1:72 Zlin XII

The Zlin Z-XII in 1:72 scale

A kit of the light Zlin Z-XII sporting and training aircraft in 1:72 scale. It is a machine that belongs to the foundations of Czechoslovak aviation between the world wars, and on a shelf it suits anywhere that civilian aircraft are missing among military equipment.

The real subject

The Z-XII was a two-seat monoplane with fixed landing gear which came about in the middle of the 1930s at the Zlin aircraft works. It was simple and cheap to build and was intended for training and sport flying, that is, for flying clubs and for pilots at the start of their careers. It was exactly such machines that gave flying a broader base, because they could be flown even where there was neither the money nor the space for large aircraft.

Building and painting tips

• The kit is supplied unassembled and unpainted.
• Cut the parts away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder carefully; with the small parts of an aircraft this size it is better to work in two stages.
• Wash and degrease the surface before painting, otherwise the coat holds badly on smooth areas.
• Seat the landing gear legs and the struts according to the instructions and let them dry thoroughly before you stand the model on its wheels.
• On an aircraft like this the open crew space is the first place the viewer looks; it is worth giving it the extra time.
• The color scheme and the markings are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who the kit is for

For collectors of interwar aircraft, for builders of civilian and sporting aircraft and for anyone putting together a collection of machines of Zlin production. The small scale means small parts, so tweezers, good light and a steady hand come in useful.

Paints, glue and tools are not included, unless stated otherwise.