POLISH GLIDERS

Isaac Kite
1. SZD 'Gil' STARTED

Michael Kohl
A glider? I am in.

Robert Podkoński
Taking a seat! 🙂

Isaac Kite
Thank you Michael and Robert.

Dusted off the SZD -16 'Gil' and SZD -19-2 'Zefir'. They both have stands, executive toy like. So few parts but room for improvement using 0.3mm card strips for the cabin. Decals are brittle but Xtradecal to the rescue...

These will come first. Free weekend, let's go!

Alex K
In for the show, of course... Some day I got to get me the Bocian, Mucha and Jantar kits from this series...

Isaac Kite
On mojehobby.pl still. Full stock, looks like, on 4 of them. Postage is prohibitively silly to England. C'est la vie.

Villiers de Vos
Booking my seat.

Isaac Kite
And you're very welcome, Villiers.

Isaac Kite
9 part kit. Terrifying... Note red and white scheme. SP-1080 ought to be white and grey with a yellow rectangular splash on the fin.

Isaac Kite
On pause until I can replace these poor quality photos with a new spiffing camera. Be back asap.

Łukasz Gliński
Have you considered including the F-105 in here? 😉
muzeumlotnictwa.pl/z...php?ido=308&w=p

Isaac Kite
Lukasz, that's an inspirational an idea.

Interesting to note Poland's Coat of Arms on the fuse flag with its 'royal vermillion' hue instead of just red red. Its a thing that has interested me for years -- vexiology in general tbh. The Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a powerhouse in its day; when I see the CoA I think of that powerhouse. Just fascinating.

I'd like to keep Hurricanes and Spitfires out of the project and other aircraft that have no real first degree connection with Polish Aviation, but this one looks like a good 'fit' in its own way. Thanks for sharing the link. ...Now I think about it, a trip to a Polish Aviation museum would be fun, and of course Polish food has a rep for being excellent!

Robert Podkoński
Of course you should visit Poland, Isaac. With respect to food, you should try bigos, żurek, and bread (unfortunately it is more and more difficult to find a traditional bread...). And here are some teasers:
Invitation to Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków | Album by podkon
Polish Air Force Museum - Dęblin | Album by podkon
Polish Military Museum in Warsaw | Album by podkon
The Polish Military Museum has been moved to a new location recently, and I am not sure if the outdoor exhibition is still in old place... Nevertheless, feel warmly welcomed!

Isaac Kite
Witaj Robert. What's the correct word for 'love of all things Polish? ''Polandphile' looks silly. How about 'Polskaphile' ? I really believe Poland will soon become a very powerful nation state in its own right, best book a seat early and it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with a -beautiful- Polish nurse who looked after me in hospital for a while. No names, naturally, but her name was Ewalina. lol.

Thank you for these incredible album links.

Robert Podkoński
Thanks for all your kind words, Isaac 🙂

Isaac Kite
My pleasure.

You know, looking at these glider kits, apart from spartan interiors, they're exquisitely moulded. No flash, no burrs, parts that just interlock without issue. Easily Eduard/Hasegawa quality. Shame there weren't many types released -- going to grab the Mucha STD at least. Thanks for your support as I become familiar with these marvelous kits and Polish Aviation in general. Camera comes tomorrow -- finally get things done.

Michael Kohl
I am getting a bit jealous reading your description of the kit. I just unboxed my Astir from KP and it is a really short shortrun kit.

Isaac Kite
Michael, KP make WW1 injection molded biplanes and I love 'em for it. Their Sopwith Dolphin is a cracker, but a bit pricey. Let us not ever mention, though, their Nieuport triplane. Too many late night beers in the design department at KP. Evidently.

As for these beauties, you get a presentation tray which keeps the crystal clear transparency out of harms way and a stand. I will use a walnut block with brass rod supports but the included stands re-emphasise the quality of the glider kits. Weak point is the decal which will need replacing and the type's name e.g. Gil or Bocian will need home made reprinting. If you have a printer, which I don't.

Best wishes, Michael.

Isaac Kite
1. SZD -16 GIL -A to-do list.

Make a cockpit bulkhead from plastic card. Trace the inside of the canopy for a gòod match.
Make new squarer seat plus of course *essential* PE 'seatbelts' because OBVIOUSLY the glider couldn't fly at all without them.
Control stick.
Control panel. So small a dead fly could work.
Find a kind soul who makes decals for a fee.

Fun.

Michael Kohl
There are generic instrument decals, i. e. from Mike Grant Decals. But in the small scale you might paint them as well.
Good luck with all these planes.

Isaac Kite
Thanks again Michael. Feeling lethargic and distracted by the news. At least I can enjoy the 124 page (!) pdf camera manual; finally get some working pics up on here.

All the best.

Robert Podkoński
I have uploaded some number of photos of gliders here, Isaac - only Bocian, however, is offered as a kit...
Local airport rarities | Album by podkon

Isaac Kite
Witaj! All good stuff, Robert -thank you for supporting this project. These are remarkable kits from quality to presentation. Shame so few were released. There's always the Slingsby vacform!

Camera works! Pics! Images! Action! lol

Isaac Kite
Back in business. See latest pic; wondering if any benefit to making airbrakes from thin alu foil. The brakes here are to scale and very convincing, but a little bit o' extra. Why not?

Isaac Kite
Airbrakes. Or the suggestion of same. TIP: in your local Garden Centre/ Mall they should sell 'anti-slug tape' which for the most part is simply lengths of self-adhesive thin COPPER foil for wrapping round plantpots. Slugs and snails are'nt fans of copper.

For the process of 'overpanelling' the stuff is so thin it is, I believe, perfect for the task (always comes in one thickness at least in this country). I buy about 10M of it for £1 in bargain basement dives too. Bear in mind its adhesive quality may not be suitable for your project but hey, it is deffo in my opinion better than alu foil and SPRAYMOUNT artist's glue. That glue never ever 'sets' underneath alu foil.