PZL.48 "Lampart (Leopard) Polish Fighter-Bomber

[Lrrr]

- Ardpol Models 1:72

Taking a stab at a model made in Poland to represent the Polish Aerospace Industry pre-WWII

Here's the model:


Lots'o'flash ! 

[Lrrr]

Sitting on main gear:

[Dizzyfugu]

Looks like a solid nose variant of the Los bomber? Looks very good for a resin kit, though.

[Lrrr]

Looks like a solid nose variant of the Los bomber? Looks very good for a resin kit, though.

On the topic of the model itself: yes, I imagine they could have used the same mold as the Los.  Though Ardpol  lucked out there, since that's actually relatively historically accurate.




The two did follow a parallel design path.  It was the successor to the relatively underpowered V-8 engined PZL.38 Wilk (Wolf), which was designed by the same team as the Los, but was much, much smaller and lighter. 

Here is a historical image of the Polish aviation industry gearing up for WWII, though sadly a bit behind on mass production compared to Germany.  Los (center) next to Wilk (left)

The radial-engined PZL.48 was light enough in fact to be as fast as the Bf.110 with significantly less power, and have a lower wing loading than the FW.187 Falke (an excellent dogfighter). 

So had Poland not been invaded (or not invaded for a few more years) they may have had a top-notch twin-engined fighter.  But as only the PZL.38 version flew and wasn't adopted by any air forces despite being offered for sale, the Lampart remained a paper project.

[Lrrr]

Theoretical Specifications [Wiki]

General characteristics

    Crew: 2, pilot, rear gunner/bombardier
    Capacity: 1,100 kg (2,425.08 lb) useful load
    Length: 8.7 m (28 ft 7 in)
    Wingspan: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
    Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
    Wing area: 21.5 m2 (231 sq ft)
    Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)
    Gross weight: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)
    Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14M-07 14-cyl. air-cooled two-row radial engines, 540 kW (730 hp) each

Performance

    Maximum speed: 560 km/h (348 mph; 302 kn)
    Range: 1,500 km (932 mi; 810 nmi)
    Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
    Rate of climb: 9 m/s (1,800 ft/min)
    Wing loading: 154 kg/m2 (32 lb/sq ft)

Armament

    2 x 20 mm (0.787 in) Nkm wz.38 FK cannon fixed in nose
    2 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) PWU wz.36 machine guns fixed in nose
    2 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) PWU wz.37 machine guns on a flexible mounting to the rear
    300 kg (661.39 lb) of bombs

[PR19_Kit]

Very neat, both the full size aircraft and the model. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Elegant aircraft. I could imagine that Hinomaru would look great on it, too. There's (at least to me) something very Japanese to it?

[NARSES2]

Very neat, both the full size aircraft and the model. 

Absolutely. It's good to see this build as I've their PZL-38 II in the stash and that looks quite nice in the box.

Got to agree with Dizzy in that she wouldn't look out of place in Hinomaru

[Old Wombat]

Very nice looking aircraft & the stat's are pretty good for the era, too.

[Doug K]

Elegant aircraft. I could imagine that Hinomaru would look great on it, too. There's (at least to me) something very Japanese to it?

I agree, to does have a hint of Imperial Japanese Army

[zenrat]

To me it looks French.

[Old Wombat]

Frapanese?

[NARSES2]

To me it looks French.

I do know what you mean but at that period in history French designers seem to have lost any affinity for the "elegant" for some reason ? Functionality, particularly for multi seaters, seems to have been the norm. And yes I know there were exceptions to that norm.

[Lrrr]

My vote is experimental American as closest in looks.

A-18 Shrike
A-38 Grizzly

[NARSES2]

My vote is experimental American as closest in looks.

A-18 Shrike
A-38 Grizzly

I can see where your coming from with the A-18 Shrike II in particular. Lovely looking aeroplane and made me get my LF kit out and have a quick drool