1:72 Avia S-199 bomb rack 4xETC 50 & 2xSC70 bombs

Avia S-199 — ETC 50 racks and SC 70 bombs (1:72)

This resin set from the Czech brand AML holds four ETC 50 bomb racks and two SC 70 bombs, that is the typical underwing armament of the Avia S-199 aircraft in 1:72 scale. Finely cast racks and bombs add to a kit an item that is usually simplified in the box or missing altogether, and they give the model a credible combat configuration. It is an accessory for a kit, not a stand-alone model.

The real subject

The Avia S-199 was a Czechoslovak postwar fighter: the airframe was based on the German Messerschmitt Bf 109G, but because the original engines were unavailable it received the Junkers Jumo 211F bomber engine with a bulky propeller. It was a demanding combination to fly, and the aircraft earned from its pilots the Czech nickname Mezek, meaning mule. Besides the Czechoslovak Air Force, the S-199 made its name as the first fighter of the Israeli Air Force in 1948. Under the wings it could carry ETC 50 bomb racks with light bombs.

Building and painting tips

Separate the small racks from the casting blocks carefully with a sharp blade and, to be safe, pin them to the wing with a short length of thin wire, as the cyanoacrylate joint will then survive handling. Paint the bombs flat, bring the seams out with a dark wash and align the fins with the axis of the bomb. Glue the racks only once the underside of the wing has been painted.

Who the accessory is for

• For builders of Czechoslovak postwar equipment and of the S-199 aircraft.
• For modelers of the Israeli Air Force of 1948.
• For anyone who wants to arm a model with faithful underwing stores.

The accessory is supplied as unpainted resin castings and requires a base kit of the aircraft. Glue, paints and other accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.