A.V.I.A FL.3

RS Models

RS Models' 1/72 scale AVIA Fl.13 kits are available online at Squadron.com

Reviewed by Brett Green

Here in Australia, if you labelled a model "RS", it would be uncomplimentary. In the extreme.

I am pleased to report that RS Models' family of 1/72 scale AVIA Fl.13 kits is far from RS in the Australian vernacular!

The AVIA Fl.13 was a training/touring aircraft that first flew in 1938. During the war, these little trainers were flown by Croatia, Germany and Italy. Post war users were even broader.

RS Models has released three boxings of the F.13. The 41 styrene parts, all contained on a single sprue, are identical in all three versions. Optional fuselage spines, fixed undercarriage legs and vacform canopies determine the different versions. Each model also gets its own unique set of decals too.

The plastic parts are very impressive. Indeed, in this small scale they are better than some long-run, metal mould models I have seen. The quality of the plastic is very good - neither too hard nor too soft. The sprue attachment points are very narrow, and there are no visible blemishes on the visible surfaces of the model. Even the ejector pin marks on the inside surfaces of parts are minimal. Unlike some other recent short-run releases, it won't be necessary to grind down giant ejector pins before mating parts. Fabric texture on the tail surfaces and fuselage spine is very restrained and convincing. There is not much structural detail on the surface, but the small amount is consistently engraved. The wings are supplied in top and bottom halves, but the trailing edges are very thin - no thinning required here!

The main concession to the short-run nature of these kits is the absence of locating pins. However, alignment should not be a problem on a model this small.

The vacform parts, different in each kit, are thin and clear of distortion. A spare canopy is supplied in each kit. Two versions are open-topped, and the German version has an enclosed canopy.

The instructions are not up the rest of the kit's standard. The diagrams are blurry and there is some ambiguity about parts use in one of the instructions. There is also an inset diagram near the end of the instructions about which I am completely confused!

On the other hand, the decals are a real treat. They are crisply printed and perfectly in register. Many of the schemes are very interesting too.

Any of these 1/72 scale Fl.13 kits should build up into a very nice replica of this little trainer aircraft.

Recommended.

Thanks to Squadron for the review samples.