Aero Vodochody SyAAF L-39 ZA 1/72 Eduard

[Borisz]

Hi all.
This time I bring You an uniqe topic. This is an armed trainer, manufactured in Checkslovakia and flown by the SyAAF (syrian airforce, loyalists) on several antiterrorist missions. Looking for setisfying pictures took weeks, but I say it was worthy. In the meanwhile I also bought a pair of Pavla's bang seats.
The pictures I found were taken in August of 2012, over the city of Aleppo. I choose the nr. 2136

The kit:
The kit itself was a litle bit of disapointment.
Reading the brand name Eduard whispers me I have a super-hitech something. Well, not. In general the detais are ok. Actualy I think to not giving wheel wells is a marker of miserliness. But the real problems came at fitting, and on the surface of the moulds -> burrs, penetration (is it the good word for?) and "cellulite". Well, okay, they give us express mask. And at least it is size and shape correct. By the way, still much better, than the KoPro's kit.

The construction:
I made in the orthodox way, cockpit first, glue together the fusalage halves and so on. I used Humbroll and Revell enamel paints, useing syirian made photos as references. Watcing the photoes I realised thet the camo colours seems to the Hungarian camo's used on MiG-21 -23, L-39 and Mi-8 -17, so I had a basic to start from. UB 16 rocket blocks from KoPro Mi-4, pitut tube are injection needles, static dischargers, aerials, brake pipes are from wires. The decals were setting well but I used Gunze Mr. Decal Softer just to make sure... Coated with Gunze acrillic.

This is the containment of the box.

This pic actually made not by me, the first one found is attached. Sry guyz, I'm lazy.

The very beginnings: (Yes, the following pictures made by me and shows the modell made by myself. )

 

 

Example for celluliot:

 

 

and for sinkmaks:

 

 

Minor paintings:

 

 

 

And surprise! Pavla seats didnt fit! Ok, it was solved quickly by a saw...

 

 

 

The following problem, a nice step:

 

And need for filler:

 

 

Miscs. are painted:



Ready for paint:

 

Belly:

 

Preshadeing:

 

 

 

Almost done:

 

 

 

 

Applying the decals. Note: the black stipes are sprayed and the arabic numbers are handpainted.

 

Finished:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And special thanks for an other Hungarian scale modeller, Yso, for drawing the painting legend in CAD after the photos.

Edited November 12, 2019 by Borisz

[caszerino]

Very, very nice build and kit review! I have been interested in building this kit since I first learned about the L-39 being used by the SyAAF in the war. Now I know about the Eduard's pitfalls. Thank you for the great post!

[su27rules]

Very nice!!

[Val]

Really nice model! Great work