MEZEK
Avia S-199 in Czechoslovak
and Israeli Service

Eduard Limited Edition Dual Combo
1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Avia S-199 is a propeller-driven Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-based fighter aircraft built after World War II utilizing the Bf 109G airframe and a Junkers Jumo 211F engine in place of the original and unavailable Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine.

It is notable as the first fighter obtained by the Israeli Air Force, and used during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Constructed in Czechoslovakia, with parts and plans left over from Luftwaffe aircraft production, the aircraft had numerous problems and was generally unpopular with its pilots.

Czechoslovak pilots nicknamed it Mezek ("Mule"), while in Israel it was officially known as the Sakeen ("knife" in Hebrew). In practice, the aircraft was more often called Messerschmitt or Messer (which also means "knife", in German and Yiddish).*

The Mezek in 1/72 scale

This is not the first time that we have seen a 1/72 scale S-199.

The Avia S-199 debuted in 1/72 scale with the KP kit in 1977, and the same company seems to have released a newly tooked kit in 2015.

Eduard newest 1/72 scale kit is their Avia S-199 in Czechoslovak and Israeli Service Limited Edition Dual Combo.

The kit includes parts for two complete models.

In total, the Dual Combo package comprises 188 parts in grey plastic, 20 parts in clear plastic, 2 x colour photo-etched frets, a die-cut, self-adhesive masking sheet and decals for 12 marking options

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Thumbnail panels:

Two different fuselage sprues are provided. One of these is designed for the standard Erla hood, while the other caters for the Czechoslovakian clear vision, sliding blown hood.

Surface detail is just gorgeous. The mid-dark grey plastic colour really shows off the crisp recessed panel lines and rows of rivets. Stitching and fabric tape are depicted on fabric control surfaces.

Partial raised cockpit sidewall detail is moulded onto the inside of each fuselage half. This will be supplemented with additional plastic parts and colour photo-etch.

The photo-etched fret is pre-coloured and offers a layered instrument panel, harness straps, rudder pedals and other cockpit details.

Alternative plastic parts are provided in case you don't like working with photo-etch. An instrument panel decal overlay is also offered as an option to painting the plastic panel.

External details are included too - a Morane mast, a DF loop and mesh radiator faces.

Two photo-etched frets are supplied - one for each model.

The fuselage is full length but is designed with inserts for the upper and lower nose. These permit different versions to be built. Two styles of cannon bulge are included, as are two lower nose inserts - one with a conventional oil cooler housing and one with a narrow raised fairing.

Wings are conventional and will look familiar to anyone who has built Eduard's 1/48 scale Bf 109 G kits. The lower half is full span, while the uppers are split into port and starboard. The long, late version wheel bulge is moulded correctly into the upper wing with structural detail moulded into the wheel well ceilings. Wheel well sidewalls are a simple single piece for each side.

Pay attention to the instructions here as you may need to drill out holes for the version that you are building.

The fuselage antenna mast is moulded onto the top of the fuselage spine and the pitot tube to the wing leading edge. These are inevitably delicate and Eduard has provided insurance in the form of a separate pitot tube and antenna mast on Sprue C. I'll be cutting off the moulded-on parts and using these separate parts for my build. Thanks Eduard!

Options include under wing cannon gondolas, two styles of centreline drop tank, alternative covers behind the pilot's head - one with the storage hatch and one with the battery box cover, long or short tail wheel struts, two styles of rudder, smooth or treaded tyres and small lower wing bulges.

Unlike Eduard's 1/48 scale Bf 109 kits, the S-199 undercarriage legs are moulded with deep locating pegs that should guarantee a robust join plus accurate splay and rake. I'd like to see this nice design feature upscaled for future Eduard Bf 109 releases.

Clear parts include the blown and Erla canopies, isolated Morane mast base and more.

Alternative parts are offered for open and closed blown canopies.

The parts are thin and clear.

Markings

Markings are supplied for a generous 12 Czechoslovakian and Israeli subjects.

A big selection of schemes and markings are offered.

The unique and national markings are supplied on two decal sheets.

Two smaller sheets provide the stencil markings.

I do hope that we will see the two logical extensions from Eduard following this release - a 1/48 scale Avia S-199 and a 1/72 scale family of Bf 109 F/G/Ks.

Eduard has really done their homework with this home-grown post-war development of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. With gorgeous surface textures, an impressive level of detail with no compromise considering its small scale and many useful options, this little gem will be hard to keep in the box.

USD$54.45 looks like great value for two highly detailed multimedia kits too.

*Background text adapted from Wikipedia

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 31 May, 2022
Last updated 1 June, 2022

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