Designed to replace the subsonic
advanced reactive training ground and
ground attack L-29 Delfin, the L 39 ZA
Albatros performed it’s first flight in 1968,
being introduced into operative service in
Czechoslovakia in 1971. More than 2500
aircraft were built, being exported to 35
different countries.
Romania was the only country in the
Warsaw Pact (with the exception of
Czechoslovakia, as the producing country)
that had the ZA model.
From the total of 32 aircraft purchased by
Romania, only one crashed (NR.118, SN
132018, on December 22nd 1981), 14
units were sold in the USA, where they
probably still fly, and now 3 pieces are
exhibited in Romania with the remaining 14
sold in various countries (including Ukraine
and Bulgaria).The first L-39 ZA Albatros aircraft arrived in
Romania early December 1981, joining the
newly established Group 20 Aviation
School of Fighter and Fighter-Bombersfrom Boboc. Just over a week after arrival
on December 18, 1981, the first flight of
the new jet was seen and advanced
reactive training was undertaken.
A total of 32 Albatros of the ZA model were
purchased, deliveries ending in March- The Albatros L-39 ZA operated with
the Romanian Military Aviation between
1982 and 2007. Number 145 (SN 533218)
entered service on April 6th 1985 and had
its last flight in December 2007 before
being sold-off. Today it’s probably still flying
in the USA or Ukraine...
Like all other models from Czech
manufacturer HpH, this also is a very
complex kit that is not for a beginner to the
hobby. The resin parts look very nice, it has
great detail, and the photoetch, seat belts
and paint masks that come with the kit are
very high quality. These kits are appreciated
by experienced modellers who demand
detail and accuracy from the box.After studying the parts it seemed to me
that the rivet detail was not well enough
defined to support a subsequent wash. I
enhanced the rivets throughout, time
consuming but not difficult.
Another amendment was to cut-out the
openings for the boarding ladders and add
the photoetch ladder bays into the left side
of the fuselage.Canopy wiring was
created by ‘coiling’
fine copper wire
around a fine drill bit.Is pre-printed photoetch
‘cheating’? There’s no
denying it looks superb.Seat detail is impressive
although some fine
work is involved.Plenty of nose weights are
always good insurance.Resin kits are always a little more
demanding than the usual injection moulded
plastic. A little sanding and filling is to be
expected. HpH resin casting is excellent.