Avia Bs-322 1/72 RS Models

In the 1930s, the Avia factory became famous for its training and aerobatic specials, which were based on the Avia 22. A successful series was the Avia Bš-122 trainers, ordered by the Czechoslovak army. 
In 1937, the factory took two planes of this type and converted them into new versions: B-322 and Bš-322.

The main change on the Bš-322 was the installation of the Avia Rk-17 engine, alongside with the additions of wheels covers.

RS Models has been making aerobatic Avia kits, and as a limited edition they released the Bš-322, so I decided to add it to my collection.

The kit is based on for the Bš-122. New parts include a resin fuselage modified for the Rk-17 engine, a casting of this engine with its cowling, exhausts and intake, and cast wheels with aerodynamic covers. They also included a frame with etchings for the Bš-122 and decals.

The surface of the cast fuselage is very nice with lots of detail. By contrast, the details in the interior are very sparse, and the walls are very thick. So, fitting the cockpit from the kit inside without modification is not possible.

I used my favourite “slimming” method, when I thinned the walls of fuselage in the place of the cockpit area by more than 1 mm, and built a new internal structure from the seat to the fire partition. From the kit I used the seat and the instrument panel.

I thinned the interplane struts and glued in anchors from wires. The fuselage struts are new, made from plastic strips. The etched ones could be used too, but they are too narrow. To the wings I glued fittings for the bracing wires made from copper wire.

Instead of a fixed tail skid, I pulled a tailwheel from the spares box, since all newer Avia prototypes no longer had skids.

The cast engine is fairly nice, though RS has done better ones. I made new intake and exhaust pipes from 0.8 mm lead wire, and also new pushrods for the cams. The crankcase doesn’t need much attention, as it won’t be visible.

It’s necessary to carefully adjust the undercarriage mounting to the right position. The wheel spindles with covers are new.

The propeller, according to the camouflage scheme, is shown with its tips covered with fabric and painted khaki. But in the only known photo of the engine running, the propeller disc is light. If the propeller tips were painted, the outer rim would appear darker. So, I left the entire propeller in the colour of varnished laminated wood.

The paints are Gunze C, applied once again with a brush.