Zlin Z-37 Cmelak
(Bumblebee)

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by John Miller

The Zlin Z-37 ?melák (Czech: "Bumblebee"), also known as the LET Z-37 ?melák, is an agricultural aircraft which was manufactured in Czechoslovakia and powered by a Soviet-built Ivchenko reciprocating engine. The main user of Z-37s was Czechoslovakia (now Czech and Slovak Republics) along with East Germany and other Eastern Bloc countries.

Many were exported to the Sudan and India and flown there almost non-stop with the hopper used as an extra fuel tank. Many are used for glider towing, having the ability to easily tow two gliders and often transport four gliders in tow for cross country. A record was set by a Z 137T in Slovakia, by towing nine two-seat gliders.

(Edited from Wikipedia)

The first things one is struck with upon opening the box are the small number of total parts there are followed closely by the realization that the sprues are practically devoid of flash; beautiful. Very little extra effort will be required for parts clean up.

The surface details are everything we’ve come to expect from this manufacturer; scale appropriate and crisply inscribed. Parts layout and engineering are conventional. This combined with the low parts count suggests this will be a straightforward and enjoyable build both times you build it. There are two complete models in this boxing.

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Thumbnail panels:

Assembly begins with the cockpit (imagine that!), and as usual with Eduard ample use is made of color PE in the form of the main instrument panel, consoles, and seat harness. The cockpit will look awesome assembled and its a good thing as the large front windscreen and cockpit side windows will allow all that detail to be easily seen.
  
After two small side windows are added the completed cockpit is captured between the fuselage halves and the builder is directed to begin assembly of the wings, which are beautifully molded with ample, crisp surface details in the form of rivets and external stiffeners. Assembly of the wing is quite simple with the upper wing halves added to the full-span lower wing followed by separate, single-piece flaps and leading edge slats.

Next up is the three-piece cowl and nicely molded Avia 9-cylinder radial. Much of the beautiful engine detail will be covered by the cooling louvers at the front of the cowl. 

The empennage, comprised of a halved horizontal and vertical stabilizers with single-piece elevator and rudder parts is added next thereby completing the airframe.

The landing gear parts are beautifully molded with single-piece hubs inserting into single-piece tires making for a quick and easy assembly with very few seams to deal with: thank you, Eduard. If you wish to outfit your Bumbelbee for an honest days work, spray booms and a cylindrical pellet dispenser mounted in the center of the belly are provided.

The rather large front windscreen and cockpit side windows are crystal clear with scale-appropriate faming.

The standing resin pilot figure comprises one piece for the head, body, legs and one arm; while the right arm is a separate part.

His face is ful of personality and casting is excellent.

Markings:

The decals, by Eduard, are well printed with good registration and color density.

Airframe stencil data and markings for 12  airframes (A through L) are provided as follows:

This is an awesome kit! Oh, if I jus had more hours in the day. The layout is simple and straightforward, the parts count is low, and I see no issues laying in wait other than a lot of fun. The result will be beautifully detailed model of an aircraft seldom (ever?) seen on the show tables. This will be a head-turner for sure.

Highly Recommended!

Now I gotta go paint something!

For more on this review visit Modelpaintsolutions.com.

Review kit provided by my retirement fund, again.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2020 by John Miller
Page Created 13 October, 2020
Last updated 13 October, 2020

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