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Andy Brazier takes a look at the Weekend Edition of Eduard's 1/48th Z-526AFS Acrobat.

History

The history of aerobatic specials of the Z-26 series began on April 16, 1966 with the maiden flight of its first single seater Z-526A (A standing for Akrobat). However, the requirements of aerobatic pilots were higher, so two years later the Z-526AS (Akrobat Special) version was prepared for the World Championships in Germany.

The aircraft met the requirements of FAR Part 23 for the Special aerobatic category with a +7/-4.5 g-force load compared to the previous +6/-3 g-force. The flaps were deleted, and the cabin received a new better shaped canopy. The Walter Minor 6-III developing 118 kW (160 hp) was retained. In 1969, the M-337 engine was modified to a fully aerobatic version, the M-137A offering 130 kW (180 hp) of power. It did not take long it was used for aerobatic version as well as for the Z-526 two seaters. All five Z-526AS produced were converted to the Z-526AF version by installing the M-137A into redesigned fuselage (shortened by 18 cm). In an effort to save weight, hydraulic landing gear with a hand pump was installed so the aircraft could fly without a battery and generator. Engine had to be started either by an external power source or manually.

As a brand new type of aerobatic aircraft (which came in 1975 as Z-50L) was still in sight and another aerobatic world championship was being held in 1972, the Z-526AF was further redesigned.

On September 25, 1970, the OK-YRA aircraft, converted from the AF version to the AFS, took off. The wingspan was shortened, earning this version its nickname “Kraťas” (translates “Shorty”).

The wing received twin ailerons which together with new aerodynamic wing-to-fuselage joint provided further improvements in flight characteristics. Apart of five examples rebuilt from the Z-526AF, the new Z-526AFS examples received the electrically operated landing gear again. All the modifications resulted in a 35% increase in longitudinal axis manoeuvrability. And although the Z-526AFS was no match for the top aerobatic specials, it became popular with pilots and 45 were manufactured. A number of successful pilots, such as Petr Jirmus, started their aerobatic career flying Z-526AFS.

It also marked the peak of the Box Trenér group in 1982 with pilots Jiří Tlustý, Božej Struž, Antonín Klimenda and Laco Trebatický

Info from Eduard

In the box

Packed in an top opening box, Eduard's little Acrobat kit in 1/48th comes on three Grey and one clear sprues, a set of instructions and a decal sheet make up the rest of the contents of the box.

As with most Weekend Edition kits, no photo etch is supplied.

Flash is non existent and pin marks are shallow and out of the way on the major parts.

External detail is superb with fine panel lines and raised areas over the fuselage and depicts the ribbed effect of the fuselage as seen on the real aircraft.

External detail for the wings is in the form of recessed panel lines and embossed rivets, the ribbed fabric for the control surfaces has been reproduced very well and hasn't been overdone.

The control surfaces are separate so they could be positioned off center if so desired, although the instructions only show them fixed in the neutral position.

Internal detail for this small aircraft is fairly good with the seat having a decal for the harness. The main instrument panel has decals for the switches and dial's, with each marking option requiring a different instrument panel decal.

Although the Profipack version of this kit featured a lot of photo etch for the interior to really up the detail, the kit supplied plastic parts still give a good amount of detail, which can be seen through the large bubble canopy.

The undercarriage bays are only small so a lot of detail isn't really required or seen in this area. The wheels and struts are pretty good, with the main wheels having separate hubs to make painting easier.

The tail wheel is made up of three parts. With the hubs and tyre as two parts, split in two halves.

The cowling and engine face are all separate parts, and there is a choice of two parts for the port side, depending on which markings you are building.

A small propeller with a separate hub makes up the front end of the engine.

Two of the four marking options need wingtip tanks to be added.

The canopy comes as a two piece, with the front screen separate. The canopy can be modelled open or closed.

The canopy parts are crystal clear and have raised framing, but no masks are supplied.

Decals, markings and instructions

The instructions are in the typical Eduard style, which consists of black on white drawings with any internal colours and optional parts highlighted in blue.

The build sequence is over five pages, and is easy to follow.

There are two internal painting variants and the choice has to be made early in the build, with scheme "A" a different colour.

As usual from Eduard all internal and external colours are from the Gunze Sangyo Aqueous Hobby colour and MR Color range of paints.

The decals are the standard Eduard offering and are on the whole easy to apply and set.

The decals are thin and glossy and are printed in-house by Eduard, and having used Eduard decals on several occasions they never give you much trouble, , although care must be taken applying any thin decals as they do tend to fold over themselves on occasion.

Four very colourful and different marking options are supplied.

One of the hardest parts will be deciding which one to go for.

Full page colour guides for each option is supplied.

Most of the schemes will require masking, which are not supplied.

The marking options are as follows -

Z-526AFS Akrobat 1/48 - Z-526AFS-V, No. 1219, OK-CXB, Tábor, Czech Republic, 2022 Red and silver livery, with checkerboard tail and red and black checker lowers on the wings. Masking needs to be done for the uppers but the check pattern for the underside black parts are decals as well as the tail checks.

Z-526AFS Akrobat 1/48 - Z-526AFS, No. 1220, OK-CXC, Svazarm, Czechoslovakia, 1972–1975

Golden -brown livery.

Z-526AFS Akrobat 1/48 - Z-526AFS, No. 1327, SP-WER, Katowice, Poland, 2010–2018

Yellow, black and silver livery. Check tail and front of cowling, with the black portions as decals.

Z-526AFS Akrobat 1/48 - Z-526AFS, No. 1301, D-EWBA, Rumbach, Germany, 2009–2016

Blue and white livery.