This is my Hobbycraft Avia S-199.

Construction

This kit was a lot of fun and I had no major problems with the fit or construction of the parts.  My ‘upgrades’ to the model consisted of the following:

• Drilling out the 20mm cannon barrels and MG 131 machine gun barrels using my mini-drill

• Adding brake lines and retaining straps for the main landing gear using beading wire and lead foil respectively.

• Adding some ‘ribbing’ detail to the wheel wells using plastic strips.

• Rear fuselage antenna made from brass wire with the aerial wire made from fishing line (4 lb. test). 

• Seat harness made from lead foil with buckles made from beading wire cut and bent to size.

• Canopy retaining wire made from fishing line (4 lb. test).

• Screening for the starboard intake ‘scoop’ using wire mesh cut & trimmed to size.

• Hollowing out the exhaust stubs.

Click on images below to see larger images

Painting & Weathering

Model Master and Testor enamels were used for the painting.  After priming the model, I airbrushed on a coat of Model Master Green FS34258.  This was followed by a coat of Model Master RLM 66 sprayed in the panel lines and recessed areas.  After this was dry, another coat of MM 34258 was sprayed on so that that darkened areas showed through to create a more weathered look.  This was followed by a light coat on the topside consisting of the MM 34258 mixed with flat white to create more of a faded look.

The cockpit parts were first airbrushed flat black followed by a coat of RLM 66 sprayed at a consistent angle so that the black provided some weathering effect to the recessed areas.  This eliminated the need to apply a wash and I was satisfied with the results. 

An acrylic wash using Polly Scale Night Black was applied to the landing gear and insides of the strut covers.  I drybrushed on some Humbrol Panzer Gray to achieve some light exhaust staining and added some light paint chipping using a silver artist pencil.   The decals were included from the kit and applied using Champ Setting Solution.  

The model represents an Israeli Avia S-199 of the 101st Squadron during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948.