Read review

• SAFO • 2013-09-28
• Hyperscale.com • 2013-09-28
• Modeling Madness • 2013-09-28
• Internet Modeler • 2013-09-28
• SAMI 10/2003 • 2013-09-28

• SAFO • 2013-09-28
  
• Hyperscale.com • 2013-09-28
  by Steven Eisenman Sometimes one plus one can result in much more than two. In this case it the combination of the Mirage PZL P.11c kit with Mushroom Model Magazine’s colorful monograph on the PZL P.11c., which elevates a footnote in aviation history to a fascinating modeling subject. Without this book, I believe the model of the PZL P.11c would remain just another kit of an obscure aircraft of limited interest. The PZL P.11c represents a significant point in the history of aviation. As the authors note in the forward; “The PZL 11c….marked the end of an era of world aviation: the era romantic flying.” Just as the obsolete Polish cavalry was confronted by overwhelming Panzer units, the obsolete P.11c was quickly devastated by the high speed, high performance and heavily armed Bf 109s and Bf110s of the Luftwaffe. There is a brief overview of the development of the P.11 from its introduction in 1931, with a very interesting “family tree” and the specifications for the several variants. But the bulk of the written portion of the book deals with the operational history of the aircraft. The first part of the operational use covers the pre-WW-2 period. It struck me odd indeed too think of the P.11c as a weapon of intimidation. But that is what occurred when there was a massing of air units near the Polish-Lithuanian border in an attempt to get Lithuania to normalize diplomatic relations with Poland. The next part of the book covers the operational use of the P.11c by each of the Fighter Flights that operated this aircraft. This includes the combat record of each unit against the Luftwaffe with date and type of aircraft shot down. There are numerous, and most interesting, black and white photographs. Almost every Fighter Flight is represented by at least on picture. The heart of the book is the extensive, full color walk-around of the restored P.11c at the Polish Aviation Museum. The aircraft is in the marking of 121 Fighter Flight, 2 Air Regiment “Cracow”. The walk-around is supplemented with black and white photographs from the original manuals. This section provides a wealth of information for additional detailing. Finally the books concludes with over 30 pages of profiles (top and side views) in color. The profiles are well done in that they differentiate between P.11c’s with wing guns and those without. Also there are profiles of the P.11c in Rumanian and Hungarian markings. While there is a color profile and black and white pictures, the book does not solve the mystery of the one P.11c painted in a two tone splinter scheme. Regardless of the basis for this scheme, it would be nice to model a P.11c in something other than overall Polish Khaki and Light Blue-Gray. I believe Mushroom Model Magazine’s Yellow Series has come a long way from the first one on the Bf 109 G, which to me, seemed disjointed and superficial. This books is quite interesting on its own, and makes for an invaluable resource in modeling the P.11c. I recommend this book to those aviation enthusiasts and modelers who are interested in Polish aviation in general and the P.11c in particular.
• Modeling Madness • 2013-09-28
  By Scott Van Aken Coming rather closely on the heels of their fine A5M Claude book is this new volume on the PZL P.11c. As with other Mushroom Models Publications books, this one has its basis in Poland, which has rapidly become a real hot-bed of aviation publishing in the last ten years. I would dare to say that this is probably the best they have done so far. The level of research into it is really first rate. Thanks to the ability to gain access to archives that were so long unavailable, a real picture of the operational history of this sleek 30's fighter is now available. As with nearly every other book in the series, there is an excellent section on development of the aircraft. This is followed by a piece on pre-war operations. The section on wartime operations is different from others in the series. In this portion, each flight operating the P.11 has its own section with the story of its short war history and those pilots who were successful against the Luftwaffe. The usual section on close-ups of the actual aircraft is enhanced a great deal by having full access to the only surviving P.11c, an aircraft that has been restored to fully flyable condition, though it will probably never be taken to the skies. It is a bit ironic that this aircraft survived only because it was on display at the Aviation Museum in Berlin during the war and survived the Allied bombing. The final section is the usual excellent artwork we have come to expect from Mushroom Models Publications. While there are the usual profiles, there is also a three view of a representative aircraft from each of the individual flights that operated the type. Frankly, I wish I'd have had this book when I was building the Mirage P.11c as it would have been a truly outstanding resource. I know I sound like a broken record when it comes to MMP books, but the truth is that they are all excellent and this is the best of the lot so far.
• Internet Modeler • 2013-09-28
  By Ray Mehlberger This latest book from Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) covers the famous Polish gull-wing fighter: the PZL P.11. It was the final version of a very effective fighter line designed and built in Poland. The P.11c was the backbone of the Polish Air Force in 1939, the first Allied fighter in action in WWII, the first to gain an Allied air-to-air victories, and an enduring symbol of Polish resistance to the Nazi invasion. The book contains technical details and the history of the types operational service with both the Polish and Romania Air Forces. The book is in MMP's usual 9 1/2" x 6 1/2" soft-cover format. Although printed and published in Poland, the book is all in English. This volume is 128 pages in length. There are 70 black and white photos, six line drawings, four full color side profiles, and 16 full color four-view paintings. Various close up, full color, paintings of squadron logos are also included. There is a chart that shows the development of the aircraft. At the end of the book is a section that has full color walk-around type photos of a PZL P.11 preserved in the Krakow Museum. It bears the markings of the 121st Fighter Flight. There are 83 photos of all the parts of this aircraft's anatomy, plus 13 black and white illustrations obviously taken from a technical manual. Wow! What more could a modeler ask for? Well worth the bucks and highly recommended.
• SAMI 10/2003 • 2013-09-28