The world is upside down! An attempt to capture aerobatics in a model: Zlin Z-526AFS in its proper element

About the idea of an aerobatics presentation
Sometimes it is worth looking at the well-known or seemingly self-evident from an unusual perspective. We are all familiar with the term "aerobatics" and everyone will probably immediately have images of spectacularly curving, controlled spinning or looping aircraft in their mind's eye, but, strange as it may sound, is there actually any other technical means of transport whose locomotion has been elevated to an art form in its own right?

I can't think of anything comparable; only flying seems to be able to be perceived as an aesthetic pleasure from the ground. The choreographed dance in the sky serves no other purpose than to be enjoyed, evaluated and appreciated within the rules of aerobatics. Seen in this light, "aerobatics" is indeed very remarkable!

It is common knowledge that the hour of wilful aerobatics struck in the first few years after the mastery of flying. Igor Nestorov's first loop in 1913 earned him a charge of "endangering the flying machine" and even several days in prison, but also an entry in the history books. In the same year, Alfred Friedrich, however, reaped nothing but praise and recognition for the first deliberately initiated (and also stopped!) spin.

The First World War not only advanced the development of aircraft technology with seven-league boots, but also set completely new standards in terms of flight manoeuvres and control of the aircraft in a wide variety of flight conditions. It is not without reason that flight manoeuvres developed in those years, such as the "Immelmann", are still part of the standard programme at air shows, now detached from their military background. The extent to which the aeronautical optimisation of the material and the ability to master the aircraft perfectly is still the basis for the military use of aircraft is demonstrated by the magnificent skills of the many aerobatic teams that are maintained by the various air forces around the world.

Another source of aerobatics is certainly the high show value of aeroplanes soaring across the sky.The attraction of flight manoeuvres that are hardly thought possible and the thrill of latent danger that always accompanies them are combined with the intrinsic aesthetic value of elegant movement, metal glistening in the sun and the haunting sound of engines working under varying loads.
A distinction between "stunt flying" - where the main focus is on the aforementioned aspects of show value - and the differentiated "aerobatics" is telling!

Here things are slightly different: "Aerobatics" is practised as a high-performance sport in accordance with precise rules. Since 1961, the CIVA, the aerobatics commission of the FAI, has been using the Aresti symbols to label precisely defined aerobatic manoeuvres.This provides national and international aerobatic competitions with a precise set of rules for preparation and execution as well as for the subsequent assessment of pilots. "Aerobatics is therefore never just an adrenaline-fuelled game with spectacular flying manoeuvres, but always a precisely calculated and equally safely executed demonstration of flying skill at the highest level.

This also leads to one last aspect of aerobatics that I would like to mention. Training in aerobatics enables pilots to control their aircraft safely - and thus also serves to increase safety in sport flying in general. Aerobatic training is therefore increasingly being included in pilot training programmes.

About the construction process
At the beginning of the text I spoke of a worthwhile change of perspective: this thought was also what led me to this unconventional representation of the model!
As good as aeroplanes can look on their wheels on the ground, the sleek lines of some designs encourage you to venture into a "flying" representation.The aim here is to show the aeroplanes in their appropriate element. An aerobatic legend like the Zlin Z-526 Akrobat also requires a special staging: I really wanted to depict an aerobatic aeroplane here!

This decision was made easier by the small amount of conversion work required. The only actual modifications were to the undercarriage, which had to be shown retracted - this proved to be easy to do - and the improvisation of a "rotating" propeller. I tried to do this in a tried and tested way by airbrushing two thin strips of transparent film. All I had to add was a pilot. For this I chose a WW2 veteran of the US Navy from "PJ Production". After a little surgery to remove his goggles and a partial re-dressing with a pilot's overall cut from Tamiya tape, it was done.

For the stand, I had planned to bend a thick metal wire into as elegant an arch as possible, which I would attach to the base plate with a hole at its lower end. The wire would also carry the smoke, which would trace the flight path of the Zlin in accordance with air show custom. To do this, conventional cotton wool would simply be woven around the wire. Depending on whether this was done more tightly or less densely, the result would be a cloud of smoke spreading backwards. In order to give the cotton wool a permanent fit on the metal, the wire should be easily prepared with standard gel glue before applying the cotton wool.
Well, that was the plan. What can I say? This plan could also be implemented quite passably as described!

About the original
The Zlin Z-526AFS shown here with the characteristic nose art of a cartoon dwarf comes from Eduard's excellent new kit. The Zlin Akrobat with the registration OOK-CXA took part in the 1975 European Championships in Esbjerg, Denmark, in the form shown here; it was flown by the Czechoslovak aerobatics legend Jiri Kobrle. Over the next few years, the aircraft was operated by the South Bohemian Aero Club under different liveries. On 8.May 2012, now in the possession of the Budweis Aero Club, it was tragically lost in a serious landing accident,.

This build concludes my last "double" on the subject of the Zlin Z-526 for the time being. I would therefore like to refer all those interested in a more detailed kit description to my first article on the Z-526AFS "I-1010" built in parallel.
The kit with all its attractive variants and possibilities appealed to me so much that I will certainly tackle a Zlin of the "Trener" or "Akrobat" series again when the opportunity arises. So it will come as no surprise that I warmly recommend these Zlin kits from Eduard to anyone who is interested!

30 additional images. Click to enlarge.