Avia B.534 Serie IV 'Weekend Edition'
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Kit Review
I think it was back in 2006-2007 that Eduard first started to mention a new series of B.534s in this scale, well that all went quiet but it was announced once again in 2010. Finally in 2015 it was confirmed and first released in the superb ‘Royal Class’ edition that we reviewed recently (see here). For those not wanting all the extras in that version, you can now obtain this superb new tooling in this simplified ‘Weekend Edition’ version.
In the box you will find two sprues of dark grey-coloured plastic and one of clear plastic. There is no photo-etched, resin or masks in the Weekend Edition range. Construction is traditional, with even locating pins on all the major components. The cockpit interior is nicely detailed and in this version you get a decal for the instrument panel. No seat belts are included, but you can get them as ‘Super Fabric’ versions separately form Eduard. The elevators and rudder are separate; the ailerons are moulded with the wings though. Surface detail is a mix of fine recessed lines on the fuselage and inner wing sections, plus raised ribs for the fabric-covered mid-fuselage and the remainder of each wing. The spatted wheels come with the rear section of hub and a bit of the spat as a separate part, but again if you don’t like this, you can get single-piece resin ones in the Brassin range (see here). The kit also includes the option of wheels without spats. The canopy parts are nicely moulded and you have optional parts to allow you to have the canopy open or closed. As usual, Eduard have included a clear yet precise series of view at the end of the instructions to help you rig this model, although again if you don’t fancy this, Eduard already do separate photo-etched flight wires that simply lock into place (see here).
The kit offers two decal options: ‘White A12’ of Air Regiment No.4, 40th Flight, Czech Air Force, Prague-Kebly, April 1938 and an aircraft of 2/2 Orlyak, Bulgarian Air Force, Vrazhdebna airfield, November 1944. The former is in a Khaki Green over silver scheme, whilst the latter is a complex pattern of off-white squiggles on RLM 71 on the upper surfaces and RLM 65 underneath. The little decal sheet includes an additional one with a revised marking for the first option and a decal to replicate the shutters in the ventral radiator unit.
Conclusion
This is indeed a ‘72nd scale revolution’, as Eduard claim because they are rewriting the quality of 1/72nd scale kits. This one is not overly complex, but is nicely detailed and you can already upgrade it if you wish because of the sets produced for the Royal Class version in both the standard Eduard and Brassin ranges.
Our thanks to Eduard (www.eduard.com) for the review sample.
I think it was back in 2006-2007 that Eduard first started to mention a new series of B.534s in this scale, well that all went quiet but it was announced once again in 2010. Finally in 2015 it was confirmed and first released in the superb ‘Royal Class’ edition that we reviewed recently (see here). For those not wanting all the extras in that version, you can now obtain this superb new tooling in this simplified ‘Weekend Edition’ version.
In the box you will find two sprues of dark grey-coloured plastic and one of clear plastic. There is no photo-etched, resin or masks in the Weekend Edition range. Construction is traditional, with even locating pins on all the major components. The cockpit interior is nicely detailed and in this version you get a decal for the instrument panel. No seat belts are included, but you can get them as ‘Super Fabric’ versions separately form Eduard. The elevators and rudder are separate; the ailerons are moulded with the wings though. Surface detail is a mix of fine recessed lines on the fuselage and inner wing sections, plus raised ribs for the fabric-covered mid-fuselage and the remainder of each wing. The spatted wheels come with the rear section of hub and a bit of the spat as a separate part, but again if you don’t like this, you can get single-piece resin ones in the Brassin range (see here). The kit also includes the option of wheels without spats. The canopy parts are nicely moulded and you have optional parts to allow you to have the canopy open or closed. As usual, Eduard have included a clear yet precise series of view at the end of the instructions to help you rig this model, although again if you don’t fancy this, Eduard already do separate photo-etched flight wires that simply lock into place (see here).
The kit offers two decal options: ‘White A12’ of Air Regiment No.4, 40th Flight, Czech Air Force, Prague-Kebly, April 1938 and an aircraft of 2/2 Orlyak, Bulgarian Air Force, Vrazhdebna airfield, November 1944. The former is in a Khaki Green over silver scheme, whilst the latter is a complex pattern of off-white squiggles on RLM 71 on the upper surfaces and RLM 65 underneath. The little decal sheet includes an additional one with a revised marking for the first option and a decal to replicate the shutters in the ventral radiator unit.
Conclusion
This is indeed a ‘72nd scale revolution’, as Eduard claim because they are rewriting the quality of 1/72nd scale kits. This one is not overly complex, but is nicely detailed and you can already upgrade it if you wish because of the sets produced for the Royal Class version in both the standard Eduard and Brassin ranges.
Our thanks to Eduard (www.eduard.com) for the review sample.
