KP 1/72 Avia B.534

KP 1:72 AVIA B.534
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Dave McDougall (captain.haddock@btinternet.com)

Kit: KP 1/72^nd scale Avia B.534 (kit #2)

Aircraft: The prototype of B-534 fighter flew for the first time on 25 May 1933. An imported French-produced Hispano-Suiza HS-12Ybrs engine powered it; not an intended HS-12Ydrs, which was to be used in the series-production, license manufactured in Czechoslovakia. The first procurement order for the B-534 was issued from the Ministry of National Defense of Czechoslovakia to the Avia Company on 17 July 1934 and was for 147 aircraft. The first machines were delivered to the Air Force in autumn of 1935. By August 1938, the number of Avia B-534’s produced for the Czechoslovak Air Force had reached 445. As well as Slovakia, Germany, Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and the Soviet Union, all used Avia B-534s in various quantities during WW2.

Parts: Three sprues of 33 injection molded parts in light grey plastic. One sprue with one-piece cockpit canopy and two-piece stand molded in transparent plastic. All lying loose in the box.

Instructions: Small three page double-sided booklet. – Two sides giving a historical background and two sprue diagrams. A three-step exploded assembly view in a further two sides. The final two sides have schematics for two paint schemes. One of the paint schemes is repeated in colour on the bottom of the kit box. Colour call-outs are generic colours (e. g. Khaki). Note that all text is in Czechoslovakian.

Versions: (addendum supplied by Juraj Slanicka with thanks): Two paint schemes; The first is pre WWII Czech. The second represents a Slovak version. See the picture below for the aircraft this scheme represents. Also a quick translation of the colors: Stribrna (Silver); Zluta (Yellow); Khaki (Khaki); Modra (Blue); Svetle Modra (Light Blue); Cervena (Red); Tmave (dark); and Seda (Grey)

Decals: Printed by Propagteam. Look Good. They include ten roundels, plus some numbers and two different unit badges.

Accuracy: Well it looks like the illustrations I’ve seen, but as to scale accuracy? Your guess is as good as mine. - My book (by Publishing House MBI) on The Avia B.534 hasn’t arrived yet.

Detail: Fair. The pieces have the same sort of “roundness” to them that Matchbox kits have. A little bit of flash on some of the parts but nothing major. No cockpit detail apart from a chair and the ubiquitous pilot figure.

Options: None other than six wing mounted bombs.

Impressions: An average quality kit. Biplanes are always “interesting” to build so I’ll wait and see. I’ll probably use superglue when attaching the wing struts. I think it’s good value for the money (it’s cheap to buy) and let’s face it, how many other kits of this aircraft in 1/72^nd do you know exist?

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