Numerical study of soot formation in counterflow ethylene diffusion flames at atmospheric pressure was conducted using detailed chemistry and complex thermal and transport properties. Soot kinetics was modelled using a semi-empirical two-equation model. Radiation heat transfer was calculated using the discrete-ordinates method coupled with an accurate band model. The calculated soot volume fractions are in reasonably good agreement with the experimental results in the literature. The individual effects of gas and soot radiation on soot formation were also investigated.