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Aero L-29 Delfin in 1/72 scale
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EGYPT
The first kit was to finished in the Egypt training college scheme as per kit and described above.
The forward hatch was to be set open to show the hydraulics compartment.
The Egyptian camouflage scheme is well shown in the instructions. Some sources suggest for the camouflage scheme these colours:
red about FS31136, ... yes, that's right... RED!
sand about FS33722,
green about FS34151,
dark brown/chocolade about FS30045.
Acrylic colour paints airbrushed were:
- Lower "Red": Gunze Sangyo 327,
- Sand: Revell Aqua 16 "sand",
- Green: Revell Aqua 364 "laub grun",
- Dark brown/ chocolate: Revell Aqua 84 "leder braun".
The model lower surfaces are quite dark. Before adding the upper colours, mask the lower areas. The upper colours were also masked roughly between each colour. Gear bay interiors were painted light grey in this case.
The decals went on to the model but only after a gloss varnish coat was airbrushed to avoid "silvering". Varnish airbrushed was Johnson Future/ Pledge "Floor care" with the usual technique ...
All was left aside for 24 hours to dry.
The model details were installed next.
I proceeded with installing the undercarriage / landing gears. The nose gear is a bit confusling and very vulnerable. I made the rod #A7 2 mm shorter and did not use the small stub to locate the nose leg. I used superglue here.
The two fuel tanks were also set in place. For this scheme they are "red".
A matt coat was airbrushed at this stage to get a nice good even sheen on the model with the usual technique...
The cockpit was completed. First install the blast shield #C5 before setting the forward seat rails #C19 in place.
The rear seat needs removal of the bars on top, this is indicated in the kit instructions. I also needed to trim a bit the forward seat sides in order to fit into the tub.
The canopy frames were hand painted. The gun sight was set in place after I removed 1 mm from the top and than the wind screen was fitted without any problem.
I opted to set the canopies open and these were installed as well as pitot tubes as well as the smaller crew entry steps below the cockpit. The forward canopy rod (etched metal part #PE9 cut 2 mm shorter) and set in place. I also added a tiny wire at the rear from scrap.
On this model made, the nose panel was kept open and the kit detail parts installed. I used a thin metal wire as rod to keep the hatch open as seen on a real L-29.
The wing tip anti-collision lights as per kit were set in place in the recesses (after making them a bit smaller). They got a tiny drop of Tamiya clear red and blue acryllic paint.
That completed the model.
EGYPT
The Egyptian Air Force (" Al Quwwat al Jawwiya Il Misriya ") became an independent air force in 1937 with a few British manufactured aircraft. After the end of the Second World War, various conflicts emerged in this region with a next war in 1948 against the establishment of Israel as the British got out of the region. Aircraft were now obtained in the 1950s from Czechoslawakia and the Warsaw Pact like the Mig-15, Il-28 and various other aircraft. The nationalisation of the Suez canal led to the Suez crisis in 1956. Later on Egypt set up the United Arab Republic. Soviet aircraft and armaments were acquired including MiG-21 and SU-7 aircraft as well as L-29 Delfin trainers. Finally after many years a sort of peace treatment was set in place in 1979 with Israel and relations with the West became much better. Though over the last years, internal political unrest has resulted in large internal changes, Egypt is still supported by the West and the USA aimed at retaining stability in the region. France also supplied aircraft like Mirages and also F-4 Phantoms were delivered followed by F-16 aircraft.
Egypt AF training college at Bilbeis L-29 Delfin
Bilbeis
Google Earth view (as of 2020) of the large base Bilbeis, north of Cairo. A remaining L-29 seems to be conserved on display at the base.
IRAQ
The next AMK L-29 model would be finished as a Iraqi L-29 trainer of no.2 squadron based at Trikit. It has a bare metal scheme.
Decals I had from PROPAGTEAM sheet #72043.
Assembly of the AMK model was done as described above but with forward hatch set closed.
After a base grey colour was airbrushed to check for any errors.
Next the red airframe details were hand painted with a brush before proceeding further.
I opted a metal scheme. Note that most L-29 aircraft show different metal hues. I used as guide a drawing from HPH I found in their large 1/32 scale L-29 resin kit.
These different hues of metal colours were applied with the airbrush using several acrylic silver and aluminium paints of Revell Aqua. I opted not to use very bright metalizer colours. Often actual L-29 are seen to rather "used" and this is only small scale model.
Between coats some slight masking was done with VERY LOW TACK tape.
The tips of wing, nose and stabilizer that were previosuly painted red were masked off.
Colours were now on the model.
All lower gear bays I kept aluminium / metal. The wing fuel tanks were painted with aluminium and black upper areas.
The fine PROPAGTEAM decals were applied. When dried, the model got a gloss varnish protecting coat airbrushing Johnson Future.
Completing the model was as per kit and as described for the Egypt L-29 model.
IRAQ
The Iraqi Air Force was established in 1931 and used British military equipment. Iraq was a monarchy. Aircraft bases were at Habbaniya and Shaibah and training aircraft were Chipmunks and later on the Harvard. In the 1950s Vampires were acquired. Later on also Soviet aircraft were ordered such as various Mikoyan MiGs as well as French fighter aircraft. From Czechoslovakia L-29 Delfin were ordered that was the standard trainer for training MiG crews. Some 78 L-29 Delfins were delivered between 1968 to 1974. Sadam Hussein came to power in 1979 and various large dramatic wars were fought in the region for the next decades. Still the situation is terrible up to today.
Iraqi L-29 trainer of no.2 squadron based at Trikit
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this page created
September 30, 2017