1:32 PZL P.11c

The real subject

The PZL P.11c is a Polish single-seat fighter of the 1930s with the wing mounted above the fuselage and cranked into a gull shape. It was one of the main fighter types of the Polish Air Force at the start of the Second World War. The cockpit stayed open, so the pilot's working space can be seen from above on the real aircraft and on the model without any glazing at all.

What the replacement panel is for

On an open cockpit the instrument panel is the most conspicuous part of the interior. The part from the kit is usually only suggested in this place, and the modeler then has to make up for it with a brush on faces a fraction of a millimeter across. A replacement panel shortens that work, and in 1:32 scale, where the cockpit is large and the viewer can see into it, the difference shows most. The execution of the part and any further steps are given in the instructions provided by the maker.

How to fit the panel

First try dry where the part goes and what gets in its way. Cut or sand the plastic panel from the kit down flat, so that the new part seats over its whole area and does not lift on one side. Apply the glue with tweezers and sparingly, just enough for the part to hold; any excess that runs out onto a visible surface can no longer be removed without damage. The panel is fitted before the fuselage halves are joined, otherwise you cannot get into the cockpit. Around the part, carry on painting the interior in the usual way.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the PZL P.11c in a large scale and want the open cockpit worked up without painting the individual instruments. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.