AVIA B.534 IV. série
Eduard, 1/48 scale
S
u m m a r y
|
Catalogue Number: |
Eduard Kit No. 8192 - AVIA B.534
IV. série |
Scale: |
1/48 |
Contents and Media: |
106 parts in olive coloured plastic;
5 parts in clear; 1 colour photo-etched fret; masking sheet; markings for
four aircraft. |
Price: |
USD$29.95 plus shipping,
available online from Eduard |
Review Type: |
FirstLook |
Advantages: |
Superb surface detail featuring
restrained fabric and rib tape detail, crisply engraved panel lines,
vents and selected raised fasteners; excellent detail; includes colour photo-etched parts for harness and
instrument panel, regular photo-etched parts for flaps, masks supplied for wheels and canopies; attractive marking options; very high quality
plastic; narrow sprue attachments; excellent instructions and packaging. |
Disadvantages: |
|
Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended to all biplane
lovers |
Reviewed by Brett Green
Eduard's 1/48 scale AVIA B.534 IV. série will
be available online from Squadron.com
The Avia B.534 was a biplane fighter developed in
1934 for the Czechoslovak Air Force. By the time of the Munich Crisis in
September 1938, this front-line Czechoslovak fighter was obsolescent
compared to the emerging all-metal low wing monoplane fighters emerging
elsewhere in Europe.
The Avia B.534 eventually saw combat for the first
time three years later, on the Eastern Front, in the hands of Slovak
pilots. Despite its outdated design, this graceful biplane achieved good
results against Soviet aircraft, but its replacement by more modern
types was inevitable. Even so, the Avia B.534 remained in service with
Bulgaria, and also took part in the Slovak National Uprising in late
1944, scoring the last biplane victory in history.
A total of 568 Avia B.534s were eventually built.
Eduard follows up their 1/48 scale Avia B.534 III. série kit
from last month with the IV série variant. The main difference was
that this later aircraft featured a fully enclosed cockpit with sliding
canopy and raised "razorback" fuselage.
Not surprisingly, the kit is substantially
similar to the III série kit with the exception of the fuselage sprue,
the decals and box top.
Eduard's 1/48 scale Avia B.534 IV. série comprises 106 parts in olive coloured plastic, 5 parts in clear, 1
colour photo-etched fret; masking sheet and markings for four aircraft.
The superb surface detail that we have seen in
Eduard's recent releases is present here too, but even moreso due to the
fabric texture on the fuselage and the flying surfaces. This is perhaps
the best surface detail that I have seen on a plastic model to date,
with restrained and authentic fabric represented on the rear fuselage, and amazing
rib tape detail on the wings and control surfaces. Trailing edges of all
these surfaces are very thin and totally free of any distortion.
The detail on the metal nose is varied, and is
equally as good. Deep machine gun troughs are supplemented with crisp
panel lines, vents and scoops, plus a selected number of tiny but very
effective raised fasteners.
There are no sink marks or ejector pin circles on
any exterior (or otherwise visible) surface of the model.
Click
the thumbnails below to view larger images:
[../../../photogallery/photo00018494/real.htm]
Eduard has packed the four sets of olive coloured plastic sprues into a
resealable plastic bag.
Construction looks fairly straightforward, even considering this is a
biplane kit. Each of the cabane struts and the interplane struts are
supplied as single "N" shaped parts, eliminating the need to align these
prior to installation. My only concern is the very small locating pins
and holes. I recommend bracing the upper wing while the cement dries.
Many spare parts are supplied that are marked as not for use on this
early version. These unused elements include an alternate propeller,
bombs with racks and even a full set of skis.
Three sets of canopies are attached to the clear sprue
and are packed in a separate resealable bag. The canopy parts for the IV. série model
includes a single transparency for closed canopy, or a three-part
version if you wish to display your canopy open.
My samples parts are perfectly clear.
The colour photo-etched fret adds useful detail. In
fact, it is impossible to imagine anyone being able to match the realism
of these crisply printed parts with paint. This fret provides the
harness (with beautifully depicted stitching) and two alternate instrument panels in
full colour, plus supplementary metal detail parts for the cockpit and
aircraft exterior. The instrument panel should look fantastic when
assembled, incorporating all the tiny details of the dials. Eduard also
supplies turnbuckles for the rigging.
Markings are provided for four aircraft, including a
Slovak-marked aircraft used during the 1944 uprising.
Decals look to be very
thin and of high quality.
Eduard also supplies a self adhesive
"Express Mask" sheet to assist in painting the canopy, wheels and some camouflage
elements. These include masks to precisely paint the Khaki Green outline
on the bottom of the wing leading edges and the bottom of the horizontal tailplanes - nice touch!
Eduard has done justice to this significant and attractive aircraft
with a real gem of a kit.
This 1/48 scale Avia B.534 is beautifully detailed and, in my
opinion, features some of the most convincing surface detail ever
moulded in polystyrene plastic. The addition of colour photo-etched
parts is the icing on this pretty cake.
With only a single set of interplane struts, this might be a good
subject for a modeller wanting to try their first biplane kit, while its
interwar design and WWII service record will ensure it appeals to a
broad selection of modellers.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Eduard for the sample
Review Text Copyright © 2007 by
Brett Green
Page Created 13 June, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007
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