Avia C.2B1
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/3/0/7/374307-23938-17-720.jpg)
The inspiration.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/3/0/8/374308-23938-83-720.jpg)
The rear control panel installation is problematic, as it sits too high and too far forward.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/3/0/9/374309-23938-23-720.jpg)
I decided to reposition it down a bit and further back, to clear the resin piece (PUR 6) that spans the cockpit at this location.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/3/1/1/374311-23938-36-720.jpg)
Piece of styrene did the trick.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/3/1/0/374310-23938-75-720.jpg)
The control pedals in the rear cockpit sit way too high also. I did not fix this, but it's a consideration when building an open cockpit.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/3/1/2/374312-23938-57-720.jpg)
Interior was primed with Mr. Surfacer and then airbrushed with Testors Acryl RLM66. Enamel wash was followed by drybrushing with lighter grays.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/3/1/3/374313-23938-83-720.jpg)
Completed cockpit. The kit comes with a nice PE set that adds needed detail to the cockpit.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/3/1/4/374314-23938-92-720.jpg)
I did not use all PE parts supplied: I left the pedals as is, and did not add any detail to the cockpit walls (closed canopy will prevent seeing most of this anyway).
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/3/1/5/374315-23938-23-720.jpg)
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/3/1/6/374316-23938-66-720.jpg)
The part A18 representing the engine is not tall enough. I added a shaped styrene block to the bottom to ensure that the propeller shaft lines up correctly with the front fuselage section, part A17.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/3/1/8/374318-23938-51-720.jpg)
Undercarriage assembly was straightforward and per instructions.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/3/1/9/374319-23938-30-720.jpg)
Mr. Surface primer was followed with Testors Acryl RLM02, washed with dark enamel and drybrushed with whitened RLM02,
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/3/1/7/374317-23938-45-720.jpg)
Assembling the fuselage and the wings. No issues here.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/1/6/9/380169-23938-58-720.jpg)
There is a gap between the fuselage and the horizontal stabilizer (nothing a bit of putty can't fix).
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/1/7/1/380171-23938-35-720.jpg)
A propeller jig is needed to assemble the propeller. The propeller hub is resin (2 versions are supplied with the kit, as are 2 propeller blade styles).
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/1/7/3/380173-23938-30-720.jpg)
The resin engine scoops supplied with the kit are too stiff to conform to the fuselage. I replaced them with shaped styrene.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/1/7/5/380175-23938-88-720.jpg)
There are a number of fiddly PE parts that are butt-joined to the wings. Small pins left on the PE parts, together with mating holes in the plastic, would have made for a much stronger joint.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/1/7/6/380176-23938-39-720.jpg)
..more fiddlies…
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/1/7/8/380178-23938-67-720.jpg)
Cockpit is ready for the canopy. Conopy fit was very good. I dipped it in Future and glued it on using Krystal-Kleer.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/1/8/3/380183-23938-14-720.jpg)
Canopy masked using the Montex mask and Vallejo masking fluid. The Montex mask material is stiffer that the competition, and the rear section needed a bit of the masking fluid to close up.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/8/4/380184-23938-82-720.jpg)
Once I was happy with the prime coat (several cycles of PSR were needed), I airbrushed the panel lines with dilluted Testors Acryl Black.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/1/8/1/380181-23938-54-720.jpg)
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/4/2/3/385423-23938-17-720.jpg)
All Clad 2 ALC 106 White Aluminum was airbrushed in thin coats to allow pre-shading to show through.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/4/2/4/385424-23938-69-720.jpg)
Gunze gloss coat from the can was applied the next day as base for the Mark I decals. They went on nicely and needed very short soak to come off the paper. I used the Micro Sol decal solution.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/4/2/2/385422-23938-87-720.jpg)
Testors Acryl black was airbrushed on the engine panels following required masking.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/4/2/5/385425-23938-98-720.jpg)
I used dilluted oil paint thinned with lighter fluid to highlight the panel lines and give some depth to the silver.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/4/2/6/385426-23938-30-720.jpg)
Here, the Raw Umber oil wash after application to the port wing.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/4/2/7/385427-23938-29-720.jpg)
Landing gear legs fit in a very shallow tubes, so gluing these is tricky, especially since proper positioning is required. I strongly recommned adding metal pins to strengthen the joint.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/4/2/8/385428-23938-63-720.jpg)
The space between the landing gear leg and the wheel well is too narrow for the wheel well cover: I sanded each cover until it slid into this space.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/4/2/9/385429-23938-89-720.jpg)
And here are the completed pics.
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/4/3/0/385430-23938-23-720.jpg)
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/4/3/1/385431-23938-99-720.jpg)
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/4/3/2/385432-23938-61-720.jpg)
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/4/3/3/385433-23938-51-720.jpg)
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/4/3/4/385434-23938-64-720.jpg)
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/4/3/5/385435-23938-80-720.jpg)
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/4/3/6/385436-23938-53-720.jpg)
Splatter on the wheel covers and undercarriage is Testors Acryl Raw Umber, Red Earth, and Sand.
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/4/3/7/385437-23938-55-720.jpg)
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/4/3/9/385439-23938-75-720.jpg)
Kommentit
26 August 2017, 21:32
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Thanks for looking Lukasz. Lots of great projects on Scalemates lately😉 Looks like you have a bunch on the bench yourself 👍
27 August 2017, 12:26
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
Indeed Alec, indeed... 🙂 Trying to get rid of SR.53 currently 🙂 But somehow I'm unable to have less than 5 open projects😉
27 August 2017, 17:21
![](/profiles/img/29700-175-s.jpg)
Wonderful interior build and presentation. That engine piece, A18, was a surprise to see.
28 August 2017, 01:54
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Welcome aboard Christian 👍
@Lukasz: don't know how you manage it 🙂
@Lost_Erik: I think there will be some more surprises with this build 😄
28 August 2017, 03:03
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
Nothing difficult Alec, kind of addiction, you know😉 It happens when you can't decide😉
28 August 2017, 12:16
![](/profiles/img/user-s.jpg)
looks good so far. what is the bulge at the exterior of the cockpit?
28 August 2017, 15:54
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Thanks Bart. I believe the bulge under the cockpit on the starboard side is an optional gun camera for the gun-equipped variants.
29 August 2017, 00:13
![](/profiles/img/30654-634-s.jpg)
I have this in my stash, but in 1:48. Have not decided if I am going to do the Czech or Hungarian version. Nice to see something different 👍
9 September 2017, 14:09
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Thanks Dave. The Hungarian version has an interesting open rear cockpit, so that would for sure be something different. I added few more pics, getting this project wrapped up.
13 September 2017, 19:00
![](/profiles/img/30654-634-s.jpg)
Why did you preshade? I thought for NMF one starts with gloss black first then the metalics.
14 September 2017, 12:17
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
@Dave: Agreed, that is the accepted practice. My issue with black undercoat is that it darkens the silver, which IMHO is opposite to what I am trying to do, i.e. keep the silver light on account of the scale effect (that said, white primer may be a better choice to achieve that end). In addition, I wanted to highlight the panel lines, not possible with black base.
15 September 2017, 11:19
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Thanks Christian.
Dave: It's almost done. The landing gear attachment needs some TLC but otherwise it's getting there.
16 September 2017, 12:09
![](/profiles/img/user-s.jpg)
That's a nice one, thrown up mud is a nice detail. Did the black preshade work as planned?
28 September 2017, 04:10
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
Great finish, last pic is a killer! I like the weathering, not too strong. Yeah, and that emblem (my favourite in CSAF)! 👍
It's from Pardubice, isn't it? 🙂
28 September 2017, 06:03
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Thanks very much mates, I appreciate the kind words. I am happy with the result 👍
Hi Bart - the preshading worked well IMHO. It's a subtle effect, but it adds dept to the finish, and some "aging", which was my goal.
Lukasz - I am glad you like my digital imaging dabble (I have fun doing those). The emblem is actually that of Ostrava, where the unit flying these C-2s was based (I think it still is). Pardubice has a half-horse in its coat of arms (I guess Czechs had some horse fetish way back... 😄)
29 September 2017, 01:40
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
Interesting. I always thought (since I saw the KP MiG-15 & UTI for the 1st time) that this was Pardubice unit emblem (btw. such a restored MiG-15 stands now at Hradec Kralowe airfield). Anyway thanks a lot for the explanation.
PS. I guess all the east-Yuropean nations got this fetish at some point in time😉
29 September 2017, 06:08
![](/profiles/img/12266-435-s.jpg)
The way you managed to put a photo of your model (pic39) over the original picture (1) is simply brilliant, almost 1:1!
30 September 2017, 10:54
![](/profiles/img/21588-581-s.png)
your work is always great pleasure to the eyes. beautiful photography too
30 September 2017, 20:58
Album info
I decided to tackle this project mainly to try out all-metal finish using All Clad lacquers. Special Hobby released the Arado Ar-96, of which C.2 is its Czech post-WWII reincarnation, in several versions. I am planning this as an OOB build: closed canopy, no additions, just a decal option from Mark I. decal set that comes with their Arado Ar-96 title.
This turned out to be a pleasurable build. Few surprises, keeping in mind that this is a short-run kit, and some experience is handy during construction. I discuss any specifics in the accompanying pictures.