Having already flirted with the subject of Czechoslovakian-built Messerschmitt 109s in 1/48 scale, Eduard has now released a new 1/72 tooling of Avia’s lookalike S-199 ‘Mezek’. CHRIS CLIFFORD lifts the lid…
During World War Two, Germany organised remote manufacturing and assembly of particular aircraft. This included the Messerschmitt Bf 109 being produced in what the Germans called Bohemia and Moravia – which became Czechoslovakia after the nations’ reunification in 1945.
At that time, the new Czechoslovakian Air Force sought fighter aircraft, and a remedy offered by indigenous company Avia relied on restarting production of the Bf 109G. It did just that, marrying ‘G’ airframes with DB605A or D engines, under the designation S-99. However, a fire at the production facility meant many of these engines were destroyed. Just about the only alternative was the Jumo 211… a bomber powerplant with too much torque and weight. Yet its employment in the recipient airframe – with the new designation S-199 – went ahead.
The troublesome handling and performance of the Jumo 211 led pilots of the S-199 to christen it, somewhat unkindly, with the nickname ‘Mezek’ (Mule), due to the machine’s ornery nature. They persevered with it though, and …
