In Box Review of KP 1/72nd Scale Czech Avia BH-3
Kit no. 22
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
The Avia BH-3 was a fighter plane built in Czechoslovakia in 1921. Conceptually a descendant of the BH-1 sports plane, it was a braced, low-wing monoplane of conventional configuration and tailskid undercarriage.
Following favourable trials in June 1921, ten examples were ordered by the Czechoslovakian Air Force. These were delivered in 1923 under the military designation B.3. The type proved temperamental in service and was soon relegated to training duties, where it served until 1927.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 10.20 m (33 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 15.8 m2 (170 ft2)
Empty weight: 778 kg (1,715 lb)
Gross weight: 1,025 kg (2,260 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW IIIa inline, 138 kW (185 hp)
Maximum speed: 225 at 0m; 240 at 2000m km/h (150 mph)
Range: 500 km (300 miles)
Service ceiling: 7,800 m (25,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 7.9 m/s (1,560 ft/min)
Armament: 2 × fixed, forward-firing .303 Vickers machine guns
The Avia BH-3 was a fighter plane built in Czechoslovakia in 1921. Conceptually a descendant of the BH-1 sports plane, it was a braced, low-wing monoplane of conventional configuration and tailskid undercarriage.
Following favourable trials in June 1921, ten examples were ordered by the Czechoslovakian Air Force. These were delivered in 1923 under the military designation B.3. The type proved temperamental in service and was soon relegated to training duties, where it served until 1927.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 10.20 m (33 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 15.8 m2 (170 ft2)
Empty weight: 778 kg (1,715 lb)
Gross weight: 1,025 kg (2,260 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW IIIa inline, 138 kW (185 hp)
Maximum speed: 225 at 0m; 240 at 2000m km/h (150 mph)
Range: 500 km (300 miles)
Service ceiling: 7,800 m (25,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 7.9 m/s (1,560 ft/min)
Armament: 2 × fixed, forward-firing .303 Vickers machine guns
THE KIT:
This kit came in a flimsy and blousy end opening type box. It has a large letter "L" void around the parts.
It is not shrink-wrapped, but held shut with tape.
I am also no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a BH-3 flying above the clouds. It is in a wave pattern of tan, dark-green and red-brown above a light-blue undercarraige. It has the Czech Air Force tri-color insignia above and below the wings and on the rudder sides. It has a white square outlined in black on the fuselage sides.
The bottom of the box has two 4-views of schemes for the BH-3.
1. The box art scheme (already described above).
2. A BH-3 that is overall tan with a base-metal cowling top and propeller spinner. It has the fuselage number Av-B-3.01 (the aircraft shown in a black and white photo). Before the Av number, there is a large black number 17. The aircraft has a lighter tan rudder flap and Czech Air Force tri-colors above and below the wings and on the rudder sides.
THE KIT:
This kit came in a flimsy and blousy end opening type box. It has a large letter "L" void around the parts.
It is not shrink-wrapped, but held shut with tape.
I am also no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a BH-3 flying above the clouds. It is in a wave pattern of tan, dark-green and red-brown above a light-blue undercarraige. It has the Czech Air Force tri-color insignia above and below the wings and on the rudder sides. It has a white square outlined in black on the fuselage sides.
The bottom of the box has two 4-views of schemes for the BH-3.
1. The box art scheme (already described above).
2. A BH-3 that is overall tan with a base-metal cowling top and propeller spinner. It has the fuselage number Av-B-3.01 (the aircraft shown in a black and white photo). Before the Av number, there is a large black number 17. The aircraft has a lighter tan rudder flap and Czech Air Force tri-colors above and below the wings and on the rudder sides.
WHAT'S IN THE KIT:
This kit contains a single chalk-white tree, a clear tree, the decal sheet and instructions in a stapled-shut cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet in 17 1/2" x 12" format, folded twice to fit the box.
The face side of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of a real BH-3 on a grassy runway with the pilot and ground crew around it. It has the Czech Air Force insignia on the rudder, wings and fuselage number Av-B.01. This is above the history of the aircraft in Czech, English and German.
The reverse side of the sheet begins with READ BEFORE YOU START instructions the 3 languages, over 3 exploded line drawings for assembly purposes. Below that is the parts trees illustrations and a list of 25 other aircraft kits that KP manufactures.
The single chalk-white tree holds: the fuselage halves, wings, elevators, rudder, main wheels and gear legs, propeller, wing struts, seat, cabin floor etc. (27 parts)
This kit contains a single chalk-white tree, a clear tree, the decal sheet and instructions in a stapled-shut cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet in 17 1/2" x 12" format, folded twice to fit the box.
The face side of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of a real BH-3 on a grassy runway with the pilot and ground crew around it. It has the Czech Air Force insignia on the rudder, wings and fuselage number Av-B.01. This is above the history of the aircraft in Czech, English and German.
The reverse side of the sheet begins with READ BEFORE YOU START instructions the 3 languages, over 3 exploded line drawings for assembly purposes. Below that is the parts trees illustrations and a list of 25 other aircraft kits that KP manufactures.
The single chalk-white tree holds: the fuselage halves, wings, elevators, rudder, main wheels and gear legs, propeller, wing struts, seat, cabin floor etc. (27 parts)
The clear part is the windscreen (1 part)
The last item in the kit are the decals.
Nice detail. Recommended.
I got this kit in trade with a guy in Krakow, Poland years ago.