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Kovozávody Prostějov (http://www.kovozavody.cz/) is to release a new tool 1/72nd Avia S-199 kit - ref. M72?? & M72??. Source: http://modelweb.modelforum.cz/2014/06/09/kovozavody-prostejov-novinky-cerven-2014-2/?lang=CS Two boxings. Release expected June 2014 V.P.

VPAF Shengyang J-6 (MiG-19S 'Farmer-C'), '6066', 925st FR, Noi Bai, 1974 Shengyang J-6 was the Chinese license built version of the MiG-19S 'Farmer-C'. Even if MiG-19 was the first supersonic fighter to go into mass production - it is overshadowed by it's predecessor and replacement. One reason is because it had quite short life span, just filling the gap between MiG-17 to MiG-21. Even if it had better performance than it's US counterparts - for example MiG-19 had superior rate of climb when compared to F-100 Super Sabre - the type was plagued with all kinds of technical problems, engine issues and design 'features' that made it somewhat dangerous to fly in inexperienced hands. Many of those flaws being caused by the hurry to get the plane type into production. '6066' is one of the 24 Shenyang J-6's that the Chinese provided as combat attrition replacement in 1974. - - - - - - Kit: KP Shenyang F-6C 'Farmer-C' "late" (#KPM0160) Scale: 1/72 Aftermarket: Master pitot tubes & guns, Pavla resin seat and Print Scale decals Paints: Vallejo acrylics Weathering: Flory Models Wash, Mig & Tamiya weathering products Newly tooled MiG-19 from KP is good all-around kit and probably the best kit choice for this subject in this scale. Built for Vietnam GB. Build thread:

Joining in this GB, if I may, with a couple of entries - first being the 1/72 KP Mil-4 Hound. I developed a fondness for this aircraft after a visit to Moscow and a ramp tour around Chernoye re-work facility with two of the beast lying around in a state of dis-repair! Have had the kit a few years and its not a bad shape in my opinion. Uniformly moulded with indented panel lines, possibly a little bit simplified around the numerous vents holes, grilles, ports etc . Will be a well used military example and the decals look OK for a few option plus I have a set from Hi-Life to give a load of other options. From the box... Always keen to crack open a new kit (who isnt?) here we are straight away with some extra work - lets open up the vents in the nose for the engine of which there are 18? On the real aircraft these are very noticeable and the representation on the kit will not do. Its the usual drill each corner then scalpel between and the file with micro-files to get the shape as close as possible. One done 17 to go!! Quite thick plastic which helps with this job but will leave a depth between the outer skin and where the mesh/grille will sit. I notice there is the HobbyBoss version in the GB as well, so an interesting comparison coming up. Any way looking forward to building my first chopper for 40? years.....

Recently completed as part of the P-51 Mustang STGB is my interpretation of a Mustang III using the 1/72 KP kit. Built mainly OOB with the addition of some DIY belts and a DIY vac canopy as I like my subjects to have the canopy open. Painted with a mixture Tamiya, AK paints with the main scheme being Colourcoats enamels. Kit decals with the markings of 133 (Polish) Squadron, RAF, Coolham, 1944. Build log here: Stuart

A relatively quick build for my doing (under two weeks!) of the old KP Avia that I found in an online auction. No build report or anything, just a fun model of one of those kits that I always liked but never got around to actually building. It was nice to open the mail and see that awkwardly stapled box with the thin cardboard lid and the colourful (albeit somewhat yellowing) boxart. Finally I have one! Basically it was build OoB, but I just had to add some extra detail. It received a cockpit interior, a radiator interior, a new rudder and pitot tube. Also the undercarriage was shortened about 0,8 mm and it got replacement wheels. The canopy was quite brittle and unfortunately it cracked from the sprue gate which was located in an awkward position. Maybe someday I'll get a vac for it; check back for that in 10+ years or so. Markings are from when it left the Avia factory, so weathering was kept to a minimum. It was a tad late in the build that I realised that the roundels shouldn't have the blue border. Ah well.. Enjoy! Cheers, Luka

Hi all, First completed model in three years. 😬 Following on the heels of many here, I've decided I need to tackle my shelf of doom box of unfinished bits. Here's the first completed resulted. I gave up on this two years ago. It's the KP kit, which was also boxed by RV Aircraft, the KP variants coming with no resin bits or photoetch. And as I discovered, the KP kits come with much poorer quality decals - they're suitably thin and go on well, but the majority of mine were massively out of register and the stencils are completely overscale. The bort number and squadron award decal did come from the Academy boxing. I should have quit using the decals, but I'd already lost patience with this kit - the fit is typical limited run and the parts breakdown to cater for the later ML/MLD variants makes for lots of fiddly inserts that don't fit and require much sanding, losing the lovely surface detail. I think the stance is a bit nose high - the main gear legs are in two parts with a break at the main 'knuckle', but have no key to help determine the correct angle... It seems illogical now, but I added Reskit R-23R and Eduard R-60/AA-8 missiles as the kit comes with nothing except the centreline drop tank, and my models need to be armed and dangerous! The R-23R missile fins are all separate so they took a quite a lot of time to separate the fins from the casting blocks and glue, but look amazing. The R-60 missiles are single piece with minimal clean up and look equally impressive. I had planned to rob the missiles from the Academy boxing, but the R-23 missiles in the Academy box look about as close to an R-23 as an R-23 does to an A-7 Sparrow... 🙄 I also added Reskit wheels and a Master pitot probe. The Reskit wheels included separate resin wheel centres to cater for the early or late nose wheel hubs, a first experience for me. This made them a little more fiddly, but nothing too taxing. Paints were Tamiya acrylic primer (which I quickly regretted and will stick to Halfords grey primer in future 🤦‍♂️), AK Interactive acrylic for the cockpit, Xtracolour enamels and Alclad for the metal areas. I wanted a dirty, heavily worn machine, courtesy of an oil wash and to tone the decals and stencilling, I applied a heavy coat of Tamiya Flat Base, with sort of worked... Generally dissatisfied with the outcome, I've already acquired an RV Aircraft MiG-23P, which I may attempt in a camouflage finish. The decals appear far superior in the RV kit, are in register and with appropriately scaled stencils, but I've already got a Print Scale stencil decal set, which is what I should have used in this case. On with the photos. Darren

Hi Here is my latest build - P-51B by KP. Flown by John T. Godfrey This is OOB build so you would probably notice a few things - a big one is missing pylons. All Mustangs are suppose to have 'em but KP for some reason decided to not include it in this kit but sell separately. Well, not a nice move, KP. Paint - Tamiya acrylic

Hi All. Decided to put my 2p's worth in here with KP's offering of a Mk.III Obligatory shots: Sprue 1 Sprue 2 Options for three aircraft and closed canopy, pity. Do we look at these... Three options. Haven't decided yet but I'm leaning away from yellow/ black spinner as getting that right scares me, so it's either D-Day or not. Haven't researched any of this, so I don't know about kit accuracy and I've never built a KP kit. Stuart

Aero Vodochody L-159A ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft) 212 Squadron, Czech Air Force Caslav Airbase, Czech Republic, 2019 (Still haven't worked out how to centre photos!) My inspiration for this one came from an air show in Slovakia this year where two of these arrived at an incredibly low altitude (way below what would be allowed in the UK) and put on a spirited display complete with flares. This is the 1/72 KP kit built from the box except for some added detail on the ejection seat and some Sidewinders and launchers from a Revell F-4F kit. It looks good in its finished state, but this is not a kit I would recommend because of the poor fit of the major airframe parts. Shame, because KP have gone to a lot of trouble to produce top notch surface detail. The kit gave me the impression that it was based on their old L-39 Albatross kit except for the surface detail. I used the kit decals which went down well though they are very thin and prone to curling up. Chris

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's the new KP Ilyushin Il-2M, a re-box of the Smer kit with new parts added. Painted with Gunze/Mr.Hobby acrylics. Photographs by Wolfgang Rabel. Hope you like my result, best greetings from Vienna! Roman

Another Zlin completed. This time, it's an early type of the whole line "x26". It was really relaxing and fast build without upgrading the model or correcting the kit. I made just a few small necessary upgrades. This Zlin flew at nearby airfield - Olomouc Neředín, that's why I chose it I hope you'll like it, enjoy. Cheers, Andrew S

How unwise would be of me to pretend even the most superficial knowledge on this machine, given the fact that this report is presented in the land where it was born. What else could be added to what have been said about the excels beauty and the graceful lines of this design, or the feats accomplished by it. I will just add that because of my unquenchable love for this plane I have built a number of DH88s, from Airfix ancestry and from the beautiful and exquisite resin cast offered also in 1/72 by the Hungarian firm S.B.S. Model: SBS Model models: Airfix model: And my oldest DH88, also from Airfix, eons ago: Still undeterred, I bought the recently released boxing from KP, a manufacturer that has been lately releasing some beautiful kits, the civil Avia BH11 among them: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235045353-kp-172nd-avia-bh-11-boska-1923/ Encouraged by those releases I embrace now the build of this DH88, an injected rendition of the iconic machine. I have to say, before starting, that the SBS kit is a formidable one, and I don't believe that any injected kit could beat it, but the idea is perhaps to have an affordable, easier to build endeavor for those that still tremble and shake at the mere sight of a resin kit. Fear not, this KP rendition is in some ways well above the old and venerable Airfix kit, being a much modern kit, but I am sure connoisseurs will soon find areas that may leave a bit to be desired, as is seemingly the fate of all things produced by humans, including little humans themselves. Here are some shots of the contents, for your perusing and amusement:

Here comes my newest finished model - the Hillson Air Baby from KP. I started this build in October, thinking of fast 'n' easy build, but I was sooo wrong. The kit is quite tricky to complete and I added some trickness with detailing and upgrading the kit. I like the Czech colours and markings but the British silver-blue Hillson is my favourite. My friend helped me with the new code letters, which have now right shapes and dimensions - Thanks Pavel! I did my best and I hope you'll like the result. Cheers, Andrew S.

Hello everyone, Further to my "Three Spitfires against Japan" post from December I present another KP 1/72 Spitfire Vc Trop! This time the model depicts BS201 ZP-Q of 457 Squadron RAAF as based at Livingstone Strip south of Darwin in 1943. This particular aircaft had a long career with 457 from the end of 1942 until early 1944 when it was damaged in a landing accident and subsequently converted to components. Flight Sergeant John R. Jenkins was flying BS201 when he scored one of his two confirmed victories on the 28th of May 1943 over the advanced airstrip at Milingimbi 270 miles (440km) east of Darwin. Paints are Humbrol throughout, the markings were assembled from various DK Decals sheets with the stencils by Techmod with a few kit items substituted, cannon barrels are by Master and the DH prop came from an Airfix Spitfire Mk I kit. A group shot representing the three Squadron of No. 1 Fighter Wing RAAF: Comments welcome! Mike.

KP (Kovozávody Prostějov) is to be congratulated for their increasing line of very appealing civil subjects, bringing refreshing variety, color and a different, more uplifting scene to the modeling continuum. I have been aware of this little cute monoplane since more than ten years ago and I compiled information on it with the purpose of scratching it, so I was very happy when KP released it in a couple different boxings. This is a nice kit, fairly priced, that will only require some cleaning and adjusting to render a nice model. For the more adventurous and those with access to decal making, there are a large number of finishing options. For the curious this is the WIP here at BM: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235048564-hillson-praga-e114b-kp-kit-172/& Here with RWD-8:

Another beautiful little kit from KP to add to their increasing line of refreshing, attractive, and significant civil planes. The Praga E114 was conceived and built in Czechoslovakia during the mid and late 30s and developed into a whole family of two-place, side by side sports and touring planes with changes in the power plant and details regarding it’s control surfaces, landing gear and glazing, among other minor modifications. There is abundant information on the Net for this one, should the modeler wish to look up for details and background history, as well as -for the more adventurous-, for alternate decorations and possible variants with some little effort. The kit depicts the B version, it is charming and has nice molds, clean transparencies and interesting decals. For us, lovers of things that haven’t been already seen and built to utter exhaustion, this is the kind of release that gets our juices running. An additional benefit for Britmodellers is the fact the the plane had a strong association with the UK, being licensed and produced as the Hillson Praga Air Baby: Clean, nice molding: Interesting detail including a nice interior: Accurate in the fact that whilst everything else was plywood-covered, the horizontal tail was fabric covered instead: Other details visible: Well-produced transparencies that will allow dexterous modelers to pose the leading edge cockpit section opened to allow access as per original: Decoration options on what looks like well-printed decals of quality: Color instructions that seem to make sense and are well printed at comfortable size. As the build advances more will be told. Meanwhile, if you are interested, the Net has a lot of information on the type, with plenty of photos to look at and take notes and get inspired. Congratulations to KP (Kovozavody Prostejov) for releasing these charming types in such quality boxings at a very fair price. A veritable breath of fresh air.

A build from more than a year ago of a cute little kit of nice quality, with many livery options. How refreshing and pleasing is to see manufacturers releasing civil subjects, and more so when they are significant, appealing and colorful. Congratulations to KP for this little nice kit with multiple livery options and a good level of detail. The kit needs attention in a couple places, but otherwise builds well. I liked the lines so much that I scratched its somewhat different predecessor, the Avia B.H. Exp. Here they are side-by-side, although in real life they never were:

Here's my KP 1:72 Yakovlev Yak-23 "Flora" Yellow 16, of the Polish Air Force, in the early 1950s. This was one of the original boxings of this kit. I built it very much OOB in 2000. Thanks for looking Miguel

Hi peeps, Here are my last completions for the year - a trio of 1/72 Spitfire Vc's all depicting subjects used against the Japanese: First up we have the Sword kit depicting SEAC based MA292 KW-D "Verna June II"of 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAF as flown by Flying Officer "Lawrence" Weggery RNZAF during 1944. Mostly OOB although I used the Rotol prop and wheels from the Tamiya kit further down and the cannon barrels and stubs are by Master. Paints are Humbrol throughout: Next up we have Darwin based BS164 DL-K of 54 Squadron RAF as flown by Squadron Leader Eric Gibbs during 1943. The model is a heavily modified Tamiya Mk Vb; a 2mm extension rear of the wing took care of the kits short length aft of the cockpit and the wingtips were reshaped to a more accurate profile. The DH prop, cannon bulges and rearview mirror were from the Sword Vc whilst the vokes filter was spare from a Sword Seafire III. Cannon barrels and stubs are again by Master. Markings were from the Sword kit whilst the stencils are by Techmod. Paints are primarily Humbrol whilst the lighter green used to depict the reduction in size of the roundels was from Sovereign Hobbies: Finally we have the newish KP Vc kit built to depict BS236 QY-N of 452 Squadron RAAF as based at Strauss Airfield south of Darwin in 1943. This aircraft was flown by Flight Lieutenent John Bisley RAAF during the Imperial Japanese Army's 20th June Raid on Darwin during which he downed one bomber. The only alterations to the kit are the use of a DH Prop hub spare from the Sword Seafire III kit with Airfix Spitfire Mk I blades and a scratchbuilt rearview mirror as I lost the original to the carpet monster! Markings are from DK Decals and the stencils are again from Techmod. Paints are once again Humbrol throughout: A shot of the two Darwin based machines: Comments welcome! Mike.

I know Tony O'Toole has done this one in 1/48 but I've fancied doing one in 1/72 for a while and, since I've found some suitable SAAF B-type roundels, I'm going to give it a go. Here's the profile: and the kit I'll be using: The sprues, in the bag: and out of the bag: I've made a start, by clipping the wings: because KP give you the bits for the clipped wingtips: and painting some bits with Humbrol 33: You have to remember which holes to drill for the cannon bulges: I'll be assembling and painting the cockpit then sit outside with a pint of Ghost Ship. Thanks for looking.

Dear BMers, I picked up the old KP 1/72 MiG-19 (Nr.4) last year, and recently bought some Print Scale decals to replace the old ones in the box. The problem I have is that I don't know which mark of MiG-19 it is. Can I use the kit to represent the Chinese J6 or Pakistani F6? Or an East German one? Or the Indonesian one on the decal sheet? It is a relatively simple kit, but I'd really like to use the DDR markings for variety. Any advice welcome (except to junk the kit, I love old kits). DennisTheBear

I finished off my KP Mk.Vb Spitfire over the weekend. I did start a WIP but then forgot to update it! Anyway the progress since then was mainly painting. This build is pretty much OOB except for the under side roundel is from an Airfix Vb as the kit decals were missing one (even with their correction additional sheet). I did some light weathering, with a representation of the leakage on the belly common in many Spitfire photos. I will try to do better with the WIP in the classic Airfix GB! Cheers Will

Hello, after receiving my Eduard #2124 Library Edition of the MIG-21MF, I spent some time comparing it with the RV kits of the MIG-21MF, MFN and bis. As further reference I used «Mikoyan MIG-21», Midland Publishing 2008, ISBN 978 1 85780 257 3 (Reference 1) What puzzles me most are the wing upper surfaces panel lines. RV encloses two versions in their kit, one with a slim panel with rounded edges and one without it. See picture: A with this panel, B without. Eduards MIG-21MF is, according to the kits instructions, a Gorky built aircraft and these MF incorporated modifications from bis aircraft already in production there. Inofficially, MF’s built in Gorky are designated MF-75 and are distinguishable by their 8-digit serial numbers vs. 6 digit serial numbers for aircraft built in Moscow (1). The kit from Eduard has the B wing, so in accordance with (1). RV’s MIG-21 MFN uses the B wing, what makes sense, since the MFN are modified Gorky produced MF’s. Interestingly, RV’s MIG-21 bis instructs to use the A wing, where I awaited a B wing. In my neighbourhood there is a Czech MIG-21MF on display, serial 965210, which is a Moscow built aircraft and has the A wing. I supposed the B wing is for Gorky produced MF’s and bis, all bis except the Indian license production are from Gorky (1). This contradicts with RV’s MIG-21bis instructions. So far I haven’t found a picture of a bis where I can proof which wing it was equipped with. Or has the bis type also two different wings like the MF's? Can anyone help solve this puzzle? Thanks a lot Martin

I built several of my favourite 1/72 kit back in the day, the Airfix Vb, but never in the optional American markings. I thought I’d try the KP tropical Vb mainly due to the American markings on the box art (or more because I looked the look of one of the Grace-style Tr.9 warbirds that was in similar livery at one time).. The plane assembles beautifully in the usual order for Spitfires. Unlike KP-stablemate AZ “Nine”s the wings are moulded full span with alternative clipped tips which simplifies that aspect. The only real problem so far with the kit is the decals, or rather some of them or indeed the lack thereof. I think you’re okay with the two RAF options but KP obviously realised they forgot some of the stars so include an errata decal sheet with two more stars (marked Admiral?) but that didn’t seem to cover the underwing one correctly! After I glossed the IP and seat ready I also discovered they hadn’t included the seat belt and IP decals on the sheet that are noted on the instructions (they’re on the Mk 1b boxing’s sheet though), so the seat belts are from tape and the instrument panel drybrushed! Luckily my pile of Airfix Vbs will supply the missing stars, but a question for Britmodellers – should the under wing roundel have a yellow ring or not? You can read a fuller version of progress to date in our club’s latest magazine – its free to download and there are plenty of back-issuesto look at too.

KP Kit (comes with resin and etched cockpit) Extended the chord of the tailplanes with plastic card Some Eduard etched used (mainly the panel under the front fuselage) Resin wheels Intake & exhaust covers from some chap via Britmodeller (you know who you are!) Aftermarket pitot tubes Painted with a mix of Gunze, Tamiya and Akan Flory wash for weathering (the light in the pics has bleached this out - sorry) Not an easy kit! SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr SU-25UBK by bryn robinson, on Flickr