Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on August 15, 2018, 04:08:37 AM
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(https://s15.postimg.cc/hobuees0r/B355_004.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Avia B-35 is one of the few notable pre-war Czechoslovak aircraft.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/3unhpq23v/b35-6.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Barely even recorded is an aircraft it inspired, the Avia B-355.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/58f4l5jej/B355_001.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
While the Czechoslovak Air Ministry was pleased with the promising B-35, they saw the need of a far more heavily-armed fighter to protect key targets from enemy bombing.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/9wv4g08hn/B355_003.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Avia firm engaged a crack design team to tackle the project. While the team's partners were extremely eccentric, their brilliance in aerodynamic engineering, especially with regard to undercarriages, could not be denied.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/8525ldzi3/2wildncrazy.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Very soon those two wild and crazy guys had designed a real bruiser that was very heavily armed with four wing guns, two which were high-caliber 35.5 mm cannon and two more of smaller 25.5 mm.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/ccwxu3ycr/B355_002.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The new fighter featured an equally high-powered engine as well as some of the most intimidating, streamlined landing gear yet seen in Czechoslovak skies.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/gq02prom3/B355_005.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The fighter was topped off with an amazingly sleek canopy which offered good visibility even if it was quite costly to produce.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/hfiv27wwb/B355_006.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Czechoslovak Air Ministry was impressed with the prototype which Avia called the B-355. However, it quickly became apparent there was no way mass-production would happen due to that incredibly expensive canopy. Those two wild and crazy guys were sent back to the drawing board.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/lbw6yd2i3/B355_007.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The prototype was deployed as a point-defense fighter to protect vital Czechoslovak food processing plants from a feared sneak, night attack.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/mqxrnb8sr/B355_008.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The sole Avia B-355 would never face an enemy in anger due to the Munich agreement and the subsequent German take-over of Czechoslovakia.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/5rot7ouwr/B355_009.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
But it did fly one terribly important top-secret mission.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/nhqhsz8kb/B355_010.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The night before the Germans took over the last plant responsible for making the Czechoslovak national snack food, that Avia B-355 took off and spirited samples of it along with all the vital recipes and data out of the country.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/pateh46jv/czech_mix.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
While the Avia B-355 would never fly again, the snacks would make an enormously delicious post-war impact. After becoming the top-selling snack of Munchie, Indiana, Czech Mix would go on to world-wide popularity.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/nkadfpp1n/B355_011.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This bit of snack-food history and the Avia B-355 have been completely over-looked and "serious" "experts" all write the whole thing off as something with so little documentary evidence that it's not worth Czech-ing out.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/v09n1fzvf/B355_012.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Brian da Basher
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This all began with a classic Airfix blister pack 1/72 Hawker Typhoon a good friend sent me (thanks a million, hamsterman!).
(https://s15.postimg.cc/4gh1zku9n/Airfix_Tiffie_blister.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
You've got to admit, the art on that header card really captures the essence of this iconic aircraft. I felt a little guilty building such a great styrene time capsule. That card is pretty sweet and includes a nice paint guide on the back which I customarily ignored.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/8e4bok1iz/Airfix_Tiffie_card.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
When you fold the card out, Airfix has very cleverly and thoughtfully provided instructions which were also customarily ignored.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/5wskhbzmz/Airfix_Tiffie_card_back.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
A kit like this almost makes me feel sorry for those youngsters that can't appreciate a model of this vintage. While there aren't a lot of bells and whistles, it sure looks like a Typhoon when built and one would be hard pressed to find a Typhoon with simpler assembly.
Of course, mine was going to be a little bit different.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/whv3d3zi3/B355_xprog_001.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s15.postimg.cc/vscb0tjjv/B355_xprog_002.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s15.postimg.cc/nzln8ulaj/B355_xprog_003.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
While this kit is pretty basic, I didn't see a lot of room to move given the way it's engineered unless I wanted to perform a lot of surgery and invite the Putty Monster to spend the weekend with me. However, I soon discovered a spare drop-tank half fit so well as a replacement canopy it'd be almost a crime not to use it.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/u0jc612sr/B355_xprog_004.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s15.postimg.cc/vfkwutoh7/B355_xprog_006.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I swapped out the kit prop for a more pointy one from a P-40K and added that incredibly intimidating, streamlined landing gear which was made by wrapping card around the bomb shackle fairings and sticking a wheel in the bottom.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/r7q4lux9n/B355_xprog_007.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
That sounded far racier than I meant it to.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/no46w3zpn/B355_xprog_008.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I also replaced the kit wing cannon which will be hoarded for future use. Landing gear struts and sprue nibs were used instead.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/g84xag1rf/B355_xprog_005.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
In a rare fit of conscientiousness, I puttied over the landing gear door seams.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/e64fvsqt7/B355_xprog_010.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Here's how it all looked before paint.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/xnz3btnrv/B355_xprog_009.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Speaking of paint, the old hairy stick made yet another appearance, loaded down with a lot of Model Masters Flat Black acrylic.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/vjeqattvv/B355_00_upper.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The canopy was painted Model Masters Jet Exhaust. I used a dab of cheap, craft-store metallic on the intake and the guns & exhausts were done with custom mixes.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/jhjcgqxiz/B355_00_under.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Decals were easy and all came from a sheet for an actual Avia but I can't remember if it's the B-35 or B-534. Before I forget, here's a couple of "money shots" (U.S. currency for scale).
(https://s15.postimg.cc/csheeiraz/B355_money_01.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s15.postimg.cc/5ci4srlm3/B355_money_02.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The model took me about a week or so to put together and it all went very smoothly. I'd like to thank Bill for his generosity in sending me the kit. I couldn't have done it without you!
(https://s15.postimg.cc/acfl0dbpn/B355_013.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I hope you enjoyed the Avia B-355 and reading a little more forgotten aircraft history even if some of it may not seem to Czech out.
(https://s15.postimg.cc/cgzy1lq8r/B355_014.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Brian da Basher
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It looks great in black, and more of a
lover racer than a fighter!
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another great model and entertaining story. Top work
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More BdB brilliance! I love how you created the undercarriage trousers :smiley:
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As normal, a beauty, both aircraft and history. Some of the very best undercart work ever seen. You are the Master!
Ian
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As normal, a beauty, both aircraft and history. Some of the very best undercart work ever seen. You are the Master!
+1 Gorgeous work and imaginative backstory.
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That is so pretty, and yet menacing! Another blast of genius from BdB!! :smiley:
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Another corker !!!! Love it :-*
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Great stuff, Brian! Love the story and the build, both are very entertaining. Please keep them coming, this one made my day! :smiley:
Best, Kem
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It's a lovely build, but I must correct you on one very important detail:
There never was an Avia B.355, that was some intentional misinformation to cover the aircraft's true origin and designation.
The aircraft was designed and built by Benes-Mraz and designated the Be-300.
You can see by the spat design the Be-300 shares with the Be-50 where the aircraft's true lineage is. :-D
(https://i.imgur.com/oLciSZo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xNrH1dw.jpg)
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So thatz history on them snacks being with us today.
Truly intimidating spats, kind that own the sky.