Eduard Avia S-99 / C-10 (11122) - 1:48 Eduard Limited Edition

[Julien]

Avia S-99 / C-10 (11122)

1:48 Eduard Limited Edition

 

 

There must have been billions of words written on the Bf.109 over the years, which was the mainstay of the Luftwaffe's fighter arm, despite having been supposedly superseded by the Fw.190 and others during its service life. It kept coming back to prominence due partly to it being a trusted design, the manufacturer's substantial sway with the RLM, and the type's ability to be adapted as technology advanced.

 

The G or Gustav as it was known was one of the later variants, and is widely regarded as one of the more successful, with improved armament that give some variants a distinctive pair of blisters in front of the windscreen, plus mounting points for the 210mm rocket tubes used to disrupt the bomber streams in long range attacks using timed detonation. The other minor changes were targeted at Defense of the Reich, removing the mounting points and hardware for long-range tanks etc.  The G-10 was fitted with the new DB605D-2 engine that was later seen on the K, and became the de facto standard Gustav once introduced, often using as-yet unfinished G-14s as the starting point, which has confused some researchers in the past.  It was fitted with the sleek Erla-Haube canopy and a deeper oil cooler under the nose that sets it apart from previous issues. Post war the Avia factory which had been making 109s for the Germans continued making them from parts they had designating the originals S-99. S-99 / C-10 is Czechoslovak post-war designation for Bf 109G-10 (WNF/Diana production) flown by Czechoslovak armed forces. Later production would be the S-199 using Junkers Jumo 211F engines due to lack of available DB engines.

 

The Kit

This boxing depicts airframes that were manufactured at Avia, it would seem that while Eduard released the G-10 MTT Regensburg as a Profipack and Overtrees the WNF has previously only been released as overtrees. In this boxing are the new sprues with photo etched parts and masks (not shown) There are 4 decal options as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The build of course begins in the cockpit, with PE and styrene parts aplenty.  PE seatbelts are included, and a choice of PE or styrene rudder pedals, depending on how dexterous you are feeling.  The instrument panel is laminated from layers of pre-painted PE.  The sidewalls too are decorated with more painted PE parts, after which you can close up the fuselage unless you're treating yourself to a resin engine or other goodies. Don't forget to trap the tail wheel between the halves, or you'll regret it later.  The backplate for the spinner and exhaust stubs are installed, and the top cowling with gun inserts is glued into place along with the intake for the engine's turbocharger, a PE hinge section on the top of the cowling, and a choice of PE flame-hiders for the exhausts, which vary between markings options.  The G-10 had an extended fin, which is separate from the fuselage on this boxing, breaking at a convenient panel line to ease the way.  The elevator fins are each two parts and fit using pins, with separate elevators and a choice of two rudder types. 

 

The wings are only slightly different from the norm, with the usual (but new) full-width lower, main gear sidewalls and split upper wings, plus a gaggle of separate parts for the leading-edge slats (gravity deployed when stopped), ailerons, and the two-layer flaps that butt up to the back of the radiator bays, which have PE skins front and back, as does the extended chin-scoop that identifies it as a G-10.  A scrap diagram shows the correct positioning of the flaps when they are deployed.  The main gear is the same narrow-track stuff from earlier models, with separate tyres and hubs, plus captive bay doors, socketing into the bay using nice strong parts, and with hub masks for easy painting of the wheels. Horn-balances are fitted to the ailerons, a small raised panel under the wing trailing edge is added from PE, and a circular panel on the flank of the fuselage needs to be filled for authenticity's sake.

 

As the build draws to a conclusion, the gunsight is added from a partially painted (by you) clear part, and if you add a little translucent green/blue to the edge to simulate the thickness of the glass, it will improve the look of the finished part.  The windscreen has a couple of small PE parts added to it before you can glue it to the front of the squared-off cockpit opening, and the uber-sleek Erla-Haube canopy has a windowed head armour part that will need masking from the enclosed sheet and painting before it is fitted.  If you have treated yourself to a set of Tface masks that allow painting of both interior and exterior surfaces of the canopy, the additional small parts added will gel nicely with this improvement.  A stubby aerial fits to the top rear of the canopy, and you have a choice of PE or styrene DF loop antenna for the spine a little way back.  The canopy can be posed open by using the thin PE restraint that's included on the fret, which allows you to set the correct angle when open.  The prop is a single part, which has the two-piece spinner fitted around it, after which you can either glue it in place, or leave it loose for travel and impromptu spinning if you like.  A trim actuator for the rudder and a tiny aerial under the fuselage are the last parts on the PE fret, which ends the construction.

 

Markings

With this boxing there are 4 decal options as used by the Czechoslovak armed forces

 

• OK-BYH, Czechoslovak Police Air Patrol (Red nose and leading edges) 1947 - 1950
• EV-11 Command Flight, 2nd Air Division, Fighter Training Center, Czechoslovak Air Force 1947
• OK-BYU, Czechoslovak Police Air Patrol (Red nose and leading edges) 1947
• EV-14 Command Flight, 2nd Air Division, Fighter Training Center, Czechoslovak Air Force 1947, a borrowed Air Patrol Aircraft with their markings over painted but still retaining the Red Nose & Leading edges.

 

 

 

All the decals are printed in the Czech Republic with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas.  

 

Conclusion

Another great 109G kit from Eduard that has plenty of detail out of the box, and can be upgraded even further in the detail department if you're minded to add the extra resin and PE sets that are patterned for the kit and available separately. Its good to see these Czech aircraft in a double boxing from Eduard.

 

Limited Edition Kit

 

Overtrees (82161X & 82161-LEPT)

If you have one of these new kits but wanted to do another decal option and lets face it these are nice options), you'll be pleased to know that you can get just the sprues from the Eduard site, and if you want to add some detail, you can also get a set of Photo-Etch to go with it.  They arrive in a white box with a sticker on the end, with all the styrene in the one bag, and the clear parts bagged inside that for their safety during transport and storage.  The Overtrees as they're called can only be bought directly from Eduard, so click on the button below to pick up yours.  You can also download the instruction booklet if you don't already have one from the main kit page.

Kit Overtrees

 

Photo-Etch Overtrees

 

Review sample courtesy of