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Zlín Z-126 Over Europe (KPM0408) 1:72 Kovozávody Prostějov The Z-126 started life as the Z-26, a low-wing monoplane trainer aircraft that was designed by Zlín and built by their colleagues at Moravan. Originally starting with an almost completely wooden construction, the design progressed until it had a tubular metal airframe with wooden wings that bears a passing resemblance to the de Havilland Chipmunk. The first prototype flew toward the end of the forties, replacing Bücker trainers that had been in use previously and were starting to show their age. After around 160 airframes had been produced, the wings were upgraded to metal construction, and these improved airframes went into service as the C-105 with the Czech Air Force in the early 50s. The next upgrade was to the engine, installing a 6-cylinder version of the Walter Minor engine that was previously only a four-cylinder motor, with a suitable increase in power and its product number to Z-226. There have been further variants of the type over the years, including the Z-226A, which is an aerobatic aircraft, and the single seat versions were appropriately called the Akrobat. The Kit This is a reboxing of a kit that originated in 2013 as a Z-205, the range having broadened to depict the Z-126 in between times, with its last outing in 2018 as a speciality boxing relating to a film. This new boxing has new decals to depict three colourful aircraft, and arrives in an end-opening box with two sprues in grey styrene, a clear part, decals and instruction booklet printed in colour on a folded sheet of A4. The profiles for the decal options can be found on the back of the box, which can be cross-referenced with the table on the front of the instructions that gives colours in local Czech brand Agama and the more widely available Humbrol codes. Detail is good, with engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit, plus raised and recessed features around the model. Construction begins with painting the instrument panels using the instructions provided, then doing the same for the seats, and a form behind one of the panels. The control columns and rudder pedals are painted and applied to the long cockpit floor, with a stepped rear fitted at the same time as the crew seats, which both have decal seatbelts. After detail painting the interiors of the fuselage halves, the cockpit can be fitted into the starboard side, and the fuselage closed, dealing with the seams, then moving on to the engine cowling, which is in two halves plus an internal bulkhead with radiator detail moulded-in that will be seen dimly though the tiny cut-outs in the front cowling. Four tiny exhaust pipes are glued to recesses to the cowling and painted a rusty brown for installation on the fuselage later in the build. First however, the cockpit has its two instrument panels and backing forms applied, supported by the fuselage sides, taking care to put the correct one in each station. The lower wing is single span, and is mated with the fuselage along with the separate upper wings, adding the combined fin and rudder part, and the elevators at the rear. The airframe is completed by gluing the single canopy part over the cockpit cut-out, fitting the engine cowling and two-bladed prop at the front. The model is raised from the bench by fixing the two main gear struts and their wheels under the wings on pegs, and the small tail strut with moulded-in wheel slides into a hole under the tail fin. Markings There are three decal options on the sheet, each one looking substantially different, and from a different country from the others, which should give a broader appeal. From the box you can build one of the following: The decals are printed using a digital process and have good registration, sharpness, and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut loosely around the printed areas. This means that the carrier film on their decals can be coaxed away from the printed part of the decal after they have been applied, effectively rendering them carrier film free, making the completed decals much thinner and more realistic, and obviating the need to apply successive coats of clear varnish to hide the edges of the carrier film. It’s a great step further in realism from my point of view, and saves a good quantity of precious modelling time into the bargain. Conclusion To this reviewer’s eyes, the Z-126 looks like a Chipmunk with a fastback conversion, and that is quite appealing. Detail is good, the markings options disparate, and she’s a small aircraft that won’t take up much space in the stash or the cabinet. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Eduard is to release a 1/48th Zlín Z-126 to Z-526 Trenér family. Source: https://www.facebook.com/EduardCompany/photos/a.122154977799458/3366784713336452 V.P.

Kovozávody Prostějov (KP) is to re-release 1/72nd Zlín Z-142 kits - ref. KPM0142 - Zlín Z-142 Source: https://www.kovozavody.cz/produkt/zlin-z-142/ - ref. KPM0143 - Zlín Z-142 Military Source: https://www.kovozavody.cz/produkt/zlin-z-142-military/ V.P.

RS Models is to release in May 2023 a 1/72nd Zlín Z-XIII kit - ref. 82283 Source: https://www.facebook.com/RSModels.cz/posts/pfbid0XmXSnWaMu19hEq3gyyJBF8FiW3qSu5LAWdQVUfJ9VbqeydtCc3sWVfP1YVXVB3sul V.P.

Z-526AFS Akrobat Update Sets (for Eduard) 1:48 Eduard Eduard’s newly tooled kit is quite the little gem, and you can see our review here. Eduard's new range of sets have been designed to improve on the kit detail in the usual modular manner, taking advantage of other technologies to give your kit a lift. Get what you want for the areas you want to be more of a focal point. As usual with Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE), SPACE and Mask sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package, with a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between. Z-526AFS Akrobat SPACE 3D Printed Cockpit Decals (3DL48060) The Eduard SPACE sets use new 3D printing techniques that lay down successive layers of different colour resin, creating highly realistic almost full complete panels that are supplied on a decal sheet. They can depict metallic shades, plus glossy, satin and matt colours too, which really ups the detail on everything they print. In addition, a small sheet of nickel-plated and pre-painted PE is included for the aspects of the set that lend themselves better to this medium, such as seatbelts and rudder pedals. The decals include two different instrument panels, dials for the wing-top fuel gauges (with a spare), and two different coloured elasticated map pockets for the sidewalls that require the moulded-in styrene version to be removed before fitting. The PE sheet gives you a full set of four-point harnesses complete with the comfort pads under the buckles. Someone at the factory slipped up with my pack however, as I ended up with three sets of belts. Z-326/526 Wheels (648729) Kit wheels are generally in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department. That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument. They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement. This set is exactly that. There are three wheels, all of which are straightforward replacements for the kit parts once the casting blocks have been removed, all of which are on the contact patches at the bottom, which are slightly flattened to give the impression of weight on the tyres. There is a sheet of kabuki tape masking material that is pre-cut to allow you to mask the hubs/tyres off with ease and a clean demarcation. Z526AFS Akrobat Masks Tface (EX833) The first boxing includes masks for the exterior of the canopy, but the TFace masks are supplied on a larger sheet of yellow kabuki tape, these pre-cut masks supply you with everything for the exterior, but also give you another set of canopy masks tailored to fit the interior of the glazing so that you can paint the interior and give your canopy that extra bit of realism, which will be useful thanks to the kit having extra parts for inside the canopy. A set of wheel masks are also included in case you don’t already have a set, allowing you to cut the hub/tyre demarcation easily. Review sample courtesy of

Z-526AFS Akrobat ProfiPACK (82184) 1:48 Eduard The Zlín Z-256 was a development of an earlier military trainer C-5, or Z-26 in civilian use, and was developed in the 60s as the Z-526A that was well-suited to acrobatics, but the real acrobats needed more performance, which led to the AS. In the 70s a redesign led to the AFS that was much more manoeuvrable than its predecessor, although a little short of more recent “blank page” designs, but it became very popular thanks to its capabilities nonetheless. Overall there were 45 of the Akrobat made, and a number of well-known aviators began their careers in these agile little aircraft. The Kit A brand-new tool from Eduard of Czechia, where acrobatics are very popular, so it’s only natural that they should be the producers of what might seem a niche kit to others. This is the first release, which is traditionally the ProfiPACK, containing extra items in the box to give the modeller more detail out of the box, and usually a more generous number of decal options. The kit arrives in a standard gold-themed ProfiPACK box, with three sprues of blue grey styrene, a sprue of clear parts, a sheet of pre-cut kabuki-tape masks, a sheet of nickel-plate and pre-painted Photo-Etch (PE), and a glossy instruction booklet with spot colour throughout, and profiles for the decal options in full colour at the rear of the booklet. If you’ve got any Eduard kits already you’ll know what to expect, which is excellent detail, intelligent parts design, and really good fit, although the latter can only really be proven by building the individual model. It’s fair of us to expect it however, based on past performance, some of which has left me gaping in amazement at how fine the tolerances are and how neat the fit, for example in the wheel bay of their recent(ish) P-51. Construction begins with the fuselage halves for a change, adding inserts into the interior that gives the sidewalls the correct thickness and detail levels, without risking sink-marks due to thick plastic. A highly detailed painting guide for the sidewalls is supplied, and this theme carries through to the rest of the model. Each marking option has its own individual equipment box made up from pre-painted PE, which should look great in place, then the cockpit floor is detailed with two tiny windows, control column, flimsy rear bulkhead and rudder pedals in PE, with a small bulkhead in the front and a choice of two types of deck behind the seat, after which the fuselage can be closed up. A spar is inserted underneath the cockpit and this is then covered up by the underside skin, which has a clear window in the bottom for the pilot to squint through those two little windows in the floor, for which masks are provided. Probably very useful when you’re flying at silly angles. The wings are made up of two halves each, after putting the bay structure inside and trapping the ailerons and flaps in their hinge-points, each of which is a single part with plenty of raised detail on the surfaces. Before they are joined to the fuselage, a number of stiffening braces are fitted around the cockpit, with a scrap diagram assisting with locating them correctly, one of which supports the coaming and instrument panel, the latter having a choice of layout depending on which decal option you choose, so make sure you choose early, as acrobatic aircraft can be quite individual to their pilots. The wings slot into place on the spars and a short peg at the rear of the root fairing, and you also have a choice of flat wingtips or a pair of tip-tanks for some of the decal options. The elevator fins attach to the sides of the tail using the usual tab and slot method, slotting in the elevators and rudder later, with the ability to pose them offset if you wish. The engine cowling is put together around a rear bulkhead with two side panels, front cowling with recessed intake, and a lower section that has a pair of exhaust stubs pushed through from the inside, then joined to the flat-fronted fuselage. The pilot’s seat is a single part with a separate cushion for the pilot’s comfort, and a set of four-point harnesses that are pre-painted for your ease and to help achieve a professional finish to the cockpit, including comfort pads under the buckles. It drops into the cockpit for later encapsulation by the canopy. Underneath the model there is a lot of detail to add, starting with the landing gear. The wheels are single-part tyres plus two hub halves, and the detail on both the tyres and hubs is excellent, especially for styrene. They are fixed to the gear struts, which have separate oleo-scissors, retraction jacks and a curved gear bay door for each one. At the rear you have a choice of a simple or more sturdy-looking skid, or a proper tail-wheel with a two-part tyre and two-part strut with split yoke. Some small PE actuator parts are fitted to the trailing edges of the wings, and a pair of strange T-shaped balances are added to each of the flying surfaces, and the instructions appear (to me) to suggest they lay flat, but when you see the front profile, they are meant to hang below the wings like little aerofoils, so take care when fitting them. Flipping the model over, the canopy is finally installed, adding a number of PE detail parts inside before fitting, and an optional rear-view mirror on the top of the windscreen, which is glued in place at the front of the cockpit, with the canopy open or closed behind it at your whim. The clear sprue suggests we’ll be seeing some two-seaters down the line, which is nice. The two-blade prop is last to be made, using four parts to create a layered spinner, with the prop blade passing through the assembly behind the third layer and trapped in place by the flat back plate. It is glued in place, then there are a pair of circular clear parts with decals under them to represent the fuel gauges, and a pitot probe in the port wing to finish off. Markings After completion of the build steps, a page shows the location of all the masks for the kit, including the two main wheels, the windows in the underside and cockpit floor, plus masks for the canopy that use frame hugging strips that you fill in the compound curves by using either liquid mask or small pieces of masking tape. There are even two triangular masks for some of the decal options with tiptanks, to assist you in obtaining a clean demarcation. From the box you can build one of five markings options, all of which are colourful and some are covered in adverts or club names – I have no idea which because I’m monolingual (mostly). From the box you can build one of the following: SP-CSU s/n 1226, Piotr Haberland, Żelazny Aerobatic Group, Zielona Góra Airfield, Poland, mid2007 OK-CXA s/n 1218, Jiří Kobrle, Jičín Aero Club, Czechoslovakia, 1975 I-IOIO s/n 1330, Silvio Bellei, Sassuolo Airfield, Italy, 1994 OK-CXC s/n 1220, Olomouc Aero Club, Czech Republic, 2011 OK-ERE s/n 1307, Točná Aero Club, Slaný Airfield, Czech Republic, 2014 Decals are by Eduard, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Don’t forget that as of last year, the carrier film of the decals can be coaxed away from the printed part of the decal after they have been applied, effectively rendering them film-free, making the decals much more realistic, and obviating the need to apply successive coats of clear varnish to hide the edges of the film. It’s a great step further in realism from my point of view. Conclusion A very well-detailed and unusual subject for a model, and it has been given the deftness of the Eduard touch, so should go together very well. Add the interesting and colourful decal options, and it’s an appealing kit. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hello to all of you.I have just finished this little zlin.it is not the best kit out there but again nothing that an avarage modeller cant build.I painted the model with gunze acrylics and varnished it with vallejo satin varnish. Enjoy the photos

I picked this up on a whim at the LHS a while back, I think it cost me all of about 8 dollars. Looks interesting, clear plastic for the main body and it's almost in one piece. Dad's been bugging me to build it, so what better opportunity really.

My other build is a tourist airplane again. This time it's my favourite Zlin XII (my top one prewar Czechoslovak civil design), but in British service. I have already built one a long time ago, when I was just 15. I don't know of any photo of this particular plane (G-AFMW), so it's gonna be quite a carefree build. The marking is overall aluminium dope so that's another plus point! I started with the cockpit and finished with putting fuselage halves together. Seats were rather tricky - they are much wider than they should be and they stretch the fuselage halves by 1 mm on each side. Enjoy the photos Cheers, Andrew

Hello to all of you guys and girls on this forum.I hope you are all doing good and are safe and healthy.I present you my latest finished model.The 1:72 A.Z.Models Zlin - 242 L.I built this little thing as a retiring present for one of the aviation goround crew - mechanic in our air force aviation academy squadron.The kit itself is pretty hard to work on.I t requires a lot of effort to assemble correctly.I cut the canopy in two to make it in the opened position.I made the wing lights out of transparent sprue and the seat belt out of tamiya tape.I painted the model with tamiya and gunze paints.The decals are from the ancient blue rider set for macedonian and slovenian af. Enjoy the photos

Hobby Boss is to re-release in late June 2020 a 1/72nd Zlín Z-42M kit - ref. 80299 Source: http://www.hobbyboss.com/index.php?g=home&m=article&a=show&id=159&l=en 3D render previous - ref. 80231 V.P.

HpH models is to release at the E-Day 2019 a 1/32 Zlín Z-226 MS/B resin kit. Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2407094349384210&id=620126918080971 V.P.

AZ model is to release in January 2016 a limited edition of its 1/48th Z-50 kit ( https://www.scalemates.com/products/reviews.php?scale=1%3A48&topic=Zlin+Z-50) as Zlín Z-50LS - ref.AZ4869 Sources: http://www.azmodel.cz/product_info.php?products_id=786&osCsid=0s3h7ar1c91llkph6vugsnqa91 http://modelweb.modelforum.cz/2015/12/15/novinky-az-model-leden-2016/ V.P.

AZmodel is to re-release soon its 1/72nd Zlin Z-242L "Military" kit - ref. AZ7608 Source: http://www.azmodel.cz/produkt/zlin-z-242l-military/ V.P.

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

Hello there! Another Zlin completed. This one (OM-MNQ) is from flying school in Košice, Slovakia. I really love this colour scheme nevertheless, the white and yellow is really hart to work with... The model is not perfect, but it was fast and nice build to me. I would like to thank KPM Prešov (model club) for the perfect decals. I hope you'll like it! Cheers, Andrew

Ladislav Hančar (for Hauler/Brengun?) is to release a 1/48th Zlin Z-526 AFS/V resin (?) kit - ref. Sources: https://www.facebook.com/ladislav.hancar/posts/2475582059137412 https://www.facebook.com/ladislav.hancar/posts/2476792205683064 https://www.facebook.com/ladislav.hancar/posts/2447006198661665 V.P.

Zlín Z 526 Trener-Master. Pics thanks to Richard (Scimitar).

Hi mates! Let me introduce you what I done recently. This nice trainer is the Hobby Boss Z-142 in Czech markings. The construction was harder than expected but wasn't impossible. This was the starting... And ended up like this: If you liked it, here you can check out the bulding thread.

Hello there! This is my recent project, a nice little prop. If someone dont know it by heart, here is a hint by a fellow modeller from the Britmodeller: Also, that build was seriously inspiring me, thats why I gave it to myself last year, as a birthday present. Anyway, it was discounted in a scalemodel shope in my near... So, I decided to finish it for my next birthday, 14 days remaining. Whish me luck! You can seen I culd not stand to build it out of the box. There is still a planty of works in the interrior, mostly painting jobs.but I also want to add a fire extingusher, and a first aid box.

Brengun ( http://www.hauler.cz/) is to release a 1/72nd Zlín Z-50LS kit - ref.72018 Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=487567791401874&id=440180076140646 V.P.

Finished this recently, it's the Brengun 1/72 Zlin Z-50 aerobatic aircraft. The complex colour-scheme was simplified by the use of Brengun's masking set, and their vac canopy and PE set were also used. It's a tiny little thing when finished.

Zlin 181/C6 1:48 Special Hobby The Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann is a conventional single engine low wing monoplane training aircraft with side by side seating and twin controls. Construction is wood on the rear fuselage and wings with a tubular steel frame for the main cabin area. The aircraft would be powered by a 105 hp Hirth HM 500 engine. The aircraft was designed in the late 1930’s with the maiden flight taking place in 1939. The aircraft was selected by the Reichsluftfahtministerium (RLM) to be the standard primary trainer for the Luftwaffe with production beginning in 1940. Despite being built as a trainer the aircraft was used in the light transport and liaison roles. Late in the war due to desperation some aircraft were converted to carry four Panzerfaust launchers, and others to carry three 50kg bombs. The aircraft saw limited service in these roles with a little success but resulting in heavy losses. Bücker built most of the aircraft for the Luftwaffe but due to the high demand production was also subcontracted to Fokker in Amsterdam & Zliner in Zlin. Hägglund & Sőner in Sweden would build 120 under license, the aircraft being designated Sk 25 in Swedish Service. Post war in 1950 Heliopolis of Egypt gained a license from Zlin to produce the aircraft for the Egyptian Military and other Air Forces of the region, these were called the Gomhouria (Republic). Over 300 being built. In total over 3400 Bestmanns were built. None of the German aircraft survive but a fair few licence built Swedish & Egyptian ones do. The Kit This is a new tool kit from Special Hobby featuring three sprues of light grey plastic, a canopy sprue, a small sheet of photo-etch and a couple of resin parts. Where needed the panel lines are fine & recessed, the fabric detail is also restrained. Construction starts where else but in the cockpit. The PE seatbelts are added to the two seats and these are then added onto the cockpit floor which incorporates the rear bulkhead. The rudder pedals and control columns are added along with the cockpit sides. lastly to complete the cockpit section the instrument panel is added. Decals are provided for the instruments. Once the cockpit section is complete it is added into the fuselage section along with the rear cockpit decking. Next up the wings are constructed, these are of conventional upper/lower, left & right construction. Once together they can be added to the main fuselage along with the tail planes. Next up then engine front part (in resin) and the cover are added to the front. On the underside of the engine the exhausts are added. These are provided in resin and are very thin so take care removing them from the casting block. Once the man airframe is together the canopy can be added along with the fairing behind it. The fixed landing gear is added, along with the propeller and a pair of prominent grab handles. To finish off the trim tabs are added to the rudder and tail planes. Decals Decals are from Aviprint and should pose no problems. Markings are provided for 2 examples; OK-ZZE Civilian version flown by Mrs Bozena Krajcova. She defected to the US Zone in Germany in 1949 in this aircraft (Green uppers / White undersides). UA-46 C-6 (military designation) Used by the Czechoslovakian Aviation School 1946 (Overall silver). Conclusion This is a great new tooling of an important WWII training aircraft which was used by many operator post war. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hello All, Let me present you the great kit from AZ Models of the 1/48 scale Zlin Z-50LS in the Hungarian "Aerotriga" Aerobatics team livery. Thanks for looking and all comments / recommendations welcome

Built for the Training Types group build. Build thread.