Successfully Seeking Solace in Styrene, the return to spats, the K-P Avia B-35

        As I grind on my next batch of Hinchliffe Indians I find myself spending too much hobby time waiting for paint to dry. To fill these periods of downtime I dug out yet another ancient kit from the Heap of Embarrassment; an unusual airplane from a tiny eastern European company, K-P's Avia B-35. First released in 1974, I bought this kit when it was relatively new back in 1977 from the Squadron Shop in Madison Heights MI. It had shunted from house to house as I got married, had kids, moved three times and retired, now it's finally getting built. 

       The Avia B-35 was the Czechoslovakian  Air Force's first modern monoplane fighter. It was built with fixed landing gear to speed the test-flights and gain experience in advanced fighter design and construction. It had excellent performance, being a near-equal to the BF-109. Only three were ever built with the third model having retracting landing gear. Of course there is a Wikipedia article on this aircraft as well as it's successor the Avia B-135.

        At first glance it seems a fairly crude model, closer examination proves that to be an entirely accurate estimation of the situation. Plenty of flash and parts deformation combined with some sloppy mold-marking (panels lines, which are inscribed, but don't match up as they cross joint lines) gave me some serious reservations as I started assembly.

 

not a complex kit, check out those helpful instructions!

 

the less than stellar fit due to warping required some clamping

 

 

 but surprisingly once they were straightened out the parts fit fairly well

 

 the fuselage to wings fit was surprisingly good

 

 

but, we all know what this is REALLy about, SPATS

 

 

all-in-all it's a pretty little airplane,

 now it's time to head to the paint shop

 

 

bold camouflage pattern with strong colors

 

my gloss is starting to go off and needs several coats to get a decent shine

 

K-P was kind enough to provide samples of the color

 

the decals were excellent despite being nearly fifty years old

 

the tiny canopy must have made things rough for the pilot

 

a sleek little plane

 

the Czech roundels are a relief from the concentric rings approach

 

but we all know what this is all about; spats! and these are some fine ones!

       It was only while I was looking for paint schemes that I learned that there were only three of these ever built. The follow-on and significantly improved Avia B 135 was built with retractable landing gear and a modified wing, which I might just convert if I can find another version of this kit. The ironic part is that only twelve of B-135s were built and they all served in the Bulgarian air force.