Zlin Z-XIII 1/72 RS Models
The most interesting civilian aircraft from Baťa’s Zlín is certainly the fast courier aircraft Zlín XIII, developed by chief designer Jaroslav Lonek.
Its special feature is the relatively easy conversion from a two-seat aircraft to a single-seat configuration (and vice versa). The pilot sat relatively far back, with a passenger seat in front of him. The passenger space could be modified as needed into a cargo compartment (for mail, etc.), in which case a large part of the glass panel in the front cabin was removed, with only the front windshield being reinstalled in front of the pilot. An opening cover was then added to the hole in the upper part of the fuselage.
The prototype was originally built as a two-seater in 1936.
Its refined aerodynamics and well-controlled weight allowed the aircraft, powered by a relatively weak air-cooled inverted four-cylinder Walter Major 4 engine with a maximum output of 130 hp, to reach a top speed of 350 km/h. Cruising speed was 280 km/h. Because of its appearance and speed, the aircraft earned the nickname “Baťa’s fighter.”
The relatively small wing area of 7 m² was not ideal for takeoff and landing. Therefore, the thirteen was equipped with flaps, which reduced the landing speed to 100 km/h (without flaps it was 140 km/h).
A major moment for the Zlín XIII could have come in August 1937, when, in single-seat configuration and piloted by Ján Ambruš, it was supposed to compete in the French airspeed race Circuit de l’Est. A combination of technical problems and bad weather meant that the Zlín did not reach Epinal airfield by the deadline at noon on August 12. It was far from the only one, as out of twenty-six registered aircraft, only five eventually started. Ambruš instead showed the Zlín at an air show.
After the establishment of the Protectorate, a plan was made to escape with the Zlín XIII to Yugoslavia, with Alois Šiška as the pilot for this dangerous mission. The attempt failed. The prototype survived the occupation dismantled in a corner of a hangar, and today it hangs in the main hall of the National Technical Museum in Prague.
I bought the RS Models kit in the combo version, with two aircraft in one box. You can see what they look like and their size compared to a ten-crown coin here:
Unfortunately, the decals are only for one Czech aircraft, so it is not possible to build both the single-seat and two-seat versions; instead, the decal sheet includes “what-if” markings for other countries.
The parts fit together nicely and the build is very simple. To improve the appearance, it’s possible to work a bit on the engine cowling.
I built the model in the single-seat version and opened the cockpit with a razor blade. It was designed so that the sliding canopy section slid forward under the fixed part.
The paints are Agama, where I mixed gold metallic from Me08 and Me45. The clear coats are Tamiya. Painted once again with a brush.
