AIR CZECH 1:72 AERO L-59

 

Reviewer: Johan De Wolf (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  1 September 2002

Aircraft: Aero L-59 (L-39MS)
Scale: 1/72
Kit: Air Czech #1
Parts: 45 resin, one clear vacuform
Decals: none
Surface Detail: finely engraved
Accuracy: Excellent
Price: Around 25 euro

History:
 Witnessing the advent of aircraft like the F-16 and Mig-29 the Aero company realized that a more modern and powerful trainer would be needed to train pilots for this new generation of combat aircraft. It set about developing an improved version of their hugely successful L-39 Albatros. The main shortcomings of the L-39 where addressed. A more powerful engine would be needed, as well as zero-zero type ejection seats. As to not obstruct the instructors field of vision the students seat would be placed lower than that of the instructor.  Instrumentation would also be brought up to the latest standards. 

The first prototype had its maiden flight in the autumn of 1986. It soon became apparent that the aircraft was underpowered. Even so, it took over two years before a small engine with sufficient power was developed. But once fitted with the Lotarev DV-2 the aircraft showed its full potential.  The first series machine flew in October 1989, and the CSAF received the first two aircraft of six ordered in the summer of 1992. 

Although externally very similar in looks to the Albatros the new design has very little in common with it. Nevertheless the CSAF retained the L-39MS designation. Export models are designated L-59 though. After the break up into the Czech and Slovak republic, the CzAF retained aircrafts 0004, 0005 and 0006, while 0002 and 0003 went to the Slovak air force. Aircraft 0001 had suffered structural damage and was beyond economical repair. The only exports so far are 48 L-59E for Egypt and 12 L-59T for Tunisia.

A further development of the L-59 is the even more powerful and capable L-159 ALCA, of which the CzAF eventually intends to buy 72 machines.

The Kit & Instructions:
 It is a small, sturdy and inconspicuous box, but oh boy looks can deceive. Upon opening the box you are greeted by the densely packed resin parts and two sheets of instructions. The smaller fragile parts have wisely been glued by their moulding block into a separate compartment. This is a cheap but very effective way to prevent damage. A hard resin has been used resulting in parts that are sturdier than is usual with resin kits. The parts are bubble free and cleverly moulded. The level of detail throughout is amazing. 

The instructions identify the smaller parts and show where they go on a 3-view drawing and a couple of detail drawings. However having photographs will be helpful during construction and painting. Colours are given in Czech language only but the equivalent FS number is also stated. There are no decals with this kit.

Accuracy:
 Well what can I say..... Judging by the detail, the designer of this kit must have had first hand access to the real aircraft. The measurements are all spot on, and the accuracy of the details is as good as it gets in this scale. The single piece ejection seats are little models in their own right and the control columns easily put the ones in many 1/48 scale kits to shame. All the differences with the earlier L-39 have been correctly depicted in this kit.

Construction:
 The fuselage is split into 4 parts. A nosecone, left and right fuselage halves and a one piece tailcone section including the stabilizers and fin. Construction starts with sanding down the fuselage halves until they match the nose and tailcone in width, so that gluing them together will result in a smooth join. This is the most tedious part of construction.

When it is done it is business as usual, starting with the cockpit. First trim down the cockpit floor and side consoles a bit to get a perfect fit between the fuselage halves. The cockpit walls, side consoles and instrument panels all have very fine raised surface detail and painting all this will take quite a bit of time. Rudder pedals are moulded to the floor and look a bit simple, but they are hidden by the instrument panels anyway. 

After painting, the seats and control columns can be added to the floor. The fuselage halves also include the intake ducts all the way up to the engine. So the first stage engine fan blades are provided. After gluing this, the cockpit floor and some lead into a fuselage halve, the fuselage can be closed. The fuselage spine will hide most of the seam on top while the gun-tray will hide a large part of the seam on the bottom. Not much filling is needed anyway as the fit is very good. Now the instrument panels and their coaming can be inserted into the cockpit. To reproduce the clear front of the tip tanks, glue a piece of transparent sprue to them and sand to shape. 

The fit of the one piece wing (including moulded on pylons and tip tanks) under the fuselage is excellent. Just run the thinnest superglue you can find along the seam and the capillary action will do the rest, resulting in a strong joint and no filler needed.

Moving on, you will find that the air intakes are also a perfect fit. The rear fuselage is moulded in such a way that it insures correct alignment of tailplanes and fin. This makes it difficult to remove from its moulding block though. Having the tail section as a separate part is an invitation to the diorama crowd. Add a scratchbuilt engine and a trolley for the tailcone, and you'll have an aircraft undergoing maintenance. 

The tail section just slides onto the rest of the fuselage and as with the wings only some thin superglue is needed to keep it in place. Again no filler is needed. As undercarriage doors are only open during the retraction sequence or maintenance they have been moulded shut. The brake disks have been moulded as one piece with the gear leg, making for a strong joint between the (weighted) wheels and the leg. 

The large vacuform canopy has the correct "bubble" shape. The rear partof it is a bit difficult to cut out because of the hinges. It also needs polishing. Putting in the extra effort here will be worth it to show off all the fine detail in the cockpit.

Before closing the canopy first add a scratch built glass plate that separates the front and rear cockpit, and the glass part of the HUDs. The only part that is not useable in my kit are the odd rods which are a short shot. These are easy to reproduce from stretched sprue though. All the other parts like the canopy latch, pitots and blade antennas etc. are perfectly usable.

Painting & Finishing:
As mentioned before colours are given in Czech language and FS numbers. A picture says more than a thousand words though and having some pictures as reference will help greatly in painting all the cockpit detail. A complete colour scheme is given for an unidentified Czech machine. Although this colour scheme resembles the pictures I have closely, it doesn't match 0004, 0005 nor 0006 exactly. So it might be the scheme worn by one of the two machines that are now in the Slovak air force. 

The paintjob on Czech machines is rather glossy and always in immaculate condition, so weathering on an L-39 will look distinctly out of place to the people familiar with this aircraft. There are no decals with this kit. However markings for an Egyptian L-59E can be found on Hi-Decal Line sheet #72-019. Most of the markings for a CzAF machine can be taken from this sheet too except for the registration number. These can be gathered from the old Lodela L-39 sheet.

Conclusion:
This has to be the Tamigawa of the resin kit manufacturers. It is the most detailed resin kit in 1/72 scale I've seen so far. So if you ever see this kit, don't be fooled by the simplistic box, because it contains a real gem!

Reference:
Several photographs from my collection
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/8414/Albeng.html

 

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