IAR-81 BoPi 1/32

In the late 1930s, the Polish all-metal high-wing PZL P.11 and P.24 were produced under licence by IAR, Industria Aeronautica Romana.
Using the fuselage structure of the P.24, a new fighter was developed by a design team led by Ion Grosu and named the IAR -80. The new fighter had performance close to that of contemporary foreign models such as the Hurricane, the P-36, the MS 406 and the Bf 109D. Various changes to the armament resulted in the IAR-80A, B and C sub-versions, as well as the IAR-81C, which was designed as a fighter-bomber in the spring of 1941, although it was used both as an interceptor and for ground attacks.
The IAR-81C was the most frequently produced sub-version (between 300 and 450 units) and was delivered from early 1943.
Total production of the IAR-80/ 81 series was around 450 units, but was stopped after the American bombing of the Brasov factory on 16 April 1944

Various changes to the aircraft's armament led to the development of sub-versions I.A.R.80 A, B and C, as well as the I.A.R.81 C, which was designed for use as a fighter-bomber in the spring of 1941.
A special dive bomber version, the I.A.R.81 BoPi, was also built, equipped with a folding bomb rack under the fuselage similar to that of the Stuka.
When the bomb was dropped during the dive, the rack swung it outside the propeller arc. Two batches of the BoPi version were built, the aircraft numbered 91-105 and 151-175.

Plastic model kit

• with photoetched parts
• with resin parts

scale 1:32

unbuilt / unpainted