Mark I 1/144 Aero L-39ZA/L-139
By Matt Bittner
Introduction
The Aero L-39 series of aircraft that was designed in the 1960s by Czechoslovakia to replace the L-29 fleet. It is considered the most widely-used trainer in the world and still flies to this day. In fact, in July of 2014 Aero announce its latest version, the L-39NG.
The Kit
The Mark I 1/144 Aero L-39ZA/L-139 consists of 38 parts across three sprue – some not used on this version – and one clear canopy. (It appears that some of the spare parts means a single-seat L-39 is on its way.) There are decals for four schemes:
- Aero L-39ZA Albatros, Lack 2341/Yellow01, 1st Fighter Regiment, Czech Air Force, Ceske Budejovice Air Base, 1994 (light grey on the undersides, and brown and khaki on top)
- Aero L-139 Albatros 2000, Grey 5501, Aero Vodochody factory demonstrator, Aero Vodochody Air Base, 1994-1999 (light grey on the undersides with a two-tone middle grey/dark grey scheme on the uppers)
- Aero L-39ZA, Blue 16, Lietuvos Karines oro pajegos (Lithuanian Air Force), Slaulial Air Base, 2012 (overall "grey")
- Aero L-39ZA, Black 362, 303rd FTS, Migerian Air Force, Kano Air Base, 2012 (light blue on the undersides, and cream and olive drab on top)
Decals appear to be in register and are nicely printed.
The first step of instructions have you basically complete an airframe. First you'll need to paint the cockpit "tub" (actually just the floor, although the instructions show a "tub") then add the seat backs. This is then glued to one fuselage half and adding weight (shown in the instructions but no actual numbers given) and the exhaust you can assemble the fuselage halves. Add the intakes – in two parts – followed by the single-piece wing and left and right stabs and you have an assembled airframe. The instructions do show adding the canopy now as well but that all depends on if you want to cut it apart to show it open or not (unfortunately, out of the box, it's a single-piece canopy).
The next instruction step has you add everything to the undersides. Most I would leave off, but seeing as how all the schemes have single-color finishes you might want to add the weapon pylons prior to painting, depending on if you want to add any external stores at all. One step the instructions show is drilling holes for the main landing gear. I'm not sure why, though, as a "divot" already exists for the main gear. Plus if you're not careful you could drill all the way through the wing. I would have to dry-fit one of the gear to find out if it's enough or if extra is needed.
Conclusion
This is an excellent model of the Aero L-39ZA/L-139 and will build into an excellent representation of the Albatros. While out-of-the-box you'll be presented with an excellent model, I'm looking forward to seeing what the likes of Brengun and RetrokiT come out for it.
My thanks to Kits-Shop for sending the Albatros to review.