1:72 RWD13S/ST Poland

The real subject

The RWD-13 is a Polish light aircraft from the mid-1930s: a strut-braced high-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear and a glazed cabin for the pilot and two passengers. Aircraft of this family served for touring and liaison flights and in the medical service, and they became known for their short takeoff run and their calm behavior at low speeds, so they could make do with a grass strip. The letters after the number distinguish the individual variants of the aircraft.

The model in 1:72 scale

The kit covers the RWD-13S/ST in Polish markings. For light aircraft 1:72 is a rewarding scale: the finished model takes up little room in a display case and stands beside combat types of the same scale that the real thing met on airfields. Next to fighters and bombers a small civilian high-wing monoplane is a welcome change, and on a shelf of interwar aircraft it rounds out a collection that otherwise tends to be all military.

Building and painting tips

Dry-fit the parts first and only then glue them; on small models any inaccuracy shows at once. The wing decides the most: let the struts and the attachments dry on a flat surface and check the position of the wing from the front and from the rear, so that the model does not stand twisted. Mask the cabin glazing with narrow strips of tape before spraying and spray the interior shade first. The landing gear and the struts are more comfortable to paint separately, before you fit them. Apply the markings only over a gloss base, otherwise the edges of the film show under them, and even the finished surface out with matte varnish.

Who it is for

For collectors of interwar and civilian aircraft, for anyone interested in Polish aviation and for everyone looking for a smaller build as a rest between large projects. Paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.