ZLINEK 1:72 AVIA S-99

 

Reviewer: Richard Stracey  (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  May 2001

The latewar 109 G-10 was a high altitude interceptor with a ceiling of 12,500 m. going into service in Oct. ’44. being a development of the 109 G-6 with a DB 605 D engine. As well as Luftwaffe service it also flew with Croatia , Hungary & Italy & twenty one were produced post war by Czechoslovakia where it was known as the Avia S99.The G10 /S99 had a wingspan of 9.9m. & length of 9.02m.

I don’t know much about Zlinek ( a Czech Co.) or this kit which I have had for a few years. They make a Bf 109 G-10 / R2 (A 02) which is the same kit, different decals. This kit is, I presume , a limited run kit. Whoever did the masters did a good job but was let down by the moulding. I don’t mind flash but this kit is rough & requires a lot of tidying up. The instructions are very good & the kit is accurate. Cockpit detail is good with a raised detail dashboard or a paper cut out as preferred. 

The exhausts (12) are fitted before the fuselage halves are joined but I blanked off the slots from the inside & added the exhausts after all painting was done. The wing / fuselage joint needed work & filler otherwise the kit was pretty average. The canopy can be left open or closed & is slightly too wide.

The decals are for a G10 in Hungarian service in standard Luftwaffe colours of dark green RLM82 & grey violet RLM75 over light grey RLM76 with mottle sides and a Czech Airforce S99 in what I presume to be a patchy bare metal or metallic grey with red nose & all leading edges. I feel that the Hungarian cross decals on the wings are too small (even Zlinek’s three view show them larger) but can’t find any photos to confirm my suspicions.

The end result is satisfactory but not brilliant. If you have the urge to make a G10 /S99 & have a Zlinek “in stock” then go ahead but if it’s a matter of buying one you can’t go past the newer, state of the are Revell kit (04107).

Footnote:  An inbox review of this kit can also be found on this site, see link below.


© Richard Stracey 2001

 

Note: the following related reviews links have not been updated since early 2000's - more kit reviews of this aircraft may now be on SMAKR, not reflected below.  Refer to the Index for other kits of this type.

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