Aero L-29A 1/72 KP

The L-29A is an aerobatic version of the well-known two-seat training aircraft Aero L-29 Delfín (Dolphin). Originally designated as the L-429, it was developed in 1967 at Aero Vodochody, with only two units produced. The aircraft was intended for announced aerobatic competitions of jet aircrafts.

The first aircraft to be modified in this way had the serial number 390517, and it was primarily used for demonstration flights. Modifications to convert it into an aerobatic special included removing equipment from the rear pilot’s seat, which was then covered with sheet metal. The fuel system, tanks, and entire propulsion system were adapted for inverted flight, allowing it to fly “upside down” for up to 40 seconds and perform more advanced aerobatics, comparable to manoeuvres of piston-powered aircraft.

The aircraft’s appearance and markings were changed three times:

The first version had wings, and the top of the fuselage painted in national colours, bearing military markings and insignia. Below the cockpit, there was a small dolphin drawing made by illustrator Pavel Kantorek.

The second version dates back to testing at VZLU, when the military markings were removed and replaced with the civilian designation OK-SZA, while the colour scheme remained the same.

The third version was presented at the Paris Air Show in 1969. The lower part of the fuselage was also painted white, and an exhibition number 804 was added, along with a red stripe on the fuselage.

For my model, I chose the second version from VZLU.

The model kit from Kovozavody Prostejov is a reboxing of the Delfín molds from AMK,
with added 3D-printed parts for a new rudder and airbrakes, which was a nice touch. However,
it’s disappointing that the kit lacks AMK’s photo-etched parts, which were included in the instructions.
I considered using Eduard’s photo-etched parts, but I couldn’t find them, so I resorted to doing the details by hand.
The molds are of high-quality, and the parts fit together well. However, it’s necessary to add a weight
(in my case lead) to the front, which isn’t well-documented in the instructions. The single-seat Delfín
has an advantage here, as it provides the entire rear cockpit area for lead weights. The wings are designed to be built with extended flaps, but since the kit lacks the mentioned photo-etched parts
and I didn’t want to construct the internal structure by hand, I chose to keep them closed.

The decals are good and reasonably thin, although I decided to create the long black-and-white-striped ones directly on the model by hand rather than applying them, as I wasn’t sure they could be applied safely. I based the paint scheme on available photos since the one in the kit has some inaccuracies,
on both sides of the box art.

So why did I decide to build it? As a kid, I saw this camouflage scheme in the magazine ABC, but back then, I didn’t dare to challenge it. Yet the cheerful dolphin remained in my memory,
so when I saw it on the box at the store, I couldn’t resist the nostalgia, even though this aircraft is outside of my usual focus on the First Republic.

I used Agama paints for the silver on the fuselage. Gunze C paints and Tamiya lacquers for the rest.
All painted by brush.