Avia Ba-222 1/72 RS Models

In the 1930s, the Avia factory became famous for its trainer and aerobatic aircraft, which were based on the Avia 22. Special machines of the Ba-122 series were developed for our aerobatic pilots, initially with Walter Castor and Polux engines. These in time became insufficient in terms of power, so Avia began experimenting with installing their Rk-17 engine into the airframes.

This led to the creation of the aircraft designated B-222 at 1937.
The B-222 designation is somewhat complicated, as two different aircraft are identified with production number 1.
As first, Avia built a variant with a NACA cover at 1937, for which the fuselage cross-section was also modified. This variant was designated Ba-222 and flew without registration markings. It is listed as production number 1 nn factory materials. The cover did not prove very successful, so they build a second Ba-222 with exposed engine at 1938, designated by factory as Ba-222.1 and registrated as OK-AVB. This aircraft was demonstrated in Belgrade by Oldřich Košař at the end of August 1938.

This version has now been released by RS Models as a limited edition. Since I already built their Ba-222 with the NACA cover in previous years, I decided to complete my collection. There are both models:

The kit is based on the Ba-122 sprue. It already includes a part for the nine-cylinder Polux, which also fits the nine-cylinder Rk-17. The box also contains a resin engine casting (RS now also produces a 3D-printed engine for limited editions from the 1936 Olympics), resin cast wheels with fairings, a photo-etched fret, and a cast cockpit windscreen.

I already have some experience building aerobatic Avias, so I started with my favourite method of “slimming” the interior, which means thinning the fuselage walls in the cockpit area by about 1 mm and rebuilding the internal structure from the seat to the firewall. From the kit I used the seat and the instrument panel.

I thinned the interwing struts and glued wire anchor points into them.
The fuselage struts are new, made from plastic strips. The photo-etched ones could be used, but they are too slim. I glued fittings from copper wire for the bracing wires into the wings.

The resin engine casting in my kit was an older type, but after an agreement with RS I obtained a new 3D-printed one.
I made new intake and exhaust pipes from 0.8 mm lead wire.
Putting landing gear into correct position requires care and the pins for attaching the wheels with fairings are new.
I make the rigging from elastic thread fixed with superglue to the anchor points in the wings.

The decals are good and fit the model well, including the white lines from the fuselage to the engine.
Paints are Gunze C, clear coats Tamiya. Painted by brush.