First of all, I haven't looked at the www all day, so apologies in advance for not recognizing the builds that have gone before. I'll do that soonest.
Here is my Avia S-199 model, in 1/72 scale by AML.
A little background- the S-199 was the first combat fighter flown by Israel, from May to October 1948. It genesis is the Bf-109 but with a Junkers Jumo 211 engine and propeller from the Heinkel He 111 bomber, as the the DB 605s were no longer available. These were smuggled in from Czecho where they were bought under what otherwise was an arms embargo against the new state. There was heroic and moderate success, mostly because the Arab states at that time had been unopposed in the air. Outclassed by Egyptian Spitfires, they were replaced as quickly as possible with Spitfires, P-51s and other superior a/c as possible.
I'd like to think that this a/c, D108 was one flown by Lou Lenart, formerly of VMF-214 "Black Sheep", but I don't know. The first two kills for the IAF was scored in D107 against REAF C-47 converted bombers, Modi Alon, on June 3, 1948.
This is a very nice kit, although a chore to put together. All the control surfaces are butt jointed and required pinning, the wings and the fuse were obviously from different kits and needed a lot of fitting. There is a very nice resin set in the kit with cannons and exhausts, as well as a sweet cockpit. The decals had a tendency to self adhere, but we worked out a deal.
Painting is anyones guess. The SOP for this model is to use RLM 02 on the exterior, and RLM 66 on the cockpit, but Israeli sources tied to their IAF museum now identify a more greenish exterior, and RLM 02 for all interiors, so I went with that. RAF Buff and Hemp were reccomended, but I thought Buff was too brown and could not find Hemp. I tried IJN Aircraft Grey which at first seemed a good match, but on the model was too blue. So I mixed IJN Grey and RAF Buff 75/25 and I'm really pleased with the results.
This is the most fun I've had modeling in I can't remember since when, thanks to all of you and to Dave for setting this up. It really took my mind off a bunch of stuff and I had a lot of fun.
Bill