This is the Blanik L-13 glider kit produced by the Czech company Modela in the
late 70s though the 80s. It represents one of the Czech Republic aviation
industries' most successful and respected products, the famous Blanik L-13, the
most popular, and numerous glider in history. First produced in 1958,
it is famous for it's robust all-metal construction, and unique, forward swept,
laminar flow wing. It was not only one of Czechoslovakia's most successful
exports to the Soviet Union, and Eastern Bloc, but was very popular in the West,
as well. Surprisingly the U.S.A.F. bought several, and they are still in use
today.
The kit
is pretty much out of the box, with exceptions being the addition of Eduard
photetched harnesses, & tow cable release handles in the cockpit.
I
also added canopy lock handles on the port side of the cockpits. Panel lines are
raised, as one would expect from a kit of '70's vintage, let alone from
the then fledgling Czech model industry. It is, nonetheless, a very fine effort, and
indicative of the fine products which were to come from Czech companies, now
among the finest. I experimented with rescribing the panel lines on one of the
wing's undersides. I found the plastic (which is rather thin) to have an odd
combination of softness, along with brittleness. I decided it was not worth the
risk (particularly, since these kits are rather rare), and that I would just
have to live with them. However, once the major components were constructed, I
minimized the raised detail with a 1200 grit wet-dry, and 4000 grit
polishing cloth. I actuated the tail surfaces by drooping the elevators,
and kicking the rudder to the low-wing, as L-13's appear while at rest.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Alclad Gray
Primer and Microsealer was used to prime the airframe for Alclad II
lacquers. The rest of the paint was Testors Model Master. The kit's decals
had yellowed, & deteriorated badly. Looking at the hundreds of
photographs available online, especially at Airliner.Net, I designed a factious
Canadian scheme, that still 'looked right', and used the Canadian
registration numbers from a Minicraft Cessna 172. The Blanik logo from the
original kit's sheet was used, by placing it on the chrome yellow trim at
the rear of the fuselage...it's yellowed carrier film made no difference
against that background. I also printed up a small Canadian Flag
for the tail...just in case somebody didn't know what Canuck
registration numbers look like. The small whip antenna between the
wing shoulders was made of stainless wire. While the tiny pitot tube
on the top of the nose was some bit out of the spares box. I polished
out the nicely thin canopy, and dipped it in Future. That made a nice
improvement in clarity.
While not a perfect build, I have much affection for it. The L-13 makes
a delightful counterpoint in my case, where it sits on a shelf above, and to the
side of my SR-71, which also has a 13" wingspan. Of course, the Blackbird
is around 29" long. The L-13's never to exceed speed is 158 mph.
I think
the SR-71's is still classified, but it is in excess of Mach 3.5.
Photos by Henry Popp
Michael Presley
Click on
images below to see larger images
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