Pilsen Kit 2013

Summer is nice, but for me it also means 2 months without any model shows to visit This makes the first show after summer always a bit special   I decided to go by train from Prague to this show in Plzeň, a 50 miles trip   The previous day I had driven all day by car from Belgium to Prague ... so I was ready to try another means of transportation now   A quick taxi ride took me from Plzeň main station to the event (3.3 kms) - the shooting range area of Dukla, Lobzy   An old classic Aero 30 immediatly grabbed my attention (about 3000 were made before World War II)   Checking out the show   Live demonstrations - in Czech...   Kid's corner   I found this short club (KPM Plzeň) history very interesting - even if it was in Czech Funny hairstyles also found their way behind the Iron Curtain   The Eduard boot - at a quiet moment   Things to wear   Eduard must've been thinking with winter approaching, people still like to work in/on gardens   Valka had several J's Work camo masks on offer - first time I saw these   MPM had just released the brand new 1/48 scale Heinkel He-115 (at 1185 CZK, or 43 euro)   HR Model revealed sprue shots of the new Phönix C.I Several boxings would be available   Time to have a look in the contest area ... starting with the aircraft categories   Small 1/144 scale MiG-21 - from Eduard   Another small 1/144 scale kit from Eduard - a Spitfire Mk.IX   Very sharp 1/144 scale Yak-40 - from AZ Model   Avro Vulcan in 1/144 scale (Cyber Hobby)   Moving over to the 1/72 scale categories - with this pictured inspired Me-210A-1 (Italeri)   P-51D Mustang in Cuban Air Force markings (1/72 scale - Airfix)   Amazing Hellcat in 1/72 scale (Eduard)   1/72 scale P-51D Mustang in Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca markings (Airfix again)   1/72 scale Dornier Do-335 (Revell/Dragon)   Polikarpov U-2 in 1/72 scale   Another Polikarpov U-2VS in 1/72 scale (ICM)   Splendid Mitsubishi Zero (1/72 scale)   Something unusual with this scratch build 1/72 scale Avia BH-10   Well weathered early P-47 in 1/72 scale (Tamiya conversion)   1/72 scale Super Etendard - from Airfix/Heller   Nice work on this 1/72 scale L-39 Albatros from Eduard   1/72 scale AH-1G Cobra - from AZ Model - a kit which was released not so long ago   Nice 1/72 scale H-21 Shwanee (Italeri)   Arado Ar-234P (Dragon - 1/72 scale)   Martin B-57B Canberra in 1/72 scale (Airfix)   There were slightly less 1/48 scale entries, when compared to the 1/72 scale entries   1/48 scale T-28 D-5 from Roden   1/48 scale P-38L Lightning (Academy)   The Mirage Hobby PLZ-23 Karas in 1/48 scale   1/48 scale Fokker D.XXI in Finnish markings   MiG-19 from Trumpeter (1/48 scale)   1/48 scale Tiger meet Rafale (Revell)   1/48 scale MiG-23MF from Trumpeter   1/48 scale Starfighter in Spanish markings (Hasegawa)   MOD A-4N Skyhawk in 1/48 scale (Hasegawa)   I liked the silver/metal finish on this Egyptian Spitfire Mk.IX in 1/48 scale (Eduard)   There were about 10 entries in the 1/32 scale category Among them this magnificant L-39 ZA Albatros (HPH Models)   1/32 scale Me-109G-14 from Hasegawa   1/32 scale Me-110C-4 (Dragon)   Civilian aircraft had their own category (all scales) 1/144 scale Tu-134 from Zvezda   1/72 scale Zlin Z-212 from RS Models   One of the themes of this years contests was the Pacific war   1/72 scale Nakajima A2N1 Type 90 - from Fine Molds   You can't have a Pacific theme without a Corsair (1/72 scale Tamiya kit)   This category also included some tanks - like this Imperial Japanese Navy light tank Type 95 Ha-Go (1/35 scale)   Always good fun in this show is the "What If" category 1/72 scale SA-110 "Sword" - with a shark mouth   An 1/72 scale Milka Spitfire   And a Czech P-51 Mustang (1/72 scale)... note the markings   Another category was the "Various" category - for models which could not be placed in any of the other regular categories XP-M4 "Little John", 1947, Charkov - neat scratch build in 1/72 scale   Scratch build Zetor 5745 (1/35 scale)   Hindenburg - in 1/700 scale   British prototypes 1938-1945 (1/72 scale)   Including Hawker Tempest NV768 with a ducted spinner - in 1/72 scale

Time for a small break   And have a look at the R/C guys   Kids could have fun in this big Jumping Castle   An old Praga V3S Vejtřaska and an old Ural - both as command vehicles of the Czech army   A collection of German vehicles with their reenactors   A Kübelwagen in excellent condition   Germans also had their pin-ups - even in a Kübelwagen   Pak-36 with a Stielgranate 41, as used in the final stages of the 2nd World War   Radio wagen   Holy moly - a real Steyr 1500A !   Explaining weapons and equipment to visitors... in Czech   Radio controlled aircraft in the air - ready for landing   Allied vehicles and their reenactors   Including an old civilian Ford   SAS Jeep - with some red (maroon) berrets   Do I have time for a quick lunch... ? ... maybe later...   Now we had seen the real vehicles... It was time to have a better look at all the military vehicles - in all scales   Starting with tanks in 1/72 scale   Vickers Challenger II - from Dragon (1/72 scale)   LVT-(4)A somewhere in 1945 - also from Dragon (1/72 scale)   Very nice M113 ITV (Trumpeter) I especially liked the weathering on this small 1/72 scale vehicle   Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (Trumpeter, 1/72 scale)   AAV7A1 Miclic - from Dragon (1/72 scale)   A Japanese Type 90 I love that snow camo   1/72 scale Type 2 Ka-Mi with floating pontoon (Dragon)   M4 Sherman - in a lovely, small 1/72 scale diorama   T-72 M1 - from Revell (1/72 scale)   Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (Dragon) - note the "borrowed" gun barrel   Soviet M4A2(75) Sherman (Dragon, 1/72 scale)   A late model M4A3 Sherman 76mm - 1/72 scale   Beautiful T-34/85 model 1944 (Dragon, 1/72 scale)   There were many tanks competing in the small scale category But there were also many small scale military vehicles (with wheels) in another category   1/72 scale SdKfz 9 Famo with a 88mm gun - an impressive beast   A scratch build 1/72 scale Praga V3S - I just love that truck   SdKfz 251/9 Stummel - in 1/72 scale (Revell)   Steyr 1500 from the Das Reich division (1/72 scale)   Moving over to slightly larger models   ... with this 1/48 scale Autobiancchi   1/48 scale SdKfz 232 - from Tamiya   Tamiya 1/48 scale M10 Tank Destroyer   RPM 1/48 scale Ford T Model ambulance   1/48 scale Tamiya Matilda tank Mk.III   Tamiya Gaz 67 B - in 1/48 scale   And yet another category - with yet bigger models...   M578 from Verlinden - in 1/35 scale   Academy 1/35 scale M247 Sgt. York   Australian M113 Mine Roller "Bukoo Boom Boom" - in 1/35 scale   My eyes !!! Academy CV-90 tank - in 1/35 scale   M4A3 Sherman - liberating Plzeň (1/35 scale)   1/35 scale Steyr RSO - Dragon   1940 Renault Chenillette - Tamiya - 1/35 scale   IS-3m of the Egyptian army Trumpeter - in 1/35 scale   KET-T from Panzershop - in 1/35 scale   D-470 - again from Panzershop - in 1/35 scale   A fantastic BTR-40 - Trumpeter (1/35 scale)   Simca 5 staff car - from Tamiya (1/35 scale)   1/35 scale GMC Bofors (HobbyBoss)   Neubaufahrzeug tank - in 1/35 scale - from Trumpeter   The diorama category "The race" - in 1/72 scale (Academy & MPM kits)   This funny idea made me smile ! Genius !   Fw-190 on an airfield - 1/48 scale   "Das Sommer behagen" - in 1/72 scale   "Francie 1940" - in 1/72 scale Note the handover of some fruit to refugees...   "Patrol boat PBR Mk.II" - again in 1/72 scale   "Uz jsme jedli" (We already ate) - in the bigger 1/35 scale   "Operation Afghanistan" - in 1/35 scale   "Klar, Modellbauer Aus Deutschland..." ISAF GeCon 2004 Afghanistan (1/35 scale)   1/35 scale SdKfz 10 and Pak 75 mm - from Tamiya   "West Europe - Victory" - in 1/48 scale   Figures category   Operation Torch, 1942   Pacific (91mm)   Erwin Rommel 1897-1944 from Pegaso Models (54mm)   Confederate General John B Gordon - Army of North Virginia (120mm)   Ships PLAN Type 035 - in 1/350 scale - from Trumpeter   U-boat VIID - from Revell - in 1/350 scale   K-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy - in 1/700 scale - from RIICH Models   Bismark firing - in 1/1200 scale (Revell/Esci)   Vehicles categories   Chevrolet Pick Up 1941 (1/24 scale - Revell)   1/24 scale Citroen 2CV Note the Revell box inside... neat touch !   Tatra 111 HSC5 - from MM Brno, in 1/87 scale   1/24 scale Mack AC from Monogram - with quite some work added to it   I had to catch a train back... So time to wrap things up for me - by buying some "souvenirs" In the shape of Eduard beer   ... and an Azur Morane Saulnier MS-410 (to keep things in balance)   One hour later I was back in Prague   It was a busy but a very enjoyable day All comments, remarks, suggestions and especially corrections are welcome Thank you Visitor counter automatically reset from 269 to 0 on January 22nd 2016, after 30 days with no visits The downside of a free counter ...

William De Coster / Belgium e-mail  Last update : 10 September 2014 Counter reset : 22 January 2016