In
my gallery article, I would like to introduce a well-known fighter aircraft,
the Messerschmitt Bf-109G-
10 in
a very special livery of Czechoslovak Air Force (CzAF).
After the WWII, there were lots of Messerschmitts
Bf-109 of versions G-10 and G-14 all over the Czechoslovak republic. This caused
that the headquarters of CzAF have decided to fix and repair 21 complete
aircrafts. Those fighters were assigned to the Army Air Force and the Air Force
of National Security Corps (Letectvo SNB – Letectvo Sboru národní
bezpecnosti). The Air Force of National Security Corps was created from
Gendarmerie Air Patrols (CLH – Cetnické letecké hlídky). The Gendarmerie
Air Patrols operated till the beginning of WWI, and their task were to look
after correct air-service, to protect republic borderlines and to chase
dangerous criminals. In the CzAF, Bf-109G-10/G-14 were designated as Avia C-10
(training units) or Avia S-99 (fighter units).
I
have chosen the Revell’s kit for building several G-10s (due to it’s low
price). The interior is rather crude in this kit, so I bought photoetched detail
parts from Eduard Zoom to get the kit some detail. This PE set contains
instrument panel, control elements, seatbelts, radiator mesh and aerials. I
used only the Eduard Zoom set, everything else is as it comes from the box.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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And
now comes the most important thing – WHY I decided to build those three
Messerschmitts! Our domestic producer, TallyHO! Decals (www.tallyho.cz),
made a beautiful decal sheet for Avia C-10/S-99, which depicts six beautiful
airplanes in a very, very attractive and national markings! The sheet is made in
all three main scales, from 1/72 to 1/32. I’m pleased that I can refer that
the quality of decals is very high, they very thin and beautiful printed, so
there’s no problem with “silvering” or so. It was a pleasure to work with
such great decals.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The
first machine I have chosen is Avia C-10 “black V-
9”
, which was the first post-war completed machine. It served in the Aircraft and
technology research institute (VTLÚ) for flight tests. The first flight on it
took Petr Siroký, well-known test and acrobat pilot of Avia factory. The second
model I have built is Avia C-10 “black EV-
11”
. This one was made for the Air Force of National Security Corps, but for whole
its career it was lend to Army Air Force for flying. This machine wears a
camouflage combination of the Army Air Force markings (round national signs) and
of the Air Force of National Security Corps colours (red nose and leading
edges). The last of my three Messerschmitts is Avia C-10 “OK-BYK” in a
complete camouflage and marking livery of the Air Force of National Security
Corps. I must say that I like this style of camouflage (better say
anti-camouflage) supplied with bold code letters on the fuselage and wings,
together with very attractive red nose and spherical triangle signs on the tail.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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I
hope that my models of colourful post-war Czechoslovak Messerschmitts made you
interested in them, and I would be very happy if you build one of your own!
My
thanks go to Steve Bamford for posting this gallery and to my friend Pavel Senk
for taking those photos and for translation of this text.
Petr
MK APOLO Koprivnice,
Czech Republic
http://apolo.koprivnice.org
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