1:72 Letov Š-139 Hadimrška

Letov S-139 Hadimrska (1:72, Kovozavody Prostejov)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Czechoslovak light sporting aircraft Letov S-139, nicknamed Hadimrska, in 1:72 scale from Kovozavody Prostejov (KP). Like the related S-39 it is a parasol high-wing monoplane (a single wing above the fuselage on struts) rather than a biplane. KP kits tend to be short-run tooling; check the exact contents of the box against the manufacturer's part number of the item.

The real subject

The S-139 was a development version of the S-39 type with the same layout of a two-seat parasol high-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear. The main difference is the powerplant: the S-139 was powered by a Pobjoy R radial engine complemented by a ring cowling (a Townend ring). The aircraft served for sporting and training flying in aero club operation. It is precisely the change of engine that distinguishes the S-139 from the original S-39 (with a Walter Polaris engine) and from the later S-239.

Building and painting tips

With short-run kits, expect fine flash to need cleaning up and locating pins possibly to be absent, so dry-fit the parts before gluing. Glue with liquid cement for plastic and pay attention to the alignment of the wing struts and the seating of the radial engine with its ring. It pays to assemble and paint the engine before closing the cowling. A primer, an airbrush and sealing the decals with a clear coat are recommended.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of Czechoslovak interwar aviation in 1:72 scale
• Anyone interested in aero club sporting and training aircraft of the 1930s
• Moderately advanced modelers used to short-run kits
• Fans of the Letov S-39, S-139 and S-239 series who want the version with the radial engine

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.