Having Just Completed My COBI P.11C... What Next?
Completing A Piece Of Polish History...
[Header photo: W/Cdr Jan Eugeniusz Zumbach. 12 (and 2 shared) confirmed kills, five probable kills, 1 damaged plane. Jan Zumbach was decorated with Virtuti Militari, Polish Cross of Valour (4x) and Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.]
So far I have constructed two of COBI's brick model military aircraft, the French/Polish MS. 406 and then the legendary Polish PLZ P.11c fighters.
While I picked these particular model because of my interest in both Polish and French aircraft of World War 2, it did occur to me that this duo of planes piloted by Poles actually tells the first two parts of an very interesting story. The story of what happened to the brave Polish airman after the invasion of their homeland.
While the PLZ P.11C is the iconic symbol of Polish resistance to the invading Germans, the French MS.406 is an example of what happened nets as the tenacious Poles then took up arms against the Germans again during The Battle of France.
BUT... This leaves what happened after the Fall of France up in the air (if you will excuse my pun).
You see, the crazy Poles were NOT finished yet - despite being 'kicked out' of two counties by the Germans, instead they simply upped sticks again and moved across the English Channel to Britain and joined the RAF *just* in time for The Battle of Britain! ----->
The Missing Piece of the (Brick) Puzzle!
What I'd like to see is a COBI representation of the plane which was the first mount of the Poles in the RAF's 303 Squadron, the Hawker Hurricane.
Now, COBI do, in fact, produce a Mk. I Hurricane, but - unfortunately - it is in an RAF desert scheme (which does look nice) and it is in their #1/48' scale size, while the two Polish planes I have so far are in '1/32'. ðŸ˜
What I'd *really* like is a Mk. I Hurricane in 1/32 and in the Polish 303rd Squadron scheme...
This would complete the (first part, at least) of the history of Polish air force resistance in World War 2, and make up a wonderful trio of historic aircraft.
I say the first part, as - of course - the Poles went on to fly various aircraft for the RAF throughout the remainder of WW2 PLUS many Poles opted to fly for the Soviet air force as part of the Polish 1st Army Air Force unit on the Eastern Front. So, COBI could go on to add a Polish RAF Spitfire or Mustang - and, they already produce a IL-2M3 Shturmovik in the colours of the Polish air assault regiment from 1945...
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| Above: Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.XVI E, served in Polish Air Force on Western front, Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow, Poland. |
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