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Re-releasein December 2019 by Kovozávody Prostějov (KP) a 1/72nd LET L-13 "Blaník" kit - ref. KPM0157 Sources: http://www.modelarovo.cz/novinky-kp-az-plastikova-zima-2019/ http://ksmodel.pl/sklep/szczegoly/let-l-13-blanik-1-72-20886/ Box art + schemes V.P.

Infinity Models is to release a 1/32nd LET L-13 "Blaník" kit - ref. ? Source: http://infinitymodels.cz/2020/09/09/l-13-blanik-1-32/ Box art V.P.

LET L-13/TZ-13 Blanik "Military Service" 1:144 MARK I Models (MKM14495) The L-13 Blanik is a two seat training glider made by the Czech company Let Kunovice. It is probably the most widely produced and used glider in the world, being used by many civilian schools, and many military air arms. The L-13 was the first Czech glider to utilise laminar flow wing profiles. The L-13 has a reputation for durability and ease of operation. Over 3000 have been built since 1956 and exported all over the world. The ruggedness of the design combined with a low landing speed and ample control deflection make it very effective as a primary flight trainer. The type is said to posses many of the flight characteristics of wood/fabric aircraft but with the durability of more modern materials and construction techniques. The Kit Inside the box from Mark I you actually get two kits, each on its own sprue with the canopy in a separate bag (which is nice). The plastic is very nice, for this scale there is fine engraved panel lines where needed, and thin sprue gates for the parts. As you would expect the construction is fairly simple in this small scale. The bottom of the seat is moulded into the floor part, so the backs are added along with control columns. The back seat is also moulded onto the rear bulkhead. Once the seats/floor is in the instrument panels are added and the fuselage can be closed up. The tail/rudder is moulded as one part onto the left fuselage to keep it scale thickness. Once the fuselage is closed up the tail planes and wings are added, finally the one part canopy is added. Decals Decals are in house, look to be in register and should pose no problems. Its worth noting that the carrier film seems very minimal, so care will be needed. Markings are provided for 6 examples in Military Service. RAF Gliding & Soaring Association, Aboyne, Scotland 1980. DOSAAF, Aeroclub Novosibrisk, USSR 1970s. CVV-14 Gliding Centre, Italian Air Force, Frosinone AB, Italy 1985. Military School of Aeronautics, Uruguayan Air Force, Pando AB, Uruguay 2014-15. Voluntary Border Defence Service, Lithuanian Air Force, Silute AB, Lithuania, 1998. Air Force Academy, Brazilian Air Force, Pirassununga AB, Brasil 1970s-80s. Conclusion This is a simple little kit (but then the real ones are as well) it should make up to be a good interesting model. This is the first Mark I kit I have seen in a while and must say it looks good, they really do seem to know their stuff in 1.144. There is also a good selection of decal options to choose from. Highly recommended. Reviiew sample thanks to

L-13 Blanik "Czechoslovak Glider" 1:72 Special Hobby The L-13 Blanik is a two seater training glider made by the Czech company Let Kunovice. It is probably the most widely produced and used glider in the world, being used by many civilian schools, and even the US Air Force Academy where it is designated the TG-10C. The L-13 was the first Czech glider to utilise laminar flow wing profiles. The L-13 has a reputation for durability and ease of operation. Over 3000 have been built since 1956 and exported all over the world. The ruggedness of the design combined with a low landing speed and ample control deflection make it very effective as a primary flight trainer. The type is said to posses many of the flight characteristics of wood/fabric aircraft but with the durability of more modern materials and construction techniques. The Kit This is a re-release of the 2008 Profiline kit. The kit is on just one injected sprue with a separate cockpit part. Construction starts in the cockpit, the two seats are added along with their control columns, the rear cockpit bulkhead and the two instrument coamings. Once complete the fuselage can be closed up and the canopy added. Depending on the version being built the right set of wing tips need to be added to the main wings. The wings can then be added to the fuselage. The tail surfaces and vertical tail can then be added. Finally the tail wheel is added. Decals Decals are from Aviprint and should pose no problems. Markings are provided for 4 examples; OK-1827, Benesov Airfield, Czech Republic. VH-GOS, Queensland, Australia. DM-3208, Magdeburg Airfiels, Eat Germany 1961. OK-4832, Aeroclub Pilsen, Czech Republic. Conclusion This is a simple little kit (but then the real ones are as well) it should make up to be a good interesting model. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Special a Hobby is to rebox in January 2017 the ex-Profiline 1/72nd LET L-13 Blaník kit - ref. SH72342 Source: http://www.specialhobby.info/2016/12/special-hobby-newsletter-january.html Profiline kit SH Box art V.P.

About time I start this. This is the kit: And here's proof of purchase: The picture links to the record of the original purchase on eBay, which won't remain there for much longer. You can also see the nice box, before it was shipped in a padded envelope... Good thing I'm not a hardcore collector. So what do we have here: The plastic is the well known Modela model that was sold under a few other brands as well. Detail is rather indistinctive and of the raised lines variety (The funny shape at the cockpit wall is supposed to depict a pouch...). Some improvisation will be called for here. Especially so as the cockpit of a glider is about the only opportunity to show some detail and the large canopy gives a clear insight. (The new AZ / Admiral model is much nicer here. But that would have been more than a Tenner...) This edition differs from the Modela offering in the marking options. Decals are printed by Propagteam. There is a quite nice white variant in blue and red trim (the Czech national colours), and two more Czech markings in more standard livery (one of those with the top-mounted engine; only three of these were ever built). And then there is the variant I intend to build: A natural metal bird (most Blaníks were NMF for the most part) of the British Air Training Corps. Looking at the Instructions you can see that there is not a lot to be built on such a glider. Main points are detailing a nice cockpit and duplicating the smooth skin that you try to maintain on these birds. I first thought about giving the Blaník a few dents and dings, but looking at pictures online I found that most of them are kept in pristine condition. On the lower side of the fuselage and the outer lower wing panels some wear and tear probably can't be avoided, but other than that they usually look spotless. This already brings me to a cry for help from the nice folk on this board: Have any of you been in Air Cadet training? I have no information whatsoever on the inside of this plane. I can make it fictious, but I'd rather stay close to the original. Questions in detail: Colour of the textile paneling an flooring? Colour of the seat cushions? Colour and style of seat harness? Colour and style of parachute used? Would an air cadet during flight training wear a uniform? Standard glider-issue pot-hat or Air Cadet beret? Thanks for any help you might be able to offer. Also entered in the Training Types GB

OK, so here goes: This is the kit: What do we have here: The plastic is the well known Modela model that was sold under a few other brands as well. Detail is rather indistinctive and of the raised lines variety (The funny shape at the cockpit wall is supposed to depict a pouch...). Some improvisation will be called for here. Especially so as the cockpit of a glider is about the only opportunity to show some detail and the large canopy gives a clear insight. (The new AZ / Admiral model is much nicer here. ) This edition differs from the Modela offering in the marking options. Decals are printed by Propagteam. There is a quite nice white variant in blue and red trim (the Czech national colours), and two more Czech markings in more standard livery (one of those with the top-mounted engine; only three of these were ever built). And then there is the variant I intend to build: A natural metal bird (most Blaníks were NMF for the most part) of the British Air Training Corps. Looking at the Instructions you can see that there is not a lot to be built on such a glider. Main points are detailing a nice cockpit and duplicating the smooth skin that you try to maintain on these birds. I first thought about giving the Blaník a few dents and dings, but looking at pictures online I found that most of them are kept in pristine condition. On the lower side of the fuselage and the outer lower wing panels some wear and tear probably can't be avoided, but other than that they usually look spotless. This already brings me to a cry for help from the nice folk on this board: Have any of you been in Air Cadet training? I have no information whatsoever on the inside of this plane. I can make it fictious, but I'd rather stay close to the original. Questions in detail: Colour of the textile paneling an flooring? Colour of the seat cushions? Colour and style of seat harness? Colour and style of parachute used? Would an air cadet during flight training wear an uniform? Standard glider-issue pot-hat or Air Cadet beret? Thanks for any help you might be able to offer. The build is also entered in the Less than a Tenner GB.