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PHILLIP EVANS
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1/48 AZ model L-13 Blanik

August 24, 2021 · in Aviation · · 12 · 2.3K

Another recently completed model. My Admiral L-13 Blanik model.

I had to make the rear thin line decals as the kit ones just broke apart. The ones on the wings are painted on.

The kit wingspan is 33.5cm.

I have done the scheme as the black striped scheme callsign 01 that I can remember the Midlands Gliding Club, Gwelo/Gweru, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe had back in 1981/82.

It was in this glider that I flew as a passenger for my last ever glider flight.

This was a very basic kit and went together easily. You have a choice of markings for 4 different gliders but be aware that the thinner decals tend to just curl up or crumble.

Paint used was Halfords Grey Primer and the Honda Blade silver. Both in spray cans and are actual car paints.

Reader reactions:
13  Awesome

3 additional images. Click to enlarge.


12 responses

  1. A great model, Phillip!
    Pity that some decals misbehaved. Nice that you used automotive paints, they look superb!

  2. The importance of your last glider flight shows through in this model. I wish I could get those Halfords spray cans here in China, they're great. Definitely liked.

  3. Looks very nice, Phillp @phillipe50
    Great remembrance to for your last flight.

  4. That's a very cool build.

  5. Regards the misbehaving/damaged decals. I just did some lines as well as the number using MS Paint program and printed off onto transparent decal paper. Once the ink had dried I gave the sheet three to four thin coats of gloss clear cote. Left over night, then cut out and applied like normal kit decals.

  6. Nicely done, Phillip. Dan's right-on..."a very cool build." ALL good.

  7. Very nice - quite the wing span on that bird!

  8. Great work on this model, Phillip. @phillipe50

    Flying - or riding - in a glider is something I've always wanted to do. When I was stationed in Fulda, (then) West Germany, there was a glider airport and school adjacent to one of our battle positions where we could watch them fly. They could - if no tow aircraft were available - launch from the ground on some type of catapult, but I never saw that happen. There was even a pilot who performed at airshows and kept his glider in the hanger ... hung on the wall, believe it or not, and his specialty was performing his whole routine inverted! The registration numbers on his aircraft were painted upside-down! Even though I talked with the gent, I never got to see him fly. I DID get to ride in the aircraft they used to tow the gliders with.

  9. Something else unusual, looks great!

  10. 🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
    Nice clean work on this rarely seen subject Phillip.

  11. Hello there, I used to enjoy very much flying the Blanik, many, many years ago in Cuba. My husband is a modeler and we are trying to find a model of this glider in the 1/48 scale. Can you please tell us where to find it? Thank you in advance.

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