Letov S-16-1 Prague-Tokyo-Prague, 1927
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Kit Review
Brengun celebrate the long-distance round trip from Prague to Tokyo and back in 1927 by Jaroslav Skala and his mechanic Matéj Taufer with this release of their S-16-1. This is a typical example of the type of high quality limited-run kit now coming out of the Czech Republic and it is a far cry from those kits we all recall back in the 1990s. The box contains two sprues of a tan-coloured plastic, the surface detail portrayed with fine engraved detail or raised ribs and scallops to depict the fabric covered surfaces. The kit is completed with a small etched fret, acetate film and a resin propeller. You can actually make two versions, the first depicting the prototype S-16-1 used for the flight, or as the first production S-16, which was used for PR after the flight and fitted with the rudder from Skala’s aircraft. The interior is furnished with bulkhead, seat, floor, control column and the rear seat unit and this combines plastic for the main parts and photo etched for finer details and the seat belts. The instrument panel combines plastic as the base, an acetate film for the dials and an etched top piece. The kit also depicts the windscreen by combining etched outer frames and the clear acetate film as the ‘glass’, which is never an easy option. The rest of the assembly is pretty typical for a biplane, the only things that are of note being the etched spoilers that have to go on to the wings once all the painting and decalling is complete and the fact that a portion of the roundel is applied to these, which thankfully is supplied as a separate decal. The first option uses that odd blunt resin propeller, while the second machine had a stand propeller, which is supplied as a plastic part on the sprue and this second version also has a gun ring in the rear position. The instructions do show the route of all the rigging, which is always useful.
As already said, the kit offers two decal options, the first being the S-16-1 prototype used by Skala in the 1927 flight, the other being a production S-16 fitted with the rudder from the S-16-I and used for press and other PR duties after the event. Both machines are practically identical in overall khaki upper surfaces and aluminium underneath. The decal sheet includes all the necessary markings for either option and you will note the errata sheet added to correct the markings on the tail.
Verdict
A very interesting aircraft, which deserves a place in any collection of record-breaking (or setting) machines, or just those of you with an interest in Czech aviation. It is recommended to all experienced modellers, or intermediates with experience in limited-run biplane kits.
Our thanks to Brengun (www.brengun.cz) for the review sample.
Brengun celebrate the long-distance round trip from Prague to Tokyo and back in 1927 by Jaroslav Skala and his mechanic Matéj Taufer with this release of their S-16-1. This is a typical example of the type of high quality limited-run kit now coming out of the Czech Republic and it is a far cry from those kits we all recall back in the 1990s. The box contains two sprues of a tan-coloured plastic, the surface detail portrayed with fine engraved detail or raised ribs and scallops to depict the fabric covered surfaces. The kit is completed with a small etched fret, acetate film and a resin propeller. You can actually make two versions, the first depicting the prototype S-16-1 used for the flight, or as the first production S-16, which was used for PR after the flight and fitted with the rudder from Skala’s aircraft. The interior is furnished with bulkhead, seat, floor, control column and the rear seat unit and this combines plastic for the main parts and photo etched for finer details and the seat belts. The instrument panel combines plastic as the base, an acetate film for the dials and an etched top piece. The kit also depicts the windscreen by combining etched outer frames and the clear acetate film as the ‘glass’, which is never an easy option. The rest of the assembly is pretty typical for a biplane, the only things that are of note being the etched spoilers that have to go on to the wings once all the painting and decalling is complete and the fact that a portion of the roundel is applied to these, which thankfully is supplied as a separate decal. The first option uses that odd blunt resin propeller, while the second machine had a stand propeller, which is supplied as a plastic part on the sprue and this second version also has a gun ring in the rear position. The instructions do show the route of all the rigging, which is always useful.
As already said, the kit offers two decal options, the first being the S-16-1 prototype used by Skala in the 1927 flight, the other being a production S-16 fitted with the rudder from the S-16-I and used for press and other PR duties after the event. Both machines are practically identical in overall khaki upper surfaces and aluminium underneath. The decal sheet includes all the necessary markings for either option and you will note the errata sheet added to correct the markings on the tail.
Verdict
A very interesting aircraft, which deserves a place in any collection of record-breaking (or setting) machines, or just those of you with an interest in Czech aviation. It is recommended to all experienced modellers, or intermediates with experience in limited-run biplane kits.
Our thanks to Brengun (www.brengun.cz) for the review sample.
