History

Zlin C-205 Trener 6 is a two seat, single engine, all metal, low wing monoplane with a fixed tail wheel type landing gear. It was devoloped as a basic trainer. Later Z-226 variants were optimised to participate in aerobatic competitions.
In 1956 Zlin introduced the Z 226T trener 6 which featured a more powerful 120KW (160hp) six cylinder Walter Minor 6III engine. The Z 226 was also built as a glider tug, Z 226B. During the Z 226 test flights it was discovered and proved, that the type had excellent aerobatic characteristics too. In order to improve the "akrobat" aerobatics performance, the towing propeller was changed and the fuselage reinforced. The Z 226 Trener 6 was built in different sub types as the single seat Z 226A Akrobat. From 1963 the Z 226AS Akrobat Special was equiped with a newly devoloped - manual hydrulic pitch conytol - V-500 propeller, which made the use of engine power more effcient.
During the early eighties the still flying Z 226 planes were equipped with M-137A engines. these planes (Z 226M) were mainly used for pilot training and glider towing. All together 283 Z 226 aircraft had been built (Military code name was the C-205).
Info from the front of the instruction sheet

In the box

When I received this kit my first thought was that it was a old kit, but further investigation I found out this kit was released in 2013. The kit is packed in a retro style box, with a painted Egyptian Z 226 in flight over the pyramids alongside a c-47.
Inside the end opening box, the one light brown sprue is packaged in its own bag with the one small clear sprue in a resealable bag. A set of instructions and a small decal sheet make up the packaging.
This kit is small, with the fuselage measuring around four inches from tip to tail, and the wings have a span of just over five and a half inches.
Exterior detail is quite exquisite with fine recessed panel lines and some very delicate rivet detail.
The wheel struts according to the instructions have moulded on oleos but the parts in my box doesn't. Whether that is due to them not forming when they were moulded or they are just not there to start with I don't know.
The tyres themselves have a very fine tread pattern on them.
The tail wheel is moulded as one piece, which isn't surprising considering how small it is.
For such a small kit the interior detail is pretty impressive with some nice sidewall detail on the fuselage halves. The cockpit has some half decent bucket seats with decals for harnesses. The instrument panels also come with decals supplied. The cockpit floor has some raised detail moulded onto it, and it even has some rudder pedals to add which are tiny. A control column makes up the interior of the cockpit.

Instructions and decals

The instructions are printed on a glossy A4 size sheet folded in half. The build is printed with black line drawings with the kit parts in white, with it all set against a blue background.
The build is over 16 easy to follow steps, with a parts tree diagram at the start.
Generic colour names are given for internal painting along the way.
The decals are printed by BOAAGENCY, they are glossy, with not much carrier film and the colour registration looks good.
Three markings are available.
Zlin C 205, HA-TRD, Hungary AF, 1963
Zlin C 205, Czechoslovak Air Force, Zatec airfield, 1968
Zlin C 205, (Z 226T), Egyptian Air Force, 1957.
The Egyptian markings is found at the back of the instructions, and is full colour, with the Hungarian and Czech in full colour on the back of the box.


Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.