PZL-12 (PZL-H) – the Polish amphibian aircraft - prototype

PZL-H - the first seaplane, designed in Poland by the famous engineer Zygmunt Puławski. He designed it for his own needs as a tourist plane, that could land on water. The PZL management agreed, that the self-made plane would be built on the company's territory. When in 1930 the representatives of the Navy began to be interested in purchasing a seaplane from Polish factories, the PZL management offered Puławski's plane as a training and communications-reconnaissance amphibian. The Navy was interested in this project and during the construction of the prototype at the turn of 1930-1931, PZL assigned this plane the designation PZL-12. The prototype took off for its first flight without underwing floats in February 1931 at the Mokotów airfield in Warsaw. On March 21, 1931, Puławski took off from the same airfield for his sixth flight. A mechanic from the PZL workshop was also supposed to fly with him, but he had a lot of work to do and Pulawski decided to fly alone. That day the weather conditions were difficult and the first takeoff attempt failed, because the landing gear got stuck in a swamp during taxiing at the airfield and the help of the airfield staff was needed to pull the plane out. The second takeoff was successful and the pilot flew over Warsaw. During the flight over Ochota and Narutowicz Palaces, the pilot tried to turn around and fly back to the airfield. But the turn was too sharp and there was a gusty wind at the time, and he was flying at an altitude of about 150 m. The plane lost speed and, sliding "on the wing", crashed at the intersection of Slupsk, Senkocinski and Kalisz streets. Pulawski, who was seriously injured, died on the way to the hospital. He was buried in the family grave in Lublin. After the designer's death, the PZL authorities stopped the construction of the amphibious PZL-12.

A small, not very complicated, well-designed and well-detailed model for modelers of any experience. It will not suit only complete beginners. And for those beginners, who have already glued several models, we recommend gluing this model under the supervision of a more experienced colleague and not to rush. It will not be possible to avoid detailing the cabin interior here, because it is open, the complexity is further increased by the open engine, which we recommend, that beginners simplify. The silver-painted details on the original plane were printed with glossy "Metalic" type aluminum paint. There is a large reserve of colors, the graphic instructions are excellent, the textual instructions are medium in size, but they perfectly explain the entire process of gluing the model.