones.

Hogbopper · 12-09-2007

Very nice IIWW Polish fighter PZL P11c looks great and thanks to Bunkerbarge i will have to get the lysander out again ....... lol