1:72 Letov Š-20

The real subject

The Letov S-20 is a single-seat fighter of Czechoslovak design from the middle of the 1920s. It came about in the Letov works in Prague, and the letter S in the designation refers to its designer Alois Smolik, after whom a whole series of types was named. It is a machine from the period when a metal structure was only just making its way alongside wood and fabric, and models from these years tend to be a welcome change in a display cabinet beside wartime machines.

What the kit contains

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted, with the parts in plastic on sprues. Test-fit every assembly dry before gluing: with models from smaller runs it pays to spend time on the mating surfaces and the seams, because that decides how precisely the fuselage and the flying surfaces sit. The contents of the package and the recommended build sequence are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts a little way from the sprue, sand the stub down and fill and sand the seams after gluing. Paint by assemblies while they are still accessible; the interior and the inside of the cockpit can no longer be corrected once the fuselage is closed up. Wash and degrease the model before spraying. Leave the smallest parts until last and glue them on only once the base finish is done, otherwise they snap off easily during further handling.

Who it is for

The kit suits collectors of Czechoslovak aircraft and builders with several models behind them. The package contains the kit only, unless stated otherwise; paints, glue and filler are not included.