PZL 144 Wazka

[Acree]

The PZL 144 Wazka was on the drawing boards at PZL Warszawa-Okęcie when Poland became free and turned to the West.  Prior to joining NATO in 1997, the Poles attempted to re-equip their air force with modern, home-desinged aircraft, of which the Wazka was one.  The Waska was redesigned to utilize Western engines, equipment and weapons, and first flew in this guise in 1997.  The Waska used a tandem-wing layout to provide dramatic weapon-carrying capacity, and incredible maneuverability with light loads (after weapons release).  Equipped with a total of 17 hardpoints, the Wazka had some very interesting loadout possibilities.  The two dorsal rear-fuselage pylons carry only non-jettisonable light loads (usually the locally designed and produced 'Kaprys' chaff-flare dispenser, and 'Nawoz' jammer).  The forward wingtip hardpoints originally were to carry R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) light AAMs, but were adapted for somewhat heavier Western AIM-9s.  Heaviest loads are carried on the rear-wing hardpoints, while all forward-firing ordnance (guns, missiles and rocket pods) must be carried on the forward wing. 
Pilots loved the maneuverability of the Wazka, but hated the visibility which was blocked by the forward wing (especially downward to the sides).  The prototype Wazka's cockpit had been raised to improve visibility, but with only marginal improvement. 

The build: this build started as another throw-together attempt to improve my whiffing skills while using up some kit parts lying around.  Originally, I wasn't even going to post it.  Halfway through, I thought, "this isn't so bad....!"  Then reality set in, and I realized it's not that great, but what the heck, I'll post it anyway.  Just for fun, see if you can tell where the kit parts came from (hint: major parts from three aircraft).  All in 1/72 scale. 

Hope you enjoy it...

Chuck

[Acree]

Whoops, miscounted... that should be 19 hardpoints (I missed the totally out-of-place Sparrows).

Chuck

[Ed S]

WOW.  I don't think "underarmed" is part of your vocabulary.   Nice model.

Ed

[Cobra]

Awesome Job why do i see someone Calling out,"Thunderbirds Are Go!!!!!!!!"?? looks like something You'd see in 'Thunderbirds', 'Stingray',or 'Captain Scarlet'!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Job!!

[Wyrmshadow]

ważka: Dragonfly.

Although I admit I'd never heard it before. Not many dragonflies where I am.

For those english-speaking gents... it's Vaska... not waska.

[Acree]

WOW.  I don't think "underarmed" is part of your vocabulary.   Nice model.

Ed

We used to have a saying: "Never bring a knife to a gunfight"  - Wazka pilots didn't have to worry about that!

ważka: Dragonfly.

Although I admit I'd never heard it before. Not many dragonflies where I am.

For those english-speaking gents... it's Vaska... not waska.

True - Dragonfly selected because of wing configuration.  'Kaprys' and 'Nawoz' are real Polish words, too (though I don't speak it, I just have a Polish-English Dictionary
Chuck

[batmancustoms]

very nice bro!

[Jschmus]

Cant one set of wings down slightly, and you'd have a (not) real world K-wing bomber.

[lancer]

Cool or what!!!!

[ysi_maniac]

Not a beauty but COOL!!!

[Acree]

Thanks for all the kind comments guys! 

Since nobody guessed, the primary kit parts were: F/A-18C (aft fuselage, rear wing), A-10 (forward upper fuselage, canopy), Su-25 (forward wing, nose).  The vertical tail was made from wings of a 1/144 F/A-18. 

Since no Polish-speaking member provided translation, 'Kaprys' means "whim" (I wanted to use "fantasy" or "fiction" but the Polish words were too recognizable) and 'Nawoz' very appropriately translates to "fertilizer."

Cheers,
Chuck

[GTX]

Cool!!!

Regards,

Greg