Here’s my latest build, from the Weekend Madness GB. It’s the AML kit in 1/72 of the Avia S-199, the first Israeli combat fighter.
A little background- the S-199 was the first combat fighter flown by Israel, from May to October 1948. It genesis is the Bf-109 but with a Junkers Jumo 211 engine and propeller from the Heinkel He 111 bomber, as the the DB 605s were no longer available. These were smuggled in from Czecho where they were bought under what otherwise was an arms embargo against the new state. There was heroic and moderate success, mostly because the Arab states at that time had been unopposed in the air. Outclassed by Egyptian Spitfires, they were replaced as quickly as possible with Spitfires, P-51s and other superior a/c as possible.
I’d like to think that this a/c, D108 was one flown by Lou Lenart, formerly of VMF-214 “Black Sheep”, but I don’t know. The first two kills for the IAF was scored in D107 against REAF C-47 converted bombers, Modi Alon, on June 3, 1948.
This is a very nice kit, although a chore to put together. All the control surfaces are butt jointed and required pinning, the wings and the fuse were obviously from different kits and needed a lot of fitting. There is a very nice resin set in the kit with cannons and exhausts, as well as a sweet cockpit. The decals had a tendency to self adhere, but we worked out a deal.
Painting is anyones guess. The SOP for this model is to use RLM 02 on the exterior, and RLM 66 on the cockpit, but Israeli sources tied to their IAF museum now identify a more greenish exterior, and RLM 02 for all interiors, so I went with that. RAF Buff and Hemp were reccomended, but I thought Buff was too brown and could not find Hemp. I tried IJN Aircraft Grey which at first seemed a good match, but on the model was too blue. So I mixed IJN Grey and RAF Buff 75/25 and I’m really pleased with the results.
Excellent build Bill ; I have the 1/72 Kopro Avia S-199 in my stash , the kit boxing say’s it’s the “Czechoslovak version” , As yet I haven’t done much research on the IDF/AF Avia S-199 other than looking through my Camouflage and Markings for the Israeli Air Force book . On one of the full color profile images of the S-199 , the book say’s it’s painted overall RLM 68 greyish/green . I’ll have to try and find a color match to Gunze Sangyo and Tamiya acrylics ? . I also have two AML Mirage kits in the pile as well . Looking in the AML box I’ve noticed both fuselage halves are badly bowed , I certainly admire your skills in getting your AML S-199 together , every time I look at my Mirage kits I just grimmace and wonder if my skills are up to the task . The fact you built your AML kit in a weekend is amazing . I’ve copied your pic’s onto a CD for future reference .
Thanks John, Roy, Frank and Rick. I’ve got a couple of sources- June 2007 Model Aircraft Monthly did a really nice “Air Wars” feature that kind of panders to Testors, but it had a very comprehensive story and profile set of the Six Day War, plus a feature on a build of the 1948 Avia that I followed. That issue is a “bible” for me, I’m planning to build a 6DW Magister soon.
And Matt Swan has a nice feature on the 1/48 hobbycraft Avia on his site.
There’s a tidbit about how the Israelis bought the aircraft and tried to ship them by water, but got embargoed, so they flew them in pieces in C-46s registered in Panama. There’s a story! Plus they bought the Avias after being frustrated trying to buy surplus P-40s in Mexico!
Very nice job Bill. Im still in the Weekend Madness GB (Late starter) Im waiting for paint to dry LOL. The Avia is one of those models ive been meaning to add to my collection. Looking at yours, is the spinner slightly too large? From pics ive seen, there is definately a step down from the cowl to the spinner? Thats not knocking your work by any means. It looks fantastic, and to consider you did that in a weekend. [bow]
Maybe a tad large. The kit as i said is one of those where you get a (fill in here) sprue or two in one color plastic, plus a sprue with the particular parts, in another color and level of quality. In this case the basic, ie Me-109 sprue was not so good, and had parts actually clipped out of it. The Avia sprue had a new fuse, lower wing, prop paddles and spinner.
The props look right, the spinner a little big.
Whats funny to me, who’s building a 1/72 (ALWAYS 1/72) Mavis and a Shackleton and an AN-12 is how friggin tiny this thing is!
One other thing that was pointed out to me by my father-in-law, (more in a sec) is that the Carb intake snout is on the right side rather than the left as on the Gustav. maybe the Jumo is upright rather than inverted like the DB605? Messer experts?
F-in-law “owned” a Beaufighter and two P-61s during that unpleasantness. He flew in both as a gunner/ crew chief, and flew one of them home from a mission. He also entertained himself in Tunisia with a couple of other wrench spinners, three stripe seargents all, by building up a -109 from “spares” lying around. They had wings from an E, tail off an F, fuse from a G etc. Drew lots to see who got to do a “high speed taxi” and damn if it didn’t come off the ground under Don. Won $ 100 in the pool, but when he landed he got busted, later a very young pilot came and flew it away. He always maintains the Gov’mnt owes him one.
Great story Bondo. Sounds like your F in law was quite a lad back in the day. Id love to see those pics he has. That would really get the experts wondering. As for the Jumo, i think it was inverted like the Daimler.
