Turbolet L-410UVP

Eduard Heavy Retro Edition, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

“The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engine short-range transport aircraft designed and produced by the Czech aircraft manufacturer Let Kunovice (named Aircraft Industries since 2005). It was developed as the L-400 during the 1960s in response to an Aeroflot requirement for an Antonov An-2 replacement and performed its maiden flight on 16 April 1969”.

Since then it has been developed into a variety of versions of which the 410UVP appeared in 1983 - the UVP being a Russian term for STOL capabilities. Originally designed for Russian users it has found customers throughout the world wherever a rugged aircraft was required for short trips from unpaved airstrips, in cold conditions and able to take off and land in small spaces . Some 1200 have been produced in various variants. It seems to be about the same size as a Jetstream or Twin Otter, and can carry up to fifteen passengers.

A kit of this aircraft was released in 2024 by KP in five iterations and I suspect that this Eduard kit is a shared set of moulds but Scalemates (q.v.) was not helpful in sorting this out for me.

I am also unsure as to the meaning of the “Eduard Heavy Retro” nomenclature on the box and instructions.

Nonetheless, the kit arrives in the usual strong Eduard top-opening box decorated with a lovely illustration of a Czech aero training variant in overall blue with colourful fuselage striping, one of the decal choices inside.

A clear resealable sleeve contains three dark grey sprues , another has the transparencies, while ziplock bags contain some 3D-printed and cast resin items , a mask sheet and a PE fret of interior and exterior details.

Two A4 sheets contain a glorious set of decals for six colourful examples which will stretch your choice-making abilities. One can only hope for some ‘Overtrees’ kits to be made available to help modellers make the best use of the decals.

The parts are finely moulded with no visible flash. Surface detail is nicely done and the exterior surfaces as quite smooth as befits a passenger plane.

A clue as to its possible KP connection lies in the lack of locating pin/holes and the butt joining of tail-planes.

The interior is very well appointed with the cockpit and cabin fully furnished even down to roof lockers in the cabin. Photo-etch, decals and plastic are used to make up a very nice cockpit area, although some chopping is required for this variant as indicated in the instructions.

Speaking of which, the 16-page comprehensive A4 booklet gives clear, detailed explanations of each step and includes painting guides for each stage. Any variations between the decal  choices is clearly indicated where necessary.

A parts map at the beginning indicates that some 34 parts are not needed, mostly for a set of propellers and boarding ladder from a different variant.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

A full page is devoted to mask placement and the careful use of a colour code really helps here. The clear parts are just that, but the cabin windows suffer from excessive thickness and that centre dimple that seems to bedevil so many commercial aircraft windows - best replaced with clear resin if you have that skill. 

Markings

The decals are a highlight, with colour density, register and narrow carrier film making for some splendid choices.

There are six to select from, each being illustrated in colour four-view drawings:

1. Czech aero training variant in 2019, in overall blue with colourful fuselage striping, yellow nose, wing and tail surface tips and black engine details,

2. 53+10 from 5 Luftwaffe Division, in 1996 with two blue fuselage stripes over a white finish with pale grey under fuselage areas,

3. 0731 from Special Operations Squadron in Czechoslovakia in 1990 in grey-green/dark green over pale grey camouflage but with large areas of yellow on nose, wings and tail surfaces.

4. OK-PDI of Slav-Air in Czechoslovakia in 1990 in a very attractive white, deep burgundy and pale grey scheme,

5. SP-KPS of Pyrlandia-Boogie at Ostrrov-Wielkopolski in Poland in 2006 in overall yellow-orange with blue fuselage stripes and black nacelle areas, and

6. 0731 again in 2010 with 24 Air Transport Base at Praha-Kbely in white over grey with burgundy and blue fuselage stripes.

All striping comes on the extensive decal sheets and will help produce some very attractive models.

If this type of aircraft in these colourful schemes is your cup of tea, then this is really a lovely package and comes highly recommended, although some care will be needed in aligning parts given the lack of locating pins..

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2025 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 16 January, 2025
Last updated 16 January, 2025

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page