05/2025

INFO Eduard is a monthly scale model-historical magazine published in Czech and English by Eduard Model Accessories since 2010. The magazine is available for free on the Triobo platform and can be downloaded in PDF format. Eduard is a manufacturer of plastic models and accessories with over 30 years of tradition. Throughout its history in the plastic modeling industry, Eduard has become one of the world's leaders. Further details about the company and its product range can be found at www.eduard.com. You can subscribe to the INFO magazine and receive product information for free at: https://www.eduard.com/cs/info-eduard/

• Strana 1

  INFO Eduard

  e-magazine FREE Vol 24 May 2025

  # 183

• Strana 2

  INFO Eduard

  e-magazine FREE Vol 24 May 2025

  # 183

  © Eduard - Model Accessories, 2025

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• Strana 3

  eduard

  eduard

  MAY 2025

  CONTENTS

  Published by Eduard-Model Accessories, spol. s.r.o.

  Mírová 170, Obrnice 435 21

  support@eduard.com www.eduard.com

  EDITORIAL

  KITS

  BRASSIN

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED SETS

  SPACE

  BUILT

  ON APPROACH

  –

  June 2025

  TAIL END CHARLIE

  ARTICLES

  BOXART STORY

  MiG-21bis Limited 1/72

  Fw 190A-6 ProfiPACK 1/48

  P-39K/L Airacobra Weekend 1/48

  PSP Display - perforated steel plates 1/48

  The BLOODY HUNDREDTH 1943 1/48

  P-39N Airacobra 1/48

  Wessex HU.5 1/48

  MiG-21bis Weapons Variants and Combinations

  The World of Japanese Calligraphy Shodō

  Aerial War in Ukraine

  -

  Retreat from the Kursk

  Region and Global Chaos

  Hungarian Shark

  The Night Tests

  Cobras over Sicily

  4

  8

  31

  34

  50

  64

  66

  78

  88

  102

• Editorial

  Dear Friends, So I have to say that this April was a good ride. Over the more than thirty-five years of our company's existence, we have experienced various historical events, starting with the revolution and the overthrow of the communist regime in 1989 (yes, Eduard was already a functioning entity back then and we thoroughly enjoyed the revolution), through the terrorist attacks on New York on September 11th, 2001, to the collapse of Lehman Brothers bank and the economic crisis of the late 1990s.

  Dear Friends,

  So I have to say that this April was a good

  ride. Over the more than thirty-five years of

  our company's existence, we have experienced

  various historical events, starting with the

  revolution and the overthrow of the communist

  regime in 1989 (yes, Eduard was already

  a functioning entity back then and we

  thoroughly enjoyed the revolution), through the

  terrorist attacks on New York on September

  11th, 2001, to the collapse of Lehman Brothers

  bank and the economic crisis of the late 1990s.

  All of these events were social and economic

  upheavals, changing the economic situation and

  significantly affecting the way business was

  conducted. To be honest, changing established

  patterns out of necessity is always difficult and

  the need to change your behavior and do things

  differently is not a comforting affair, and when

  such changes take place, they mainly cause

  stress and anxiety. Positive feelings only come

  with time. You may be wondering what the hell

  was going on here and what actually changed.

  Well, change it did. The crisis in 2008 was a strong

  impetus for innovation for us. We introduced

  the technology that we use to produce our kits

  today just after 2008. We bought new machines,

  introduced the production of technically new

  molds, establishing the path to the current

  standard in Eduard model kits. The same is true

  of the Brassin line, they are also a child of the

  crisis of 2008. Preparations for the production

  of the cast sets began in the spring of 2009 and

  the first Brassins were released in January 2010.

  We had 3D printers in the process from the very

  beginning of the line, since the masters were

  always designed using 3D design programs, and

  then they were printed and refined to be then

  turned into molds for resin casting.

  The situation today is similar. After the covid

  episode, which was probably the golden age of

  the modeling industry, all the companies that had

  survived until then recovered and experienced

  two years of unprecedented prosperity. There

  were shocks in the form of inflation, supply

  disruptions, the Russian attack on Ukraine, and

  right now we have another incarnation of the

  post-covid crisis in the form of US President

  Trump's tariffs. The start to April was tense.

  We had to deal with the shock brought on by the

  introduction of US tariffs, forcing us to a new

  modus operandi with our American partners

  and implement it in practice. Maintaining the

  US market is absolutely crucial for us due to

  our commitment to it, we export 20% of our

  production to the US, and we certainly do not

  feel that we are robbing America

  in any way. In the end, we found

  a solution that should maintain

  the current level of our American

  prices. But how it all turns out is

  of course up in the air, the model

  market will be hit not only in

  America. Chinese companies are

  most likely out of the game in

  America for at least some time,

  which is certainly not something

  we are happy about. We do not

  need the liquidation of competing

  companies and their elimination

  from the market, we need

  them for our life and prosperity,

  as I have explained several times in the past.

  So we hope that the whole situation will settle

  down again. But it will never be the same as

  before the tariffs. The world has started moving

  and it will not just stop. We’ll see where this

  road takes us.

  We’re not stopping, either. April's positives

  include two significant events, Easter Prostejov

  and the Moson show. We were in Prostejov

  at Easter and in Moson in Hungary a week

  later, both events were great, well-organized

  and, from our point of view, very successful.

  Both seemed to be better attended than last

  year, at least from the point of view of our

  tables, which were full of activity from morning

  to evening. We had our May releases at both

  events, and the 72nd scale MiG-21bis proved

  to be a great success at both. At Moson we

  had the MiGs sold out by noon, and the P-40E

  in the Pacific Star kit joined a few hours later.

  We also had the first sprues for the MiG-21F-13 in

  1:48th for display purposes, in Prostejov just the

  canopy, which is of course an interesting piece

  of plastic in and of itself, and in Moson we added

  two more sprues, the fuselage and the wing, and

  the reactions were extremely positive. We don’t

  think that this comes as much of a surprise;

  the kit will probably be the best we have ever

  produced both in terms of the execution of

  surface and internal details, and in terms

  of buildability. The release schedule is also

  already taking shape. The F version will have

  its premiere at E-day in the form of a Limited

  Edition series kit, dedicated to the service of

  the MiG-21F-13 in various world air forces. This

  issue will be derived from the Czechoslovak

  Limited Edition kit, dedicated to the production

  of the MiG-21F-13 at Aero Vodochody and its

  service in the Czechoslovak Air Force. The form

  of this kit will be decided next week, but in any

  case it is certain that this kit will include a book

  about the Czechoslovak MiG-21F-13 by Martin

  Janousek, and that it will be sold by pre-order in

  general and from retailers. We will only produce

  as many kits as we have orders, and the ordered

  kits will then be shipped a week before E-day

  with the option of pick up at that show.

  We still have a long way to go until E-day and

  a lot will happen before October 4th. However,

  as long as we are on the topic of all these shows,

  why not say something about this year's E-day,

  no? We took the opportunity to visit the venue in

  Litomerice a week before Easter. The Gardens of

  Bohemia exhibition was taking place there and

  we wanted to see the area in action. Jirka Fiala,

  who is significantly involved in the activities of

  the judges, wanted to see the main exhibition

  hall, where the competition models will be. And

  of course, the other halls too, because we will

  be occupying a total of five halls at the venue.

  You don't have to worry about that, the halls are

  not far from each other, and they are mainly

  concentrated around the central area where the

  food court will be located, which will be inside

  military tents. There will also be direct access

  from the catering area to the hall, where there

  will be workshops and a space for tables, where

  visitors will be able to enjoy refreshments from

  the catering tent in case of inclement weather,

  which is a bit of a threat in October. Regardless

  of the weather, it will also be one of the areas for

  sitting and chatting. There are several of these

  in the area, and they will certainly be put to good

  use, because one of the reasons why modelers

  go to these shows is for the opportunity to meet

  friends and have a good chat with them. That is

  why, in addition to the classic Pot Q and A, and

  other lectures, which will also be in a separate

  hall, we are preparing a chat session in the ‘Cafe

  by the Lake’, which is between the Q and A hall

  EDITORIAL

  INFO Eduard4

  May 2025

• Strana 5

  and the workshop hall. The plan is that various

  personalities from our company and the model

  industry will take turns behind the counter,

  making coffee, pouring beer and chatting with

  modelers. It will be an experiment, we have

  never done anything like this, but something

  tells me that it will be interesting and fun.

  From our company, I will be there, as will Katka

  Borecka, and Jakub and Martin Nademlejnsky,

  and from other companies we will also invite

  Fredy Riedel from Special Hobby, Jindra

  Sterbacek from Modelar and Petr Muzikant from

  KP, and in general anyone with the courage to

  show up will be welcome.

  The lecture format is also being formulated

  and we have secured pilots who flew MiG-21Fs

  to be there, and we are working on getting

  someone who still remembers the Avia S-199

  to attend. This is quite important, because

  it will coincide with the release of our S-199.

  As with the MiG, for which we already have all

  the molds milled, we are working very hard on

  the S-199 to have it ready to go on sale at E-day.

  In fact, we want to have both models completely

  ready by September, and during September we

  will present them at a series of meetings with

  modelers. One will be in Prague, one again

  in Prostejov, and we are planning the very

  first presentation of both kits in Pilsen at the

  Pilsenský Velbloud (Pilsen Camel) competition.

  We'll be explaining the concept of the kits, which

  will be quite novel and innovative, and there will

  probably be the first units in plain white boxes

  up for grabs. And here too, something tells me

  you'll like both of these little things.

  To conclude this editorial, let's move from

  autumn back to spring. At the end of May,

  preorders for the 48th scale Royal Class P-40N

  Warhawk will begin. This is a continuation of the

  P-40 project. The N model is the most beautiful

  and interesting Warhawk in my opinion, and

  it will be a colorful and attractive affair in all

  its releases yet to come. Presentation of the

  aircraft selected for the Royal boxing will begin

  during May. We will start the preorders on

  Friday, May 23rd, and the kit production run will

  again be determined based on the number of

  preorders. We will produce as many as there are

  orders from the e-shop and from dealers. Along

  with the Royal Class P-40N, it will be possible

  to order everything from the e-shop assortment,

  as well as selected accessories, which, like

  the Royal Class itself, will be among the new

  releases for August. We will then ship orders to

  customers in the second week of July, to dealers

  from July 15th. We will talk more about other

  new products for August in the next editorial.

  It will be an interesting month, because just as

  the November lineup of new items sold on E-day

  will be distinctly Czechoslovak, the August

  lineup will be very American. In addition to the

  P-40N, there will also be a 48th scale F-18C,

  which will be our boxing of the Kinetic kit. As

  an example.

  But more on that next time. Today, enjoy

  looking over May’s new releases, the main

  focus of which is the 72nd scale MiG-21bis. This

  is also reflected in today's newsletter, where

  you will find, for example, an article describing

  the armament of the MiG-21bis and among new

  releases, a number of printed accessories, of

  which, in my opinion, the most attractive is the

  exhaust nozzle.

  Happy Modelling!

  Vladimir Sulc

  EDITORIAL

  INFO Eduard

  5

  May 2025

• Strana 6

  NEW ON

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  FREE TRIAL OF ZERO ISSUE (12/2024)

  Mirage 2000 – The New Defender of Ukrainian Skies

  Current Affairs / Miro Barič

  Ukraine had placed high hopes in the F-16s, although many experts warned early on against overly optimistic expectations. And indeed,

  their deployment has not brought any dramatic turning point. They arrived slowly, in small numbers, giving Russia enough time to prepare.

  The pilot training is long and complicated by language barrier.

  Having said that, not all is negative – the F-16s have certainly been helpful. While they didn’t revolutionize the war, they have been crucial

  in defending Ukrainian cities from daily Russian attacks. They’ve also started to conduct the air-to-ground attacks with guided weapons,

  an important role.

  Current Chinese Navy

  World Naval Forces / Petr Uzsák

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy was founded in 1949 and, for many years,

  focused primarily on coastal defense and related operations. As strategic missile

  forces and other military branches were prioritized, the navy was relegated to

  a secondary role, largely tasked with coastal operations, including defending

  against potential Taiwanese landings on the mainland. Starting in the 1970s,

  however, the navy began receiving more attention, which led to increased

  production and operational capabilities. This shift helped elevate the People’s

  Republic of China (PRC) to the status of a regional maritime power. The growing

  rift with the Soviet Union also played a role, as the PRC quickly lost access

  to many Soviet industries, especially in shipbuilding.

  Highlights EMD 04/2025

• Strana 7

  USS Block Island CVE-21, pt. 1

  History / Vladimír Šulc

  USS Block Island CVE-21 was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier.

  A total of 45 Bogue-class carriers were built based on the hulls of C-3 type

  transport ships. The first 22 were conversions of completed or partially built

  C3-S

  -

  A1 or C3-S

  -

  A2 ships. Of these, 11 ships were transferred to the Royal

  Navy under Lend-Lease and served as the Attacker-class. The remaining

  23 were purpose-built as escort carriers and all went to the Royal Navy,

  which classified them as the Ruler-class, the largest carrier class

  in Royal Navy service.

  The two-part article on the USS Block Island is not just about the ship

  itself; it also reflects the history of the fierce battles fought in the Atlantic

  to maintain vital transport routes between North America and

  Great Britain.

  Leopold Anslinger and His Fokker

  in Galicia

  Model & Story / Jan Bobek, Danny Clark

  The aerial battles of the First World War in Eastern Europe remain somewhat

  overshadowed by the stories of famous aviators like Manfred Freiherr von

  Richthofen, René Fonck, Billy Bishop, and Mick Mannock. Over the eastern

  frontlines, however, under very different geographical and logistical conditi-

  ons, German and Austro-Hungarian airmen engaged in fierce combat against

  the air forces of Imperial Russia and its allies. During World War I, the

  Austro-Hungarian Empire awarded the prestigious Order of the Iron Crown,

  Third Class with War decoration, to only three German combat aviators.

  Two of these honors went to Manfred von Richthofen and Oswald Boelcke

  in recognition of their achievements on the Western Front. The third recipi-

  ent, however, was honored for his service on the Eastern Front: Lieutenant

  Leopold Anslinger. Although his name is not widely known today, Anslinger

  achieved the highest number of aerial victories of any Central Powers pilot

  in the Eastern Theater.https://emd.eduard.com/en/04-2025

  Biscay Aces

  History / Chris Goss

  With the air war over the eastern Atlantic escalating by the end of 1941,

  it was obvious to the Luftwaffe that some form of long-range fighter

  cover was needed. No solution immediately sprang to mind but early

  in 1942, the latest version of the Ju 88C-6 was coming off the production line.

  With increased offensive and defensive armament, on 23 June 1942, the

  Luftwaffe promised four Ju 88C-6s to protect U-boats entering and leaving

  the Bay of Biscay. Three days later, four Ju 88C-6s fresh from the production

  line were allocated and would be based at Bordeaux-Mérignac, the unit

  initially being designated Zerst.St./Küstenfliegergruppe 106 (Zerst.St./Kü.Fl.

  Gr. 106) or Zerst.St./KG 6 subordinate to the Fw 200 unit III./KG 40. On 2 July

  1942, it was then announced these four aircraft would be increased by

  another 24. V. Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 40 (V./KG 40) was the result

  and over the next two years, a number of aces would emerge.

• MiG-21bis Weapons Variants and Combinations

  The loadout possibilities of the most modern version of the MiG-21bis fighter aircraft were determined primarily by the role for which the aircraft was intended. Since it was used as a multi-role aircraft, the range of armament was very wide. The use of a specific weapon loadout, relevant also to model building, depends on the specific mission. However, the combination of armament was also subject to certain regulations and technical limitations. This two-part article deals primarily with this issue and also shines a light on individual types of armament from a technical, military and modeling perspective. The first part describes the general scheme of armament carried with a focus on the different types of air-air weapons utilized. Air-ground armament used on the MiG-21bis will be covered in the second part of this article in the June issue.

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  The basic integral (permanently installed)

  armament of the MiG-21bis was the twin

  barreled GSh-23 23mm aircraft cannon, built

  into the lower part of the fuselage, with two

  hundred rounds located in a compartment in

  the fuselage of the aircraft.

  Other types of armament were suspended

  under four pylons located beneath the wings of

  the aircraft. This armament possibilities varied

  widely, dictated by mission requirements.

  Intercept or CAP missions would most often

  be flown with a combination of infrared guided

  dogfighting missiles together with semi-active,

  radar guided missiles. The exclusive carriage

  of heat seekers were also seen, and all of these

  permutations could be carried in combination

  with external fuel tanks. There were conflicts,

  however, in which the MiG-21bis flew combat

  missions carrying air-ground weapons only

  (for example, the war in Afghanistan 1979 - 1989,

  and the war for the independence of Croatia

  1991 - 1995 during the breakup of Yugoslavia).

  Furthermore, in practice, it depended on what

  specific external armament the given country

  purchased, or developed and produced itself.

  The best reference on what to hang under

  your model is going to be photographs of your

  actual subject.

  The following chart indicates the practical

  variations of weapons carried in the war

  in Afghanistan, in the years 1979 to 1989,

  according to Viktor Markovsky (Military Air

  Force in the Afghan War, Moscow, 2016, ISBN

  978 – 5 – 699 – 88481 – 0)

  The usual combinations of external armament

  on the MiG-21bis are listed in the tables

  below, and certain rules apply. For example,

  the heaviest bombs in the 500 kg category

  were carried only under the inboard pylons,

  as were the MBD-2-67U multiple ejector racks.

  The loadout possibilities of the most modern version of the MiG-21bis fighter

  aircraft were determined primarily by the role for which the aircraft was intended.

  Since it was used as a multi-role aircraft, the range of armament was very wide.

  The use of a specific weapon loadout, relevant also to model building, depends on the

  specific mission. However, the combination of armament was also subject to certain

  regulations and technical limitations. This two-part article deals primarily with this

  issue and also shines a light on individual types of armament from a technical, military

  and modeling perspective. The first part describes the general scheme of armament

  carried with a focus on the different types of air-air weapons utilized. Air-ground

  armament used on the MiG-21bis will be covered in the second part of this article

  in the June issue.

  Tomáš Dedera

  Part One: Air-Air Weapons

  MiG-21bis Weapons Variants MiG-21bis Weapons Variants

  and Combinationsand Combinations

  MiG-21bis Finnish airforce. Illustration – Petr Štěpánek senior.

  INFO Eduard8

  May 2025

• Strana 9

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  Bomb Armament – Aerial Bombs and Cluster Bombs (Caliber, in mm)

  50 50 50 50

  100 100 100 100

  100 4 x 100 (MBD – 2 – 67U) 4 x 100 (MBD – 2 – 67U) 100

  250 250 250 250

  500 500

  Unguided Rockets (Rocket Pods) / Adapters

  UB – 16 – 57UMP UB – 16 – 57UMP UB – 16 – 57UMP UB – 16 – 57UMP

  UB – 16 – 57UMP UB – 16 – 57UMP

  UB – 32A UB – 32A

  UB – 16 – 57UMP UB – 32A UB – 32A UB – 16 – 57UMP

  S – 24B (APU – 7) S – 24B (APU – 7)

  S – 24B (APU – 7) S – 24B (APU – 7) S – 24B (APU – 7) S – 24B (APU – 7)

  Guided Missiles / Launch Rails

  R – 3S (APU – 13) R – 3S (APU – 13) R – 3S (APU – 13) R – 3S (APU – 13)

  R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 13M (APU – 13MT)

  R – 3R (APU – 13U2) R – 3R (APU – 13U2) R – 3R (APU – 13U2) R – 3R (APU – 13U2)

  R – 60M (P – 62 – IM) R – 60M (P – 62 – IM) R – 60M (P – 62 – IM) R – 60M (P – 62 – IM)

  2 x R – 60M

  (APU – 62 – IIM)

  R – 60M (P – 62 – IM) R – 60M (P – 62 – IM)

  2 x R – 60M

  (APU – 62 – IIM)

  R – 60M (P – 62 – IM) R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 60M (P – 62 – IM)

  2 x R – 60M

  (APU – 62 – IIM)

  R – 3R (APU – 13U2) R – 3R (APU – 13U2)

  2 x R – 60M

  (APU – 62 – IIM)

  R – 3R (APU – 13U2) R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 13M (APU – 13MT) R – 3R (APU – 13U2)

  INFO Eduard

  9

  May 2025

• Strana 10

  Auxiliary Fuel Tanks (in liters)

  The R-13M Guided Air-Air Missile

  After replacing the outboard wing pylons with wet items, two 490 liter droptanks could be carried.

  490 490 490

  800

  Specifications:

  Length: 2870mm

  Diameter: 127mm

  Span: 632mm

  Front Fin Span: 420mm

  Weight: 90kg

  Warhead: 11.3kg

  Guided Flight Endurance:

  55 seconds

  Flight Hours: 40h

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  Main Components:

  Guidance and Control Section – is designed

  to acquire the target and guide the missile

  to it. It also issues a command to arm

  the proximity fuse and controls initiation

  upon direct contact of the missile with

  the target and detonation of the warhead.

  It consists of 2 parts - the control section

  (1), which integrates the infrared homing

  head, the steering and power supply block

  and the rudders, and the proximity fuse

  (2).

  Warhead (3) – serves to effectively

  destroy the target. It consists of a body,

  a rod cylinder and an explosive charge

  (approx. 4 kg of phlegmatized octogen

  with aluminum powder).

  Solid propellant rocket motor (Fig. 4) – the

  source of reactive thrust for the missile, which

  gives it the speed necessary for its effective

  use. On the body of the rocket motor there

  are three guides for hanging the missile on its

  launcher, while the aft part of the motor has

  four wings attached with studs, placed in the

  shape of a letter ‘X’, equipped with gyroscopic

  stabilizers at their ends, providing control of

  the angular velocity of rotation of the missile

  around its longitudinal axis, commonly called

  rollerons, which ensure the stability of the

  missile around its various axes.

  The missile is suspended under and launched

  from an APU-13MT launcher, which contains

  a nitrogen cylinder to cool the homing head's

  photo resistor. The launcher weighs 56 kg.

  This weapon was used by interceptor aircraft

  for engaging aerial targets. It could be used

  effectively against both maneuvering and

  non-maneuvering bogies under normal wea-

  ther conditions, day or night, with a maximum

  launch overload of 3.7g. It could be launched

  from a wide range of altitudes when fired from

  the rear hemisphere. In terms of aerodynamic

  configuration, it was a canard type missile,

  meaning the control rudders were in the front

  part of the missile, stabilizing fins in the rear.

  It was guided to the target with the help of an

  infrared seeker, which was cooled using nitro-

  gen to increase its sensitivity.

  An overall view of the R-13M air-air IR guided missile.

  Guidance and Control Section of the missile. In the upper part of the control section,

  a pull-out cable connection is visible, which connects the missile with the aircraft's

  onboard network.

  Warhead and proximity fuse, R-13M

  INFO Eduard10

  May 2025

• Strana 11

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  Solid rocket motor with four fins on an R-13M.

  Structural details of the rollerons on an R-13M missile.Section of the rocket motor and nozzle, with the rollerons visible on the fins.

  INFO Eduard

  11

  May 2025

• Strana 12

  The R-3S Guided Air-Air Missile

  The direct predecessor of the R-13M missile

  was the R-3S. It was also intended for the

  destruction of air targets day and night, under

  normal weather conditions (except for clouds

  and fog), with a required deviation from the

  sun of more than 20°. The maximum overload

  at the moment of launch was 2g (up to a height

  of 12,000m) and a maximum of 1.6g (above

  12,000m). Compared to the R-13M missile, it had

  a shorter range, smaller permissible overload

  at launch, and the photo resistor of the self-

  guided infrared warhead was not cooled.

  Specifications:

  Length: 2838mm

  Diameter: 127mm

  Span: 525mm

  Weight: 75.3kg

  Warhead: 11.3kg

  Guided Flight Endurance: 21s

  Detonation Time: 21-28s

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  General view of the R-3S anti-aircraft guided missile,

  in partial section, with a practise round in behind (with

  a red longitudinal stripe).

  Forward section of

  the R-3S missile in

  cutaway.

  Main Components:

  Thermal Seeker (1), used to acquire and

  track thermal targets.

  Control section with rudders (2), reaction

  contacts (3) and communication link

  (4) – using the rudders, the missile would

  maneuver towards the target, the reaction

  contacts would then activate the impact

  fuse, which in turn activated the warhead.

  The communication link connected the

  guided missile via the launcher with the

  aircraft's onboard systems.

  Warhead (5) Detonated to eliminate the

  target.

  Optical proximity fuse (6) – reacts to infrared

  radiation from the target if the missile passes

  closer than 9m from the target. If it passes

  further, the missile’s self-destruction circuits

  are activated.

  Solid fuel rocket motor (7) – with four

  stabilizing fins, at the ends of which are, once

  again, rollerons, which are fixed with locking

  pins until the missile is launched.

  INFO Eduard12

  May 2025

• Strana 13

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  Proximity fuse and rocket motor of the R-3S in cross section.

  Stabilizing fins of the R-3S missile (note the red stripe and inscription). It is also worth noting the slightly different design of the rollerons compared

  to the more modern R-13M missile. The missile is suspended under and launched from an APU-13 launcher rail.

  INFO Eduard

  13

  May 2025

• Strana 14

  The R-3R Guided Air-Air Missile

  The R-60M Guided Air-Air Missile

  This variant of the missile was created by

  replacing the infrared seeker of the R-3S with

  a PARG-13VV semi-active radar guidance

  system. This change was visible at first

  glance by the fact that the guidance section

  (the section in front of the forward fins)

  was extended, the front part of which was

  narrowed and equipped with a dielectric,

  semi-transparent cover. Furthermore, the

  optical proximity fuse was replaced with

  a new, also non-contact, Jastreb radio

  proximity device. Communication with the

  on-board radar of the RP-22M type allowed

  the destruction of air targets at short

  distances from both the rear and, in addition,

  the front hemisphere, day and night, in all

  meteorological conditions. Most aircraft were

  armed with a combination of radar-guided

  (R-3R) and heat seeking missiles (R-3S,

  or R-13M, and later the R-60/60M). Such

  combinations of anti-aircraft armament can

  be seen below in the images available on the

  Internet.

  This weapon was designed to destroy

  maneuvering air targets at short distances.

  The aerodynamic layout was of a canard type,

  the fins, rudders and canards, the latter being

  dubbed as ‘destabilizers’ being placed in an

  ‘X’ configuration. The task of the destabilizers

  was to increase the efficiency of the rudders

  (control surfaces) at high angles of attack.

  At the ends of the rear fins were equipped

  with rollerons that dampen the rotation

  of the missile around its longitudinal axis.

  The missile consists of five main parts.

  The missiles can be mounted and launched

  from either a single P-62-IMD launcher (also

  known as APU-62-IM or APU-60-IM) or a twin

  APU-62-IIM (APU-60-IIM) launcher.

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  R-3R air-air guided missile in cross-section. Compared to the R-3S missile, the extended section housing the

  semi-active radar guidance electronics is clearly visible. In behind it is a cross-section of the R-13M missile

  mounted on its launch rail.

  MiG-21bis of the former Yugoslav Air Force (JRV), armed with two R-3Rs inboard

  and four R-60M on twin launchers outboard during the civil war in the early 1990s.

  Fuselage numbers are painted over to make identification by the enemy

  more difficult.

  MiG -21bis of the former German Democratic Republic Air Force (NVA DDR), this time

  with a pair of R-13Ms on the inboard pylons and two R-3Rs outboard, in the period

  before the reunification of Germany on October 3rd, 1990.

  Overall view of an R-60M guided air-air missile with a red protective cap covering the seeker head, suspended

  from a simple P-62-IMD launch rail under a MiG-21MF.

  INFO Eduard14

  May 2025

• Strana 15

  Specifications:

  Length: 2095mm

  Diameter: 120mm

  Span: 390mm

  Weight: 43.5kg

  Warhead: 3kg

  Service Life: 40 Flight Hours

  or 40 Landings

  APU-62 IIM Components

  1. Lower Pylon

  2. Side Pylon

  3. Forward Aerodynamic Cover

  4. Side Cover

  5. Rear Aerodynamic Cover

  6. Front Stop

  7. Rear Stop

  8. Mounting Eye

  9. Mounting Lug

  10. Arming Pin with RBF Tag

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  Infrared seeker head with destabilizers, to which is attached the warhead

  (between the destabilizers and rudders) of the R-60M missile.

  Control section of the R-60M missile, a view of the lower front

  part with the four control fins, the ‘U

  -

  B’ switch and concealed

  electrical wiring and piping on the outer surface of the missile.

  Twin APU-62 IIM (APU-60-IIM) launcher.

  Main Components:

  Infrared seeker head with destabilizers

  (1) – serves to capture and track a thermally

  contrasting target, is of a passive type (only

  receives reflected energy from the target,

  does not emit anything itself), and is equipped

  with a simple, uncooled seeker. It detects and

  identifies the target, transmits a signal about

  its capture to the APU launch rail, measures

  the angular velocity of the target and generates

  control signals for guiding the missile in flight.

  The warhead (2) is of the high-explosive type,

  equipped with a non-contact radar proximity

  fuse and a detonation mechanism.

  Control section (3) – contains an impact

  sensor that sends an electrical impulse to

  the detonation mechanism when the missile

  directly hits the target, it also contains autopilot

  blocks, automation blocks and a power supply

  voltage stabilizer and a connecting cable

  (for missile-launcher-aircraft communication).

  The control section also contains rudders

  (which change the missile's flight trajectory)

  and the ‘U

  -

  B’ switch, the position of which

  determines whether the missile is in combat or

  combat training mode.

  Power section (4) – here are located the PAD

  pressure accumulator among other devices,

  a proximity radar detonator (green antennas,

  rectangular in shape) and a missile launch

  indicator (5).

  Rocket motor with solid propellant is the

  source of propulsion that carries the missile

  to the target. The motor body also houses the

  missile suspension nodes for the launcher and

  fins complete with rollerons.

  INFO Eduard

  15

  May 2025

• Strana 16

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  Open forward edge of the launch rail, into which the communication cable

  is connected, located in the missile’s control section.

  Lower view of the rocket motor section,

  complete with rolleron equipped fins.

  Detail showing the method of the rear fin attachment to the rocket section of the R-60M

  and the rolleron design.

  Power section, on the outer part of which are located the green antennas

  of the proximity detonator system and the R-60M launch indicator.

  View of the R-60M rocket motor nozzle, fins in an ‘X’ configuration and the arming

  pin inserted with an orange warning tag.

  For training purposes, a UZR-60 acquisition round was developed (shown here

  slung under an L-39ZA Albatros), which was easily identifiable by the three

  black bands around the rear of the missile. The fins on this type of piece of

  equipment were removed, as was the rocket motor and warhead. An internal

  evaluation device that recorded certain data during target acquisition was

  installed in these rounds. Two arming pins are installed with RBF tags for

  visibility.

  INFO Eduard16

  May 2025

• Strana 17

  Specifications:

  Length: 1680m

  Diameter: 650mm

  Height: 540mm

  Weight: 220 +/- 5kg

  Ignition Duration: 9.8 to 17.8 seconds

  Maximum Thrust: 1300 to 3000 kp, which

  corresponds to a force of between 12,749

  and 29,420 N.

  SPRD-99 Rocket Assisted Take-Off System (RATO Bottles)

  These solid rocket boosters were used

  on the MiG-21 to reduce its take-off run.

  Two were mounted under the fuselage and

  were jettisoned once the aircraft was airborne

  and their fuel had been exhausted. These items

  were not reusable.

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  A detail shot of the same airplane showing the front

  and rear attachment points for the right SPRD-99

  RATO bottle.

  SPRD-99 RATO bottle installed under the left half of the fuselage of a MiG-21bis

  of the former GDR Air Force. The method of attaching the rear of the bottle and details

  of the nozzle are visible. Photo: Ing. Martin Janousek

  Main Components:

  Shell, acts as the combustion chamber of the

  solid rocket fuel.

  Front cover, ensures hermetic sealing of the

  casing and also serves to store the igniter

  housing with the igniter proper. The inner

  surface of the lid is covered with thermal

  insulation.

  Igniter casing, serves to safely store the igniter

  in the front lid.

  Rear cover with grate, hermetically seals the

  casing and serves to secure the nozzle.

  Nozzle with insert, inclined 24°±10´ with

  respect to the longitudinal axis of the launch

  rocket, serves to create a fixed mode of powder

  gas outflow, converts the thermal energy

  of the exhaust gases into kinetic energy and

  creates the necessary reactive force of the

  rocket motor.

  Sealing Membrane, ensures hermetic sealing

  of the launch rocket, is located in front of the

  nozzle insert, is made of aluminum sheet and

  is marked 314 – P, which denotes the product

  index.

  Nozzle cover, protects the inner part of the

  SPRD-99 RATO bottle, with the method of attaching the front mount and the shape of the bottle itself visible.

  Photo: Ing. Martin Janousek

  INFO Eduard

  17

  May 2025

• Strana 18

  To be continued with

  MiG-21bis ground attack

  ordinance.

  TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT

  nozzle from contamination and damage to the

  membrane, the nozzle cover must be removed

  before takeoff, and it is colored red.

  Cable, connects the pyro cartridges stored

  in the front cover to the aircraft’s electrical

  system.

  Aerodynamic cover, a thin-walled, hat-shaped

  aluminum container, its task is to protect the

  electrical wiring from damage.

  Nut, used to secure and tighten the rear cover

  to the grate.

  Protective cap, designed to protect the

  front cover from mechanical damage during

  transport and storage, also painted red.

  Igniter, used to safely ignite the solid fuel of

  the RATO unit, consists of 350g of coarse-

  grained, black powder, which is enclosed in an

  aluminum hermetic case.

  Pyro cartridges, type DP-1-4, used to initiate

  the igniter, two pyro cartridges are inserted

  for safe and reliable operation.

  Fuel, consists of NMF-2D solid propellant,

  cylindrical in shape with a longitudinal cavity.

  The Principal behind the RATO

  System’s Functionality:

  The two RATO bottles, suspended from the

  aircraft, are activated by sending an electrical

  signal to the pyro cartridge contacts, after

  which the electrical impulse is applied to the

  filaments of the double heating bridge of the

  pyro cartridges. The heating filament ignites

  the pyrotechnics and the pyro cartridge

  initiates the igniter. The igniter ignites the

  solid propellant. The powder gases generated

  by the burning of the fuel create pressure

  inside the RATO bottle, which is converted into

  reactive force by the flow of gases through

  the nozzle. After the bottle burns out, the pilot

  activates a pneumatic cylinder, which ensures

  the jettisoning of the front attachment node

  from the aircraft. Due to the effect of its own

  weight and the action of aerodynamic forces,

  the RATO bottles separate from the aircraft

  and fall to the ground.

  SPRD-99 RATO bottle, overall view of the installation method under the right side of the fuselage.

  Photo: Ing. Martin Janousek

  #2151

  1/72

  Product Page

  INFO Eduard18

  May 2025

• Strana 19

• The World of Japanese Calligraphy Shodō

  As part of the box design for the April limited edition 1/48 Kamikaze Tokkōtai IJN Special Attack Units, there is a calligraphy inscription of "Kamikaze Tokkōtai" (Kamikaze Special Attack Unit), created by the Japanese calligraphy teacher living in Prague, Mrs. Mari Kučera. Since unique calligraphy created specifically for a plastic model kit is not a common occurrence, even in Japan, we asked Mrs. Kučera to introduce us to the history and secrets of calligraphy creation. (Editorial note)

  The World of Japanese Calligraphy

  Shodō

  In Japanese calligraphy, shodō, we use Chinese

  characters (kanji) and two types of native Japanese

  syllabic scripts, kana.

  Chinese characters originated in ancient China,

  where the reasons and outcomes of divinations

  were recorded by carving them onto animal shoulder

  blades or turtle shells. Thus, the act of writing

  (recording) itself was considered sacred. Each

  character carries meaning, and by studying the

  origins of individual characters, one can glimpse the

  worldview, philosophy, and lifestyle of ancient people.

  Later, with the invention of soft brushes made from

  animal hair, it became possible to draw curved and

  varied-width lines. The calligraphy brush is unique

  because it is both soft and resilient. Thanks to this

  quality, we can sensitively capture the various

  rhythms and movements of our bodies and our inner

  selves. Living tools, such as the calligraphy brush

  and absorbent paper, allow us to express music,

  dance, and the image of our soul, evoking different

  emotions and impressions in viewers and affecting

  their spirit. In this way, "writing characters" became

  an art form. Because of the brush’s flexibility, each

  stroke and character contains substance, depth,

  movement, and direction. Unlike painting, where an

  artist can pause, have tea, and contemplate where

  and what color to add, Japanese calligraphy must

  be executed "in one breath," requiring high energy

  concentration and yet complete relaxation of the

  body and senses. Only when we tune into the waves

  of energy around us – depending on our state and

  the waves we connect to – and let the energy flow

  through us without obstruction do substance, depth,

  movement, and direction appear in every stroke and

  character. These physical aspects follow natural

  laws, and harmony reigns in the work, just like in the

  universe. When everything is connected by one wave

  of energy and functions in unity, the work becomes

  alive and beautiful.

  The flow of energy is a very important aspect of

  Japanese calligraphy. This again is enabled by the

  brush’s flexibility. Through an invisible yet palpable

  current of energy, we can experience the mental

  state or emotions of the creator at the moment the

  REPORT

  As part of the box design for the April limited edition 1/48 Kamikaze Tokkōtai IJN

  Special Attack Units, there is a calligraphy inscription of "Kamikaze Tokkōtai"

  (Kamikaze Special Attack Unit), created by the Japanese calligraphy teacher living in

  Prague, Mrs. Mari Kučera. Since unique calligraphy created specifically for a plastic

  model kit is not a common occurrence, even in Japan, we asked Mrs. Kučera to

  introduce us to the history and secrets of calligraphy creation. (Editorial note)

  Mari Kučera

  Mist

  INFO Eduard20

  May 2025

• Strana 21

  Mari Kučera

  She has been practicing Japanese

  calligraphy, shodō, since the age

  of six. Her life and calligraphy

  are deeply intertwined with faith

  and Asian philosophy, heavily

  influenced by nature, Taoism,

  and Buddhism. She has lived in

  the Czech Republic since 2003.

  Besides her own artistic work,

  she leads numerous courses and

  workshops throughout the country,

  gives lectures, and performs

  large-format demonstrations.

  She has written several articles

  for magazines and appeared on

  the "Dobré ráno" (Good Morning)

  program on Czech Television.

  She belongs to the Kenshin Shodō

  Kai, one of the most traditional

  schools of Japanese calligraphy

  in Japan, and received the Hōjō

  Award at exhibitions in 2024 and

  2025.

  REPORT

  work was made, even if it is several years old.

  In Japanese culture in general, "things that cannot be

  seen" remain an essential part of life. If the energy

  flow were not part of the creative process, the

  written inscription would essentially be meaningless.

  It is also often said that the "remaining" white space,

  where nothing is written, is an "essential" white

  space. This is called johaku. Johaku can be seen

  everywhere in Japanese culture, most typically in ink

  paintings, traditional Japanese houses and gardens,

  and tea ceremonies. By writing letters, we often

  strive to create beautiful "empty" space.

  However, it is not possible to create this space with

  the mind alone. The inscription and the "empty"

  space must resonate, and to achieve this, we need

  to maintain perspective and perceive the work as

  a whole during its creation. The slightest thought

  flashing through the mind interrupts the energy flow,

  creating disharmony.

  The effort to create good work largely involves

  removing various obstacles within ourselves. These

  include the desire for success, a closed view on the

  world, fixed ideas, etc., which are associated with

  bodily tension.

  Often, we ignore our own feelings due to thoughts

  influenced by our nature or approach to life,

  resonating somewhere deep in our subconscious

  without our clear awareness. Subconsciously,

  we tell ourselves we don’t want to ruin the work and

  we want to succeed. Even before we start writing,

  we fear failure, and both the soul and the body tense

  up unpleasantly.

  If the mind constantly dictates, “This stroke should

  be this long,” or “The next stroke should start here,”

  the senses fail to perform their primary function

  of maintaining balance in the developing work.

  And when the mind controls everything and

  something doesn't go as planned, internal criticism

  immediately follows – “Damn, that stroke should

  have been longer!” This can thoroughly destabilize us,

  at least until the work is finished.

  It’s truly fascinating to observe how clearly all of this

  appears on the paper, how our inner world manifests

  there, and how the body reacts at such moments.

  Our body’s movement is closely tied to our inner state,

  making it essential to cultivate our inner selves for

  calligraphy.

  A finished piece of calligraphy reflects not only the

  personality and personal approach of the calligrapher

  but also their shortcomings and weaknesses, which

  usually show up as flaws in the work. Improvement

  in Japanese calligraphy demands self-awareness

  and self-cultivation. This is probably why Japanese

  calligraphy became one of the "Ways – Dō," just like

  kendō, judō, sadō, and others. By observing our own

  calligraphy, we can improve our approach to life.

  As you can see, a calligrapher must carefully choose

  their tools and writing style to best express their

  inner self in a given work. These choices greatly

  influence the atmosphere of the work.

  For the inscription "Kamikaze Tokkōtai," I wanted

  to create an atmosphere of dignity and severity,

  containing inner strength while avoiding harshness.

  Therefore, I used the kaisho style – standard script

  – with a hint of gyōsho – semi-cursive script – which

  conveys strength and movement within a certain

  tension. Through this, I wished to express my respect

  for the souls of those who fought in these aircraft.

  Storm Clouds Falling Flowers

  INFO Eduard

  21

  May 2025

• Strana 22

• Strana 23

  REVI č.146/2025 54 REVI č.146/2025

  va. „Vúter ý 20.č ervence t.r. p o 16. hodi ně bylo nu ceno pro por uchu

  motoru n ouzově přistáti na polích blíže okresní sil nice ke Krchlebům

  dopravní létadlo německé Lufth ansy linky Mnichov– Praha– Vratislav,

  zn. Siberfuchs (si c.) D- UBIQ apře sto, že vtě chto mís tech je vel mi nepř í-

  znivý teren, přistálo bez nejmenší neho dy. Vlétadle se nalézali 2 letci

  a2 pas ažéři, kteří ovšem museli další cestu nastoupit r ychlíkem. Oba

  letci, jakož ilétadlo bylo ihn ed podrobeno prohlídce zdejšího četnict va.

  Přistání bylo zřejmě senzací nejen pro Staňkováky, ale lidi ze širokého

  okolí, kteří se sbíhali na místo přistání až do večerních hodin ai ve

  středu ave čtvrtek, kdy kovový pták byl rozebrán avlakem odveze n do

  Mnichova. Letecké přistání nenatropilo na polích tolik škod, jako sami

  zvěda vci, jak už při podo bných ne hodách b ývá. Vkr átké dob ě po přist á-

  ní se dostavili na místo zástu pci vojenského iokresního úřadu .“

  Zfotografií vyplývá, že stroj byl na m ístě demontován azřejmě po

  železnici vrácen do Něme cka. Vkvětnu 1940 přešel kLuf twaffe azpo-

  čátku sloužil uJagdfliegerschule 3 vGrove, později slouž il ke kurýrním

  letům u štábu Jagdgeschwader 27 vRusku. Pro nedostatek ná hradních

  dílů byl odstaven na letišti Ljuban uLening radu vzáří1941, kde byl za-

  nechán při ústupu na jaře 1942.

  Náhradní stroj odstartoval zMnichova o dva dny později v6.15 ráno

  22.července1936. Stroj Ju 160 D-0 W.Nr. 4246 měl instalovaný motor

  BMW Hor net 132E-2 W.Nr. 59570. Společností Lufthansa byl letoun

  převzat teprve 24. dubna1936 a nesl pojmenování „Hyäne“. V 7.30

  přistál na let išti Praha-Kb ely, kde vystoupili 4 cestující. V7.50 pok račo-

  val vdalším letu do Vratislavi. Na palubě z ůstala jen dvoučlenná osádka.

  Další okolnosti zachycuje v yšetřovací spis č.j. 333/63 založený

  5. srpna 1936 referentem Ing. Františ kem Chváta lem z oddělen í Bb

  odboru letecké skupiny Ministerst va veřejných prací.

  Spis začíná rukou psaným dokumentem: „Dne 22.července t.r. sdě lilo

  do odd Bb, asi o 11 h., ředitelství st. leti ště „Praha“, že uHořic vPod-

  krkonoší havarovalo dopravní letadlo něm. spole čnosti Luf thansa při

  letu zPrahy d o Vratislavy. Při ha várii zahynuli oba letci… Odd Bb po

  dohodě s přednostou letecké sk upiny k místu nehody vyslalo ihned

  komisi za účelem vyšetření ka tastrofy. Komise sestávala: vrch. techn .

  komisař Ing. F. Chvátal, pře dseda, v.t. kom. Ing. V. Verner azkuš. pilot

  Jar. Mareš.“ Brzy odpoledne ve 13.15 ob drželi voddělení Bb ještě tele-

  fonát Dr. Dočkala zMinisterstva vnitra sdalšími detaily: „Dn es 22.čer-

  vence1936 startovalo německé letadlo zn . „DULUR“ v7.50 hod. ze

  Gbel do Breslau . Pilotoval Neubrand , telegrafista Haupt – bez cestují-

  cích. V8.14 hod. zachytily Gbely volá ní SOS tohoto letadla… V11 hod.

  hlásilo četnictvo zHra dce Král., že letadlo se zřítil o na kotě 463 uobce

  Chlomek. Obě dvě osob y byly zabity, letadlo úplně roztří štěno.“

  Spis byl uzavřen a založen

  4.září1936. Obsahoval samostatný

  vyšetřovací spis z 3. sr pna 1936

  vypracovaný Ministerstvem pošt

  a telegrafů, pod které spadala

  pražská zaměřovací stanice. Dále

  hlášení Velitelství četnické letecké

  hlídky v Hradci Králové z 23.čer-

  vence 1936, pri márně adresované

  nadřízenému Min isterstvu vnitra ,

  azápis z výslechu svědků havárie,

  který provedla četnická stanice

  v Cerekvicích, a fotografickou

  přílohu. Závěrečný třístránkový

  protokol podepsaný techniky Ing. F. Chvátalem a Ing. V. Vernerem

  shrnuj e: „Komis e ministers tva veřejný ch prací pro vyšetření havárie

  letadla dostavila se na místo nehody 22 .července v 15. hod . Trosky

  letadla nebyly již ve stavu, ja k letadlo dopadlo na zem, nýbr ž byly– prý

  zrozkazu nějakého pána zokresního úřadu– shrnuty na několik hromad

  amotor svrtulí byl ze země vykop án.“

  Další text obsahuje popis místa havárie: „Místo nehody je mladš í les

  zvaný Buk ovina… Letad lo vlétlo do lesa asi 200 m od již ního okraje.

  Směr vlétnutí je jihovýcho dní. Prvá stopa je na 10 m vysoké borovici jíž

  je uražena kor una. Dále ve směru vlétnutí jsou přeráženy st romy stále

  níže a asi 12m od zmíněné borovice je vzemi asi 1,5m hluboká jáma

  široká asi 2,5m. Zní byly vykopány trosky motor u avrtule přeražená na

  dva kusy. Dále ve směr u vlétnutí d o vzdálenosti asi 30m od jámy jsou

  stromy p řeráženy u země, jiné jen odřeny aohn uty a mezi nimi jsou

  trosky leta dla– spleť zohýbaných a pomačkaných plechů propletená

  zbytky různých ve dení a armatur. Rozbité části předku trupu, kabiny

  apodvozku nacházejí se úplně vpředu , části nosného systému aocas-

  ních ploch po celé délce místa dopadu… Roztříš těná těla pilota ateleg-

  rafisty byla nalezena m ezi troskami vpředku trupu abyl o velmi obtížno

  určit kolik a osobá m náleže jí. Pal ubní př ístroj e byly úp lně zni čeny. Na le-

  zeny byly zmačklé hodink y pilota atelegrafisty. Ručičky prvých hod inek

  Celkem je známo 47 vyrobených kusů, ale objevují se ta ké

  neurčité údaje o pokračování výroby upravené vojenské

  verze Ju 160 C-0.

  Osudy dvou strojů zpředposlední, dubnové dodávky se

  na lince Mnichov – Pra ha – Vratislav fatálně proťaly

  sčeskou historií. Ráno 20.července1936 odstartoval zMnichova dopr avní Junkers

  Ju 160 Silberfuchs společnosti Deutsche Lufthansa kpravidelnému letu přes Prahu

  do Vratislav i. Pro techn ickou závadu byl al e nucen nouzově př istát vpol i uStaňko-

  Nouzové přistání 20. července 1936 u Staňkova v západních

  Čechách zachycuje série fotografií.

  V květnu 1940 převzala „Silberfuchs“ Luftwaffe a obdržel kmenové označení

  RC + KO. Jak snímek kuriózně prokazuje, tradiční pojmenování „Silberfuchs“

  bylo ponecháno i v období vojenské služby.

  Na starém drážďanském letišti Heller vznikla

  série reklamních fotografií čerstvě dodaného

  stroje D-UVOX „Rotfuchs“.

  20 REVI č.146/2025

  20 REVI č.146/2025

  REVI č.146/2025 21

  REVI č.146/2025 21

  Ing. Pavel Vančata

  Sestřelen u Arrasu

  Jedním z novousedlíků voblasti kanadských prér ijních provincií se

  vlétě 1906 stal Fran k Pawlitza narozený 31.července1886 ve slezské

  obci Šumbark, která je dnes jednou změstských čá stí Havířova. Vroce

  1910 získal kanadské občanství a17. května1915 se ve městě Swift

  Current oženil sA nnou Tucek (* 20.srpna1889 ve Zruči nad Sázavou).

  Vlétě 1916 spolu se synem Albertem (* 4.února1916) žil i na vlastn í

  farmě v katastru obc e Pittville vprovincii Saskat chewan. Vnásledují-

  cích letech do rodiny přibyli ještě tři potomci: Vera Rose (* 1.l istopa-

  du 1917), Elvyn Joseph (* 30. září 1921) a Francis Harold

  (* 30.ledna1924).

  Nás budou zajímat osudy syna Elvyna, který v letech 1927 až 1935

  navštěvoval základní školu v Baxtervi lle a další tři roky studoval

  zdomova formou distančn í výuky. To již rodina vlastnila farmu v obci

  Abbey, stále vprovincii Saskatchewan, na k teré po ukončení školní do-

  cházky zůstal pomáhat .

  Dne 6. února1942 si tento dvacetiletý mladík modrých očí asvětle

  hnědých vlasů měřící 180 cm podal př ihlášku do Royal Canad ian Air

  Force (RCAF). Přísahu složil 1.května1942 vNo. 5 Recruiting Centre

  ve městě Regina vprovinci i Saskatchewan, odkud ještě t éhož dne odjel

  kNo. 2 Manning Depot sídlícímu v Brandonu vsousední provincii Ma-

  nitoba. Zde se zněj stal nováček se služebním číslem R163640 vhodnos-

  ti Aircraftman 2

  nd

  Class (AC2) a byl zař azen do skupiny určené do

  výcviku na pilota s alternativou na navigátora. Od 29. srpna dostal

  měsíční neplacené volno, aby mohl pomoci skl idit úrodu na rodinné

  farmě. Následně 23. října odjel do Edmontonu v provincii Alberta, kde

  tři dny nat o zahájil základ ní výcvik u No. 4 Initia l Traini ng School

  vrámci kurz u č. 65, který končil 1.ledna1943, kdy byl povýšen do hod-

  nosti Leadi ng Aircraft man (LAC). S výsledným hodnoc ením 74 % se

  umístil až na 90. m ístě mezi 105 nováčky: „Než narukoval, pracoval na

  otcově farmě. Jeho bratr slouží jako rotmistr uarmády. Prů měrný spor-

  tovec. Český půvo d– 2. generace. Mlad ík zfarmy– amb iciózní– bude

  se hodně snažit. Pom alu se učí– upravený. Doporučen na po ddůstojní-

  ka. Alternat ivně radiotelegrafista-střelec.“ Jeho sen stát se pilotem se

  rozplynul, neboť nehledě na uvedené doporuče ní byl př eřazen do výcviku

  na bombometčíka.

  Na zařazení do další fáze výcviku vyčkával v Edmontonu, a než

  kněmu stačilo dojít, byl 30.ledna hospital izován vnemocnici na základ-

  ně a26. února nastoupil dvoutýdenní zdravotní dovolenou. Na několik

  dnů se vrátil kNo. 4 ITS, odkud 21.března odjel na řádnou dovolenou.

  Zní se 3.dubna hl ásil uNo. 7 Bombing & Gunner y School (B & GS) na

  základně Paulson vprovincii Ma nitoba.

  Kurz pro bombometčí ky č. 79 zde probíha l mezi 5. dubnem až

  25. červnem 1943. Během prakt ického bombardování na létal na dvou-

  motorových letounech Avro Anson 46 h 50 min ve dne a4 h 30 min

  vnoci a shodil celkem 121 pum ve dne a 16 vnoci. P ři bombardování

  zmalé v ýšky dosahoval prů měrné odchylky 61 ya rdů (56 m) az velké

  výšky 167 yardů (153 m). Vrámci střeleckého výcviku strávil 16 h mani-

  pulací se střeleckými věžemi na zemi apoté dalších 15 h 5 min nalétal na

  letounech Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke, přičemž vyst řílel 3 700 ran

  a dosáhl průměrné úspěšnost i 10 % zásahů. S hod nocením 77,5 %

  skončil na 9. místě mezi 38 kadety. Podle i nstruktorů byl průměrným

  bombometčíkem astřelcem apo dokončení výcvik u ho doporučili ke

  jmenování do důstojnické hodnosti.

  ZPaulsonu odjel vden ukončení kurzu a druhý den se h lásil uNo. 1

  Air Observer School vMaltonu, Onta rio. Vtamní m navigačním kurz u

  č. 79 probíhajícím od 28. června do 6.srpna 1943 si vedl velm i dobře

  (obdržený počet bodů/maximá lní možný počet bodů): základy letecké

  navigac e (161/200), rozpoz návání let ounů (211/250), pr aktick á signali za-

  ce (250/ 250), te orie let eckého průzk umu (113/150) , teori e leteck ého foto -

  graf ování (111/150) , prakt ická nav igace ve dne (219/30 0), prak tická na vi-

  gace v noc i (140/200), bombardování (215/300), praktické lete cké

  fotografování (133/200). Zpozemních předmětů obdržel známku 84,6 %

  spolu shodnocením: „ Nadprůměrný. Jasně chápe vše, co se od něj vy-

  žaduje . Navigac e dobrá.“ Jeho práci ve vzduchu po odlétání 26 h 45 min

  ve dne a17 h 20 min vnoci na Ansonech instruktoři ohodnoti li známkou

  70,7 % s doplňujícím komentář em: „Nadpr ůměrný. Dobrý navigátor

  vnoci. Pracoval velmi d obře.“ Slavnostní předán í odznaků novopeče-

  ným bombometčíkům proběhlo 5. srpna az dvaatřiceti absolventů jich

  dvanáct dostalo doporučení ke jmenování do důstojnické hodnost i. LAC

  Pawlitza byl podle svého služebního záz namu dnem 6. srpna 1943

  zařazen do odbornosti Air Bomber a ke stejnému dni byl povýšen do

  hodnosti Sergeant (Sgt). Nicméně 30.srpna byl se zpětnou platností o d

  6.srpna jmenován do důstojnické hodnosti P ilot Officer (P/O) aobdržel

  nové důstojnické služební číslo J28966.

  Ve dnech 7. až 20. srpna čerpal dovolenou p řed odjezdem do zámo ří

  apoté zamí řil kNo. 1 „Y“ Depot do př ístavu Halifax. Zde se 26.srpna

  nalo dil aub ritsk ých břeh ů přist ál oše st dnů poz ději. Od 2.zář í se nac há-

  zel ve stavu No. 3 (RCAF) Personnel Reception Cent re vjihoanglickém

  Bournemouthu.

  Mezi 2. listopadem a20. prosi ncem 1943 prodělal P/OPawlitza dopl-

  ňující výcvik na letounech Anson u No. 1 (Observer) Advanced F lying

  Unit na letišti Wigtown ve Skotsku. Následujícího dne se hlásil do kurzu

  č. 13 uNo. 82 Operational Training Unit (OTU) na základ ně Ossington,

  kde operační výcvik probíhal na dvoumotorových bombardérech Vickers

  Wellington B Mk.III a Mk.X. Z de se stal členem šestičlenné osádky

  složené zpříslušníků RCAF, kteří se sice všichn i narodili vKanadě, a le

  většina znich měla kořeny vEvropě:

  pilot P/O William Wallace Proudfoot (J27626) – rodiče pochá zeli ze

  Skotska;

  navigátor P/OJoseph Art hur Murphy (J28035)– rodi če byli rodi lí Kana-

  ďané;

  bombometčík P/OElvyn Joseph Pawlitza (J28966)– rodiče měli český

  původ;

  radiotelegrafista Sgt Enrico Joseph Simonato (R183691) – rodič e emi-

  grovali zItálie;

  střelec P/OAlbert Edward Hall (J37151)– otec pocházel zAnglie, matka

  zNizozemska;

  střelec P/O Peter Koleda (J37149) – rodiče se naro dili v západní část i

  Uk raji ny.

  Během cvičných letů osádku P/OProudfoota potkala d robná nehoda.

  Vsobotu 18.března1944 ve 20.25 Wellington B M k.X LN543 utrp ěl

  lehké poškozen í během pojíždění ke startu knoční mu cvičnému letu,

  osádka vyvázla nezraněn a: „Letoun zahájil pojíždění stlakem 140 liber

  vbrzdá ch a vyjel ze stojánky (č. 33). Po přejetí vzletové a přistávací

  dráhy zastavil . Poté pokračoval po pojezdové dráze vedoucí p aralelně

  se vzletovou apřistávací dráhou 22 , kde opět zastavil, aby dal př ednost

  jinému letounu. Dále jel směrem kmístu pro kontrolu podvozku, kde se

  mu nepodař ilo zastavit a pokračoval v jízdě zmír ného svahu ještě asi

  70 yardů přímým směrem, dokud jed no kolo podvozku nenarazilo d o

  4 stopy vysoké zídk y, okterou se zastavil. Po in cidentu bylo zjištěno, že

  tlak v brzdách klesl na 10 liber.“ Velitel Training Wing No. 82 OTU

  W/Cdr W. D. Ferris označil za viníka nehody P/OProudfoota, který měl

  nalétáno sa mostatně 207 h, z toho 66 h na Welling tonech: „Pilot e vi-

  dentně běhe m pojíždění příliš používa l brzdy a nekon troloval tlak

  vbrzdách. Spotřeba vzduchu byla normální , tj. 7 lb/sq. in. Lze se dom ní-

  vat, že pilot při po užívání brzd a kontrole tlak u nebyl dosta tečně obe-

  zřetný, zvláště když pojezdová dráha vtomto místě kles á, apojížděl moc

  rychle.“ Současně doporuči l vepsat do jeho zápisníku letů pokárání za

  „hrubou nedbalost“.

  Zbývající část operačního výcviku do 2.dubna proběhla už bez mimo-

  řádných událostí. P/OPawlitza na Wellingtonech nalétal 56 h 10 min ve

  dne a40 h 5 min vnoci a během té doby provedl: sedm cvičných bom-

  bardování ve dne (28 pum) adalších osm cvičení za t my (28 pum); čtyři

  cvičné střelby ve dne (jedna na terč tažený za dru hým letounem atři na

  cíl vm oři, cel kem 1 200 ra n) atři cvičné střelby za tmy na cí l vmoři (600

  Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada, PL-31182

  Library and Archives Canada

  Chris McLean collection

  Library and Archives Canada

  ▲ Na snímku pořízeném v roce 1944 na letecké základně „kdesi v Anglii“ je

  zachycen LAC Frank Thompson, motospojka od No. 427 Squadron RCAF, ve

  společnosti tří sličných příslušnic umělecké jednotky „RCAF Blackouts“ pořáda-

  jící představení pro spojenecké vojáky. V pozadí stojí bombardér Handley Page

  Halifax jedné z kanadských perutí spadající pod velení No. 6 (RCAF) Group.

  ◀ Vyrovnaná řada letounů Avro Anson

  zachycená pravděpodobně na letišti

  Malton, kde sídlila No. 1 AOS. Vpo-

  předí parkuje Anson sériového čísla

  RCAF 6044 sindividuálním písmenem

  „D“, dříve sloužil vRAF pod sériovým

  číslem R3470. No. 1 AOS jej obdržela

  21.května 1940, mezi 15. červencem

  a25. zářím 1942 prošel generální opra-

  vou u firmy de Havilland Canada, po

  níž se vrátil zpět kjednotce. V násle-

  dujících letech ho kvýcviku používaly

  ještě No. 4 AOS aNo. 31 B & GS. Na

  konci války měl nalétáno 3 359 h 45 min.

  Druhý Anson vřadě za ním nese na pří-

  di individuální písmeno „A“ spolu se

  znakem No. 1 AOS.

  Elvyn Joseph Pawlitza na oficiálních portrétech RCAF, vlevo jako nováček, vpravo

  v důstojnické hodnosti P/O po dokončení výcviku bombometčíka v Kanadě.

  32 REVI č.146/2025

  Martin Pospíšil

  REVI č.146/2025 33

  Mustangy na konci světa

  Mustangy na konci světa

  - 311. Fighter Group v Barmě a Číně

  - 311. Fighter Group v Barmě a Číně

  1. cást

  1. cást

  Jedinou stíhací sk upinou USAAF, která během 2. světové války ope-

  račně používala většinu verzí letounu North American Mustang, byla

  311. Fighter Bomber Group později přejmenovaná na 311. Fighter Group.

  Vjejí výzbroji se postupně vyst řídaly verze A-36A aP-51A s motory

  Allison, P-51B/C/D/Kiprůzkumné F-6C/D/Ksmotory Merlin. Vnašich

  končinách nepříliš známá skupina působila bě hem války vjihovýchodní

  Asii vprostoru nazývaném CBI (China Bur ma India).

  Skupina byla založena k28. lednu 1942 na zá kladně Will Rogers Field

  vOklahomě jako 311. Bomb Group (Light) anásledně včervenci přezna-

  čena na 311. Bomb Group (Dive). Orok později 30.září1943 přišla další

  změna označen í tentokrát na 311. Fighter Bomber Group. Nový název

  odpovídal novému určení skupiny ijejí výzbroji, kterou od prosince1942

  tvořily letouny A-36A doplněné v červnu 1943 o P-51A. Podobnou

  změnou názvu prošly itř i ze čtyř podřízených perut í, unichž se navíc

  měnilo také číselné označení, t akže z382. BS se od září stala 528. FBS,

  z383. BS se stala 529. FBS az384. BS se stala 530. FBS. Poslední –

  čtvrtá 385. BS byla 30.září1943 zr ušena ajejí personál byl kompletně

  převeden kčerstvě vzniklé 459. FS spadající pod 80. FG.

  Výcvik skupiny vUSA probíhal zpočátku na dvoumíst ných střemhla-

  vých bombardérech Vultee Vengeance, proto bylo vnáz vu skupiny slovo

  Dive. Jednalo se o dosti neoblíbené letouny, na nichž došlo během

  výcviku k několika smr telným nehodám aani velení sjejich bojovým

  nasazením nepočítalo. Proto se stěmito letouny na bojiště skupina nikdy

  nevydala apřešla na daleko bojeschopnější Mustangy.

  Jako první vprosinci 1942 obdržela střemhlavé bombardéry A-36A

  1)

  .

  Jednalo se oprvní sériovou verzi stavěnou pro USAAF, protože předtím

  se vyráběly pouze Mustangy IaIA

  2)

  určené pro br itskou RAF. Celkem

  bylo vyrobeno adodáno 500 letounů A-36A, tovární označení NA-97.

  Mimo motoru Allison V1710-87 je cha rakterizovaly výklopné aerodyna-

  mické brzdy vkřídle určené ke snížení r ychlosti ve střemh lavém letu.

  Výzbroj byla tvořena dvojicí kulometů vpřídi adalšími čt yřmi vkřídle.

  Jednalo se první verzi Mustangu vyráběnou se závěsníky pro pumy nebo

  přídavné nádrže. Do výzbroje ji zařad ily 86. FBG (listopa d 1942)

  a27. F BG (první polovina roku 1943), obě působící vseverní Africe,

  aprávě 311. FBG. Posledně jmenovaná jednotka použila vbojích celkem

  40 kusů této verze.

  Druhou verzí Mustangu použ ívanou u 311. FBG byla ve stejném

  období verze P-51A (továr ní označení NA-99). To byla posled ní, nyní již

  čistě stíhací, verze Mustangu s motorem Allison (varia nta V1710-81)

  původně objed naná v počtu 1 200 kusů. Nakonec jich bylo vyrobeno

  pouze 310, protože se mezitím začaly vy rábět Mustangy verze P-51B

  smotory Merlin. P-51A měl výzbroj čtyř kulometů vkřídle azávěsníky

  již byly standardní výbavou. V rá mci USAAF je obdržela nejprve

  311. FBG anásledně 23. FG a1. Air Com mando Group. Tedy všechny

  uUSAAF operačně používané Mustangy verze P-51A sloužily voblasti

  CBI.

  Přechod na A-36A na konci roku 1942 zn amenal, že od 311. BG odešli

  všichni palubní střelci apiloti zahájili intenz ivní výcvik na nových jed-

  nomístných strojích. Na konci ledna1943 se skupina zúčast nila prvního

  velkého cvičení na území USA akoncem února byla prohlášena za boje-

  schopnou. Nicméně vzápětí přišel rozkaz převést co nejvíce personálu ke

  skupinám na africkém bojišti. Proto například u382. BS zbyli na začátk u

  dubna pouze dva piloti. Skupina byla doplněna nováčky, výcvik začal

  vpodstatě od nuly atrva l až do léta. Přesun skupiny na bojiště tak byl

  zahájen až na konci července1943, kdy přes Austr álii dorazila koncem

  září do Indie na zákla dnu Nawadihj.

  Zde byla 30.září přejmenov ána na 311. FBG apo té násled ovalo rozd ě-

  lení skupiny mezi několi k základen vúdolí Assam (oblast podél ř eky

  Brahmaputry známá především pěstováním čaje) na východě Indie. Ve-

  litelství a 530. FBS se počátkem října přesunuly na zákla dnu Dinjan,

  528. FBS na základnu Sookerating a529. FBS na základnu Mohannbarj.

  Letouny byly mezi perutěmi rozděleny tak, že 528. FBS měla všechny

  A-36A a529. spolu s530. FBS pak P-51A. Nicméně piloti často létali na

  strojích jiných perutí. 530. FBS sloužila především jako stíhací, ato jak

  kochraně vlastních A-36A/P-51A, tak ijako doprovodná pro bombardé-

  ry. Proto také její piloti dosáh li největšího počtu sestřelů vrámc i skupiny.

  Navíc Musta ngům s Allisony hrálo do karet i to, že stíhací operace

  v oblasti CBI probíhaly ve výrazně menších výškách než vz ápadní

  Evropě nebo Středomoří, aproto se z nich na tomto bojišti postupem

  času stala smrtící zbraň.

  Vté době byla fronta vBar mě stabilizovaná, především proto, že z de

  od července do října panovalo období

  monzunů, které výr azně omezilo

  většinu bojových operací. Nicméně

  obě strany se intenzivně připravovaly

  na další kolo bojů. V rámci USAA F

  odpovídala za letecké ope race

  voblasti Indie aBarmy 10. Air Force.

  Byla založena vúnoru 1942 aa ž do

  března 1943 odpovídala za celou

  oblast CBI. Založen ím 14. Air Force

  vČíně vbř eznu 1943 došlo kr ozděle-

  ní odpovědnosti. Většina skupin

  původní 10. AF zůstala v Číně abyla

  převedena ke 14. AF. Ztoho důvodu

  se 10. AF musela začít budovat vpod-

  statě od nuly.

  Stíhací složka 10. A F se od

  podzimu 1943 sklá dala z311. F BG

  s Mustang y a 80. FG vyzbrojené

  P-40N (88., 89. a90. FS) aP-38 (459.

  FS, ta byla 80. FG sice administrativ-

  ně podřízená, ale operovala sa mo-

  statně). Bombardovací skupiny

  zastupovaly 7. a308. BG(H) s B-24

  (ta dr uhá byla dočasně zapůjčena od 14. AF) a 341. BG(M) s B-25.

  Pozadu sdoplňováním nezůstali ani Britové, jejichž squadrony spadající

  pod South East Asia Com mand byly přezbrojovány na Spitfiry Mk.Vc,

  Mosquita aBeaufightery.

  Hlavním ajed iným protivníkem spojeneckého let ectva voblasti bylo

  japonské a rmádní letectvo, jehož standa rdní st íhačkou v Barmě byly

  letouny Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa patřící 50. a64. Sentai. Koncem

  roku je doplnily ještě 33. a204. Sentai. Lehké avelmi obratné Ki-43 byly

  vté době již z a zenitem své největší slávy asvým i výkony aslabou vý-

  zbrojí se nemohly měřit s novými spojeneckými letouny. Nicméně dí ky

  zkušeným pilotů m byly ještě stále nebezpečnými protivníky. Japonské

  bombardovací útvary byly vyzbrojeny typy Mitsubishi Ki-21 aKawasaki

  Ki-48. Také japonské armádní lete ctvo využilo přestávky vbojích kdo-

  plnění stavů, takže se voblasti objevily další typy letadel, jako stí hací

  Nakajima Ki-44 Shóki, Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryú (21. Sentai) nebo krátce

  v období cca dvou měsíců bombardér y Nakajima Ki-49 Donryú od

  62. Sentai.

  Hlavním cílem Spojenců voblasti bylo ochránit dopravní trasy mezi

  Indií aČí nou tak, aby bylo možné zásobovat čínské armády, které, byť

  nebyly b ojově příli š efektivn í, na sebe váza ly 25 japonských divizí.

  Velká část zásob byla dopravována letecky přes Himaláje (letecký most

  známý jako The Hump, tedy Hrb), což nebylo dlouhodobě ud ržitelné,

  aproto mělo na podzim 1943 dojít k několika ofenzivním a kcím, které

  Ilustrace/colour proles: Václav Hochmuth

  Rekonstrukce barevných schémat atext: Martin Pospíšil

  ▲ Údržba P-51A (v. č. 43-6109) od 311. Fighter Bomber Group na indické

  základně Kurmitola. Stroj má podvěšené dvě 75galonové přídavné nádrže nejstar-

  šího typu s vystouplými plnícími hrdly.

  USAAF

  ▲ Osobní letoun Jamese J. Englanda P-51A č. 75 (43-6077) pojmenovaný „Jackie“ je znám v několika podobách a některé detaily změn markingu se objeví i na fotogra-

  fiích v tomto článku. Jedná se o stroj 530. FBS (později 530. FS), pro kterou byly typické žluté vrtulové kužely a evidenční čísla od 61 do 90. Mustang zpočátku neměl

  na SOP číslo 75, následně se měnila poloha a tvar sestřelů před kabinou a stejně tak měnilo polohu i jméno pilota. Bokorys představuje letoun v podobě z období někdy

  po 14. květnu 1944, kdy England dosáhl svého osmého a posledního sestřelu v kabině P-51A (zbylé dva pak na P-51C). Tento a další Mustangy, kterým jsou věnované

  bokorysy v tomto díle, si můžete postavit díky obtiskům od firmy DKdecals (aršík č. 72093 nazvaný 10

  th

  AF Mustangs).

  USAAF

  Englandův P-51A č. 75 (43-6077) „Jackie“ v péči pozemního personálu. Za

  povšimnutí stojí číslo 75 na SOP, které na rozdíl od většiny ostatních strojů

  530. FBS není perforované.

  (Pokračování z REVI č. 145)

  Vdalších dnech naopak vzlétly Brandenburgy Fliegerkompagnie 19

  kpronásledování nepřátelských letadel. Napří klad 20. dubna 1917 letěl

  Lt.i.d.Res. Pürer za pozorovatelským kulometem letounu Hansa Bran-

  denburg C.I (Ph) 129.03 a o den později seděl vkokpitu prot otypu 20.09.

  Oba tyto lety však ambiciózní Pürer označil jako neúspěšné a ani je mezi

  bojové lety nepočítal, stejně tak jako start kpr ůzkumu na tr ase Görz –

  Merna 24. dubna 1917 sBrandenburgem 129.10, jelikož průzkumná mise

  nemohla být pro nízkou oblačnost uskutečněna, ačkoli letoun byl ve

  vzduchu 40 minut a uletěl 90 kilomet rů. Týž den se stejným letadlem se

  již podařilo průzkum provést, takže tento posled ní bojový let vdubno -

  vém výkazu bojových letů nesl teprve číslo 16.

  Do boje spř esilou italských stíhaček se BO Pürer do stal 3. června

  1917. Osádky tří Brandenbu rgů C.I Flik 19 protivníka identifikovaly jako

  šest Nieuportů a jeden Spad. Společně se podař ilo jeden Nieuport poslat

  k zemi za nepřátelskými liniem i poblíž Sober-Savogna. Josef Pü rer

  (4. vítězství) letěl ve stroji neznámého čísla s pilotem FP Zugsf. Karlem

  Reithoferem (2. sestřel), Brandenburg C.I (öAlb) 29.64 pilotoval

  FP Hptm. Adolf Heyrowsky (10. vítězství; pozorovatel BO Oblt. László

  Hauser, jeho 2. sestřel) a ve třetím blíže neident ifikovaném Brandenbur-

  gu seděli FF Korp. Eduard Szajkovits (1. vítězst ví) a d alší budoucí

  letecké eso BO Lt. Sándor Tahy (4. potvrzený sestřel).

  Průzkumný úkol pro 14. Infanteried ivision plnila letecká setnina č. 19

  také 19. června dopoledne. Formace tří Bra ndenburgů C.I sice neučinila

  nad f rontou žádná zásadní pozorování, nicméně byla napadena pěticí

  stíhaček Nieuport. Lt.i.d.Res. Püre r tehdy sdílel kokpit letounu 29.63

  společně sFP Zugs. Istvánem Fejésem, osádku Hansa Brandenburgu C.I

  (Ph) 129.42 tvořili FF Korp. Josef Schantl a BO Lt.i.d.Res. Michael

  Sawczuk, se strojem vojenského čísla 129.60 letěli FF Korp. E duard

  Szajkovits a BO Lt.i.d.Res. Friedrich Dechant. Po střetu se jeden zpro-

  tivníků zřítil za ita lskými pozicemi u Sober (Vertojba), podíl na sestřelu

  Podoba stroje Hansa Brandenburg C.I (öAlb) 29.64, s nímž získal BO Lt.i.d.Res. Josef Pürer 17. dubna 1917

  u Flik 19 své třetí vítězství. Během tohoto letu jej pilotoval FP Hptm. Adolf Heyrowsky, který v jeho kokpitu

  zaznamenal od dubna do června 1917 celkem pět potvrzených sestřelů, čímž z něj učinil nejen nejúspěšnější stroj

  své jednotky, ale podle dosavadních zjištění zřejmě vůbec nejúspěšnější Hansa Brandenburg C.I. Letoun dodaný

  k Flik 19 počátkem roku 1917 zaznamenal u setniny v průběhu služby několik úprav. Ještě v zimě létal stroj

  s držákem dynama pod vrtulí, bez stojanu pro hlaveň kulometu pozorovatele, který měl perforovaný plášť původně vodního chladiče hlavně, zatímco na pozdějších sním-

  cích je kulomet již zcela bez vodního chladiče, letoun má doplněný stojan kulometu a stejně jako 29.63 na horním křídle upravenou schránku pro dva kulomety, nikoli

  však identickou. V čelním krytu motoru také přibyly dva podélné výřezy pro lepší chlazení motoru, který tentokráte poháněla vrtule značky Germania. Stroj po většinu

  své bojové kariéry u Flik 19 létal také v původní barvě materiálu se zřetelným logem Albatros na kýlovce. Brandenburg 29.64 se ve stavu Flik 19/D nacházel ještě v říjnu

  1917. V březnu 1918 byl letoun zničen při havárii během školního letu u Flik 69/D, to však již nesl kamufláž na části povrchu.

  38 REVI č.146/2025 REVI č.146/2025 39

  Ilustrace/colour proles: Václav Hochmuth

  Rekonstrukce barevných schémat atext: Petr Aharon Tesař

  Josef Pürer, zapomenutý hrdina z Bad Schönau

  Josef Pürer, zapomenutý hrdina z Bad Schönau

  Esa k.u.k. LFT známá neznámá

  Petr Aharon Tesar

  ˇ

  Italský Nieuport 17, zachycený počátkem roku 1917 nad horským terénem. Právě

  nad stíhačkami typu Nieuport zaznamenal Josef Pürer od dubna do června 1917 tři

  potvrzená a jedno nepotvrzené vítězství.

  A stíhačkami Nieuport byl 19. června 1917 spolu s FP Zugsf. Fejésem donucen

  v Brandenburgu 29.63 k nouzovému přistání u Schönpass… Jedním z vítězů tohoto

  souboje bylo italské eso od 81ª Squadriglia sottotenente Flavio Torello Baracchini

  (na fotografii). Šlo o jeho 7. vítězství z celkem 21+11 a je velmi pravděpodobné, že

  toho dne letěl právě v kokpitu tohoto stroje Nieuport 17 s černým štítem na trupu.

  Dobový tisk přinášel zprávy zfron-

  ty, letectvo nevyjímaje, jednak

  o hrdinských činech a udělených

  vyznamenáních, jednak o ztrátách

  v boji. Celou půlstranu (s výjim-

  kou reklamy na cigaretový papír)

  věnoval vídeňský týdeník Das In-

  teressante Blatt z28. června1917

  letcům Fliegerkompagnie 19, sa-

  mozřejmě bez uvedení čísla setni-

  ny. Vlevé části můžeme pod por-

  tréty šesti příslušníků jednotky číst:

  „1. Leutn. Alexander Tahy, sestřelil

  tři letouny, vyznamenán Stříbrnou

  medailí za udatnost 1. třídy aSig-

  num laudis; 2. Hauptmann Adolf

  Heyrowsky, porazil čtyři nepřá-

  telské letouny, Řád železné koruny

  3. třídy, Vojenský záslužný kříž atři-

  krát Signum laudis; 3. Oberleutn.

  Artur Klose-Kuschel, sestřelil jeden

  Nieuport, Signum laudis; 4. Ober-

  leutn. Oskar Zeisberger, sestřelil

  jedno letadlo, Řád železné koruny

  3. třídy, Vojenský záslužný kříž 3. tř.

  advakrát Signum laudis; 5. Ober-

  leutn. Ladislaus Hauser, porazil

  dva nepřátelské aparáty, Vojenský

  záslužný kříž s válečnou dekorací

  a Signum laudis; 6. Leutn. Josef

  Pürer, sestřelil dva italské stroje,

  Signum laudis.

  Letecká setnina Hauptmanna Adolfa

  Heyrowskyho, která obzvláště vy-

  nikla během desáté Bitvy oSoču; letci útočili na nastupující Italy tím, že sestoupili na nejnižší možnou výšku aostřelovali nepřátelské řady kulometnou palbou.“

  Vpravé části se pak pod větším portrétem dozvídáme, že syn generála pěchoty von Langa, Oberleutnant Karl von Lang zletecké setniny Hauptm. Heyrowskyho sestřelil

  během Bitvy na Soči jedno nepřátelské letadlo aneporažen padl hrdinskou smrtí. Zdostupných zdrojů pak můžeme doplnit podrobnější informace, že pozorovatel Oblt.

  Karl Eugen von Lang získal svůj jediný potvrzený sestřel vkokpitu Brandenburgu 29.63, když 20.května1917 snejvětší pravděpodobností zasáhl stíhačku Spad 7 č. 4703

  italského esa tenente Fulco Ruffo di Calabria. Pilot letounu 29.63 FP Zugsf. István Fejés získal při téže příležitosti již svůj 3. sestřel. Oblt. von Lang zahynul ošest dní

  později. Během bombardovacího letu došlo ksamovznícení jedné zleteckých pum na palubě a osádka Brandenburgu 129.10 se zřítila na nepřátelské území poblíž Ver-

  tojba. Spolu svon Langem zahynul 26.května1917 ipilot FP Zugsf. Gyula Schmidt (3 potvrzená vítězství).

  „Type 29.64, Kontrollflug, Oblt. Laný, Oblt. v. Loeser, Flugfeld Aspern, 1917,“ uvádí popiska na zadní straně jedné z kopií této fotografie. Kontrolní let při převzetí

  Brandenburgu 29.64 uskutečnili důstojníci Fliegerarsenalu (Flars) pilot Oblt. Antal Lányi-Lanczendorfer a pozorovatel Oblt. Ewald von Loeser. Nový letoun byl stan-

  dardně vybaven dynamem pod vrtulí.

  sbírka Petr Aharon Tesař

  sbírka Petr Aharon Tesař

  sbírka Petr Aharon Tesař

  Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

  16 REVI č.146/2025 REVI č.146/2025 17

  16 REVI č.146/2025 REVI č.146/2025 17

  Dvouměsíčník o letadlech a letcích

  Již od roku 1994 vychází REVI – DVOUMĚSÍČNÍK O LETADLECH A LETCÍCH.

  Nejnovější číslo 146 právě vyšlo.

  K dostání v modelářských prodejnách, trafikách a novinových stáncích nebo si ho můžete objednat tam,

  kde nakupujete modely:

  Více informací o REVI najdete na www.revi.cz, na facebooku anebo se zeptejte přímo v redakci:

  redakce@revi.cz

  Vydavatelství REVI má v nabídce také několik publikací, také ty si můžete objednat na výše uvedených

  e-shopech nebo přímo u vydavatele.

  www.modelimex.cz

  www.eshop.aml.cz

  www.mn-modelar.cz

  www.arturmodel.cz

  www.mpmshop.cz

  Cena: 199 Kč

  146

  Northrop Chukar • Mustangy na konci světa

  Britské Austery na české obloze • Sestřelen u Arrasu • Konec Hyäne

  Dvouměsíčník o letadlech a letcích Cena: 199 Kč

  1/144 Scale

  Focke-Wulf Fw 189 A-1 Uhu

  Cat. No. l-3001

  Included

  colour profiles

  K.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe

  K.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe

  Photo Album 1914 -18

  Photo Album 1914 -18

  Volume 1

  Volume 1

  Petr Aharon Tesaø

  Petr Aharon Tesaø

  ISBN: 80-85957-13-2

  Petr Aharon TesaøPetr Aharon TesaøK.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe Photo Album 1914 -18 Volume 1K.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe Photo Album 1914 -18 Volume 1

  Nakajima Ki-44

  Nakajima Ki-44

  Shóki

  Shóki

  Martin Ferkl

  Martin Ferkl

  Cat. No. II-4005

  Cat. No. lI-4004

  Colour profiles

  included

  Messerschmitt Bf 110

  Messerschmitt Bf 110

  Volume 1 – C, D, E variants

  Cat No lI 4004

  – 1/72 and 1/48 scale drawings

  – colour profiles

  – colour photographs

  – Wolfgang Falck in focus

  Bf 110 obalka.indd 1 1.4.09 13:26

• Aerial War in Ukraine - Retreat from the Kursk Region and Global Chaos

  In this continuation of the series, we cover events that occurred between March 1 and March 31. The fighting continued on land, at sea, and in the air—despite U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire. With the benefit of hindsight, it can be said that Russia is playing for time and stringing Trump along...

  Miro Barič

  Retreat from the Kursk Region and Global Chaos

  In this continuation of the series, we cover events that occurred between March

  1 and March 31. The fighting continued on land, at sea, and in the air—despite U.S.

  efforts to broker a ceasefire. With the benefit of hindsight, it can be said that

  Russia is playing for time and stringing Trump along...

  Aerial War in Ukraine

  On the ground battlefield, the most

  significant events took place in Russia's Kursk

  region. Russian and North Korean troops finally

  managed a successful counteroffensive there,

  during which they recaptured the town of

  Sudzha. The Ukrainians had to withdraw from

  almost the entire Kursk region, retaining only

  two villages near the border. Drones played

  a key role in this Russian counteroffensive,

  particularly those with optical fibers that

  cannot be jammed. Using them, the Russians

  cut off Ukrainian supply lines, which was the

  main reason the Ukrainians had to retreat.

  On the other hand, the Ukrainian armed

  forces launched a raid into Russia’s Belgorod

  region, where fighting took place in several

  border villages. At the same time, there

  were several successful counterattacks

  were launched, especially around the towns

  of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, as well as in other

  areas. As a result, the Russian advance in

  eastern Ukraine essentially stalled during the

  monitored period.

  Does He Want Peace or Capitulation?

  On the global stage, U.S. President Trump

  was the key player. The question is whether

  anyone, including himself, really knows

  what he’s doing. Consider the trade wars he

  has started with virtually the entire world—

  imposing tariffs in the morning, only to lift

  them by evening. And the next day, the cycle

  repeats... Even American companies are now

  speaking out against this chaos.

  Practically the only country on which Trump

  hasn’t imposed additional tariffs is Russia.

  This might seem puzzling, but in the context

  of peace negotiations, it starts to make sense.

  He is demanding that Ukraine give up Crimea

  and other territories, and also abandon its

  ambitions to NATO membership. Additionally,

  he is pressuring Ukraine into an unfavorable

  agreement that would effectively hand over its

  mineral resources to the U.S. And what is he

  demanding from Russia, the aggressor in this

  war? Nothing... In fact, Trump’s administration

  has even begun efforts to halt investigations

  into Russian war crimes.

  During the observed period, Ukraine agreed

  to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia

  rejected it. Ukraine then agreed to at least

  a limited ceasefire concerning attacks on

  energy infrastructure and military operations

  in the Black Sea. Russia seemingly agreed

  too, but immediately began setting conditions,

  saying such a ceasefire was only possible if

  certain sanctions were lifted.

  Both of these limited ceasefires are, from

  the start, more advantageous to Russia.

  Although Ukraine has long been facing attacks

  on its power plants and heating facilities,

  it has adapted to this situation. A mild winter

  and current warming trends also play in its

  favor. On the other hand, Ukraine’s attacks

  on Russian refineries, fuel depots, and other

  oil infrastructure have significantly impacted

  the Kremlin. Last year, these attacks caused

  a 10 percent drop in Russian production,

  costing Moscow a great deal of money.

  In the Black Sea as well, Ukraine holds

  a more advantageous position, making the

  ceasefire more beneficial to Russia. Ukrainian

  New footage of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets.

  UKRAINE

  INFO Eduard24

  May 2025

• Strana 25

  naval drones and cruise missile attacks have

  sunk many ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet,

  forcing the remainder into ports in the eastern

  part of the sea. Despite regular Russian

  attacks, Ukraine has managed to resume grain

  exports on its own. Therefore, it is primarily

  Russia that is interested in free navigation.

  Despite everything, Ukraine agreed to the

  U.S. ceasefire proposals without any further

  conditions. And who does Trump blame for

  obstructing a peace deal? Ukraine...

  Oil Infrastructure

  As mentioned earlier, Ukrainian long-range

  drones continued attacking the Russian oil

  infrastructure during this reporting period.

  During the night of Tuesday, March 4, two

  Russian refineries were hit—one in Syzran

  and the other in Novoshakhtinsk. Both had

  been targeted in the past and had only recently

  New footage of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets.

  Close-up image from Maxar showing the ammunition depot hit at Engels-2.

  Satellite image of Engels-2 air base by Maxar Technologies. The struck ammunition depot is in the upper right corner.

  UKRAINE

  INFO Eduard

  25

  May 2025

• Strana 26

  resumed full operation. That same night,

  a pipeline in the Rostov region was also struck.

  On Saturday, March 8, Ukrainian drones

  attacked an oil refinery near St. Petersburg.

  Several drones also struck a cannery in

  Bryansk, which produced food rations for

  Russian troops. Ukrainians also continued

  their tactics of launching FPV drones from

  naval drones in the Black Sea, using them

  to destroy two Russian air defense systems

  along the coast.

  On the night of Monday, March 10, the target

  was the Novokuybyshevsk refinery near

  Samara, which produces aviation fuel for

  strategic bombers.

  The following night, Tuesday, March 11,

  Ukrainians carried out one of the most

  extensive attacks to date. They launched 337

  drones at Russia, with 70 to 100 targeting

  Moscow and over 120 targeting the Kursk

  region. The drones hit railway facilities, fuel

  depots, and other infrastructure. Debris from

  intercepted drones and missiles from Russian

  air defenses damaged several homes in the

  suburbs of Moscow.

  On Saturday, March 15, more than 100

  drones again flew towards targets in Russia.

  A refinery belonging to Lukoil and a railway

  station near Volgograd were hit.

  On Wednesday, March 19, the large

  Kavkazskaya fuel depot near Krasnodar was

  hit. It continued to burn and explode for nearly

  a week.

  A daring operation took place during the

  night of Thursday, March 20, when Ukrainians

  attacked Engels-2 airbase near Saratov—home

  to the Russian strategic bombers used against

  Ukrainian cities. Ukraine had previously

  attacked this base several times. This time,

  kamikaze drones hit an ammunition depot.

  The Ukrainian General Staff later announced

  that 96 Kh-101 cruise missiles were destroyed

  in the strike. While the exact number is

  unknown, secondary explosions shook the

  area well into the next day. Unconfirmed

  reports later surfaced on social media stating

  that a Tu-95MS bomber was damaged, and its

  pilot Ilya Balkin and flight engineer Yevgeny

  Sidorov were killed.

  UKRAINE

  Comparison of the depot before (top) and after

  the explosion, in Maxar images.

  A burning fuel depot in Kavkazskaya as seen

  in satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC.

  Center of the Ukrainian city of Dobropillia after a Russian attack on March 7, which killed 11 people.

  On March 12, a Russian missile hit a civilian ship

  in Odesa killing four crew members.

  Explosion of an ammunition depot at the Russian

  Engels-2 air base.

  INFO Eduard26

  May 2025

• Strana 27

  Civilian Targets

  And what targets did Russia attack?

  On Friday, March 7 in the evening, it was

  the city center of Dobropillia in the Donetsk

  region. Rockets with cluster munitions struck

  the area. It was Russia’s infamous "double-

  tap" strike—launching a second wave to kill

  rescuers aiding victims of the first. The result:

  eight five-story apartment buildings were

  destroyed or damaged, and a shopping center

  was hit. Worse yet, 11 people were killed and

  50 injured, including 7 children.

  On Wednesday, March 12, a similar double-

  tap attack hit the city center of Kryvyi Rih.

  The target was the Druzhba Hotel. Once

  rescuers arrived, a second missile struck.

  Nine people were seriously injured. On the

  same day, an Iskander missile struck a cargo

  ship flying the flag of Barbados docked in

  the port of Odesa. Shrapnel killed four crew

  members.

  Odesa was again targeted on Friday, March

  21, when Russia launched 214 drones in three

  waves against four Ukrainian cities. Ukrainians

  shot down 114 drones; another 84 crashed due

  to jamming or were simply decoys designed to

  overwhelm air defenses. The attack on Odesa

  occurred during a visit by Czech President Petr

  Pavel. Drones struck a shopping center and

  residential buildings, killing two and injuring

  ten.

  On Sunday, March 23, Russian drones again

  targeted multiple Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv,

  several high-rise apartment buildings were

  hit. In one of them, a man and his 5-year-old

  daughter—who had fled from Orikhiv in the

  Zaporizhzhia region—were killed. The mother

  was the only survivor, injured and hospitalized.

  On Saturday, March 29, Russia launched

  several ballistic missiles at Kryvyi Rih, hitting

  homes, a car wash, and a school, injuring

  seven. Kamikaze drones struck Dnipro, killing

  four people and injuring more than 20. Eleven

  homes, an auto shop, a hotel, and a restaurant

  were damaged. Russian propaganda then

  used its usual formula, claiming that

  “10 NATO officers and members of Ukraine's

  secret services who were celebrating at the

  restaurant” had been killed.

  Mirage in Action for the First Time

  One of the largest Russian air raids of the

  war occurred at the beginning of the reporting

  period but deserves its own section because,

  in addition to F-16s, French Mirage 2000-5F

  fighter jets took part in Ukrainian defense

  efforts for the first time.

  On Friday, March 7, Russia launched

  a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy

  infrastructure: 194 Shahed drones and

  67 missiles and cruise missiles. The missile

  group included 35 Kh-101/Kh-55s, 8 Kalibrs,

  8 Kh-59/69s, 3 Iskander missiles, and 4 S-300

  missiles used in a ground-to-ground mode.

  Ukrainian air defenses shot down 100 drones

  and 34 missiles. Another 86 drones crashed.

  In Kharkiv, the attack damaged at least

  30 homes, and in Poltava, a gas facility was

  hit. Two people were killed and 24 injured.

  After the attack, a video from the cockpit of

  a Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5F fighter jet was

  published, showing the downing of one Russian

  cruise missile.

  Just like the F-16s in their early days of

  deployment last year, the Mirage jets are

  now taking part in defense against Russian

  UKRAINE

  On March 21 Odesa was also targeted, during a visit by Czech President Petr Pavel.

  City of Dnipro in flames after a raid by the Russian kamikaze drones.

  Russian drones often veer off course and crash due to electronic jamming

  or technical failure. This Shahed drone flew as far as Kazakhstan.

  A “warhead” made of wooden

  slats inside a drone sent as

  a decoy to overwhelm

  Ukrainian air defenses.

  INFO Eduard

  27

  May 2025

• Strana 28

  air raids. Their pilots are gaining valuable

  experience before participating in various

  types of missions.

  First F-16 Combat

  F-16s are now also striking Russian

  ground targets. During one mission in this

  reporting period, the first encounter with

  Russian fighters occurred — ending without

  a shootdown but showing the F-16's

  vulnerability due to the Russian air superiority.

  It happened on Thursday, March 21, over

  Ukraine’s Sumy region. Russian military

  bloggers initially claimed to have shot down

  an F-16, but later corrected the record.

  According to Russian and Ukrainian sources,

  two Ukrainian aircraft (likely MiG-29s) loaded

  with bombs were escorted by one F-16. They

  flew at low altitude to evade Russian S-400

  detection.

  A Su-35 was patrolling high above and fired

  two long-range R-37 missiles at the group.

  The Ukrainian aircraft evaded them. As they

  turned to complete their bombing run, the

  Su-35 relayed targeting data to an S-400

  battery, which launched multiple missiles. One

  locked onto the F-16. The Ukrainian pilot had

  to use onboard electronic countermeasures,

  flares, and extreme maneuvering to evade it.

  The missile eventually ran out of fuel.

  Another „Black Day“ for Russia

  The Ukrainian F-16 escaped the ambush, and

  Ukraine suffered no confirmed losses during

  this period. However, several older losses

  were confirmed. Russia, meanwhile, lost

  multiple aircraft and helicopters in March.

  On Tuesday, March 18, a Mi-28 helicopter

  crashed during a training flight in the

  Leningrad region, killing both crew members,

  including Captain Ilya Vankovsky.

  On Saturday, March 22, a video showed

  a Su-34 making an emergency belly landing

  at Lipetsk airbase after landing gear failure.

  The engine caught fire after losing a nozzle.

  The aircraft was likely irreparably damaged.

  On Monday, March 24, a Su-25 crashed in

  Russia’s Far East — the pilot ejected safely.

  That same day, four Russian helicopters were

  destroyed in Belgorod region when Ukrainian

  HIMARS rockets struck a temporary landing

  site near the town of Ivnya. A reconnaissance

  drone had spotted them. The GMLRS warheads,

  filled with tungsten balls, rendered the

  helicopters irreparable: one Mi-8MTV-5M

  (“red 54”), one Mi-28NM (“red 96”), and likely

  two Ka-52s.

  Older Losses Confirmed

  On Wednesday, March 19, Ukraine’s military

  intelligence released a video of FPV drone

  attacks launched from naval drones against

  targets in Crimea — including S-300 and

  Pantsir-S1 systems, as well as various radar

  stations. One clip shows a drone exploding

  next to a parked Mi-8 helicopter at Veseloje

  airbase. Satellite images confirmed the

  helicopter had been stationary since at least

  February 24, suggesting the strike occurred in

  February and left it irreparably damaged.

  According to the analysis of published

  footage and satellite images by the Military

  Watch website, the Mi-8 helicopter had been

  parked in the same place since at least

  24 February and had not moved for the entire

  following month. All the other helicopters

  disappeared from the base in mid-February

  and did not return. Previously, several had

  been present there every day. This suggests

  that the attack on Veseloye airport took place

  in February, and that the Mi-8 seen in the video

  was so badly damaged that it was left behind.

  During the period under review, various

  losses on both sides were confirmed.

  A view from the cockpit of a Ukrainian Mirage 2000 fighter jet,

  which on March 7 shot down a Russian cruise missile.

  A wreckage of the Russian Mi-28 that crashed on March 18.

  Footage of an emergency landing of a Russian Su-34

  at the Lipetsk airbase.

  Russian Ministry of Defense photograph of a Mi-28 helicopter.

  UKRAINE

  INFO Eduard28

  May 2025

• Strana 29

  For example, official documents state that

  a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was damaged on

  21 January this year. While flying at 220 km/h

  at an altitude of 200 metres, the helicopter

  began to rotate constantly to the left. When

  the pilot was unable to stop the rotation by

  steering, he attempted an emergency landing,

  resulting in a crash.

  Ukrainian court documents show that, on

  22 February this year, a Westland Sea King

  HU.5 helicopter with the tail number “White 51“,

  belonging to the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade,

  was seriously damaged (probably beyond

  repair). Due to a malfunction, the aircraft

  made an emergency landing near Mykolaiv

  (presumably at the Kulbakino airbase),

  sustaining damage and causing injuries

  ranging from minor to moderate to the crew

  members. This is the first loss of this type of

  helicopter in Ukrainian service.

  Two further losses are evident in

  a documentary film released on Sunday

  2 March. It shows the wrecks of two

  Su-25M1 aircraft with the tail numbers

  “Blue 21“ and “Blue 23“. The footage was

  shot at the Kulbakino base in autumn 2024.

  Both aircraft were destroyed prior to this

  date. However, the circumstances of their

  destruction remain unclear, as does the

  question of whether they were destroyed at

  the base or elsewhere and their wrecks were

  subsequently transported there.

  Drone footage dated March 24 showing HIMARS rocket strikes on four Russian helicopters near the town of Ivnya in Belgorod region.

  Aftermath of the March 24 attack on four Russian helicopters — all were riddled with shrapnel

  and damaged beyond repair.

  Wrecks of the Ukrainian Su-25M1 aircraft

  with tail numbers “blue 21” and “blue 23”

  at the Kulbakino airbase. The footage was

  filmed in fall 2024 and recently released

  in a documentary.

  UKRAINE

  INFO Eduard

  29

  May 2025

• Strana 30

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  www.squadron.com

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  Squadron continues the tradition of quality selection

  and service for today’s model Kit building community.

  Head over to Squadron.com to see why modelers

  choose Squadron time and time again!

• Strana 31

  ®

  The Premier Source for Eduard in the USA

  AIRCRAFT | ARMOR | SHIPS | FIGURES | SCI-FI | BOOKS | PAINT

  Now Located Near Chattanooga, TN

  www.squadron.com

  Introducing the Latest

  In Quality Airbrush Paint

  Since 1968 Squadron has been offering model kits

  and accessories from top manufacturers from

  around the world. Today, now located in Ringgold, GA

  Squadron continues the tradition of quality selection

  and service for today’s model Kit building community.

  Head over to Squadron.com to see why modelers

  choose Squadron time and time again!

  #2151

  BOXART STORY

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Hungarian Shark

  Text: Vladimír Šulc

  The Hungarian MiG-21bis Model 75A, with

  the serial number 75061904 and the fuselage

  number 1904, was repainted in its famous anti-

  camouflage livery in 1992. This colour scheme

  was originally intended to represent enemy

  aircraft during combat training exercises.

  Around this time, aircraft 1904 became part of

  the Sky Hussars aerobatic team. It bore the

  logo of the Camel tobacco company on the side

  of the fuselage and in several other places, and

  due to the shark's mouth on the nose it was

  named Cápeti ('Shark') and presented at an air

  show in Taszár.

  It took part in a number of other air shows

  and, in 1993, its paintwork was restored, giving

  the aircraft a slightly different look. In the

  same year, the Sky Hussars performed at the

  International Air Tattoo in Fairford, UK, probably

  the most famous performance in the group's

  history. The International Air Tattoo was first

  held in Fairford in 1993 and has been held there

  annually ever since. Until then, it had been held

  every two years since 1971. That memorable

  year, the Slovak Biele Albatrosy also took part

  in the event alongside other famous aerobatic

  groups. The newly formed Czech Republic was

  represented by Su-25Ks from the 30th Fighter

  Aviation Regiment in Pardubice.

  The Sky Hussars performed their final

  demonstration in Kecskemét on 6 August 1993.

  Following their decommissioning, the Shark

  1904 ended up in the aviation museum in

  Szolnok. Although it was completely renovated,

  the museum's livery differs in detail from the

  original design. The Shark's mouth, gills and

  eyes are different; it has different insignia on

  the tail and wings; the font used for the pilot

  and technician's names is different; and most

  importantly, there are no labels. The aircraft in

  the kit represents the second colour scheme of

  the 1904 aircraft, as it appeared at Fairford.

  If you are surprised by the high mountains

  in the background of the MiG-21bis box art,

  don't expect to see an air show in the foothills

  of the Alps or Scandinavia. This is artistic

  licence on the part of the title image's author,

  Piotr Forkasiewicz. Unlike the cover images

  of the Profipack and Weekend series, where

  we aim to depict real historical events and

  combat scenes realistically, the Limited series

  is different. In this series, the background and

  scene are fictional and neutral, and the focus is

  solely on the colour scheme of the aircraft. The

  mountains are therefore mainly in the picture

  to make it look better. The image gains drama

  and dynamism, and that's what counts!

  INFO Eduard

  31

  May 2025

• The Night Tests

  In Germany, prior to the Second World War, flight test centres known as Erprobungs-Stelle (abbreviated as E-Stelle) began operating. These centres were responsible for testing new types of aircraft, their armament, and on-board systems. One such centre, E-Stelle Rechlin, also began testing captured equipment from 1940 onwards.

  #82137BOXART STORY

  In Germany, prior to the Second World War,

  flight test centres known as Erprobungs-Stelle

  (abbreviated as E

  -

  Stelle) began operating. These

  centres were responsible for testing new types of

  aircraft, their armament, and on-board systems.

  One such centre, E

  -

  Stelle Rechlin, also began

  testing captured equipment from 1940 onwards.

  In April 1942, the E

  -

  Stelle Werneuchen was

  established at the airfield of the same name.

  Its mission was to test and develop radar and

  targeting equipment for air combat and naval

  reconnaissance, working closely with the

  Flugfunkforschungsinstitut at Oberpfaffenhofen.

  Branches for testing ground-based radar

  equipment were located in Weesow and Tremmen.

  Flight tests of newly developed equipment

  were initially carried out by the Erprobungsstaffel

  within the Technisches Versuchskommando (TVK).

  Among its tasks was the development and testing

  of equipment designed to defend against jamming

  and deception by enemy air forces.

  In January 1944, Nachtjagdgruppe 10 (NJGr. 10)

  was established, with Major Rudolf Schoenert,

  a successful night fighter pilot, appointed as

  its commander. At that time, Schoenert had

  55 aerial victories to his credit and had previously

  commanded II./NJG 5 in Western Europe and

  I./NJG 100 on the Eastern Front. He was also one of

  the main proponents of installing oblique forward-

  firing guns, known as Schräge Musik.

  The task of his new unit was to test night-time

  radio-electronic warfare equipment in combat,

  using both single- and two-seat aircraft. In this

  role, NJGr. 10 took over from the aforementioned

  Erprobungsstaffel TVK and continued close

  cooperation with E

  -

  Stelle Werneuchen. Thus NJGr.

  10 was based at the same airfield as the E

  -

  Stelle.

  Some aircraft, including the Me 262 and

  Ar 234 B-2/N test jets, continued to fall under

  the authority of E

  -

  Stelle Werneuchen. Aircraft

  intended for combat testing, however, were

  assigned to Schoenert's NJGr. 10. His unit was

  organized into a staff (Stab) and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

  Staffeln (squadrons). Later, probably in August

  1944, a 4th Staffel was established.

  Single-engine aircraft of various Bf 109 F/G and

  Fw 190 A variants were concentrated within the 1st

  Staffel, which was partly formed from personnel

  of I./JG 300. Its commander was the experienced

  night fighter Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl "Nasen"

  Müller. Articles about him can be found in INFO

  magazine issues 11/2023 and 11/2019. Within

  the 2nd Staffel, during 1944 various versions of

  the Ju 88, several Bf 110s, and one He 219 were

  concentrated. In February 1944, Hauptmann Martin

  Lüdtke was appointed commander of 2./NJGr. 10,

  and in early March 1945, he took over command of

  the entire NJGr. 10.

  Several well-known night fighter pilots served

  with NJGr. 10, including Heinz-Martin Hadeball and

  Kurt Welter, the latter of whom later participated

  in the deployment of the Me 262 as a night fighter.

  During 1944, NJGr. 10 achieved a total of

  18 victories, lost an equal number of aircraft in

  combat, and wrote off an additional 23 aircraft

  due to non-combat reasons. Müller's 1st Staffel

  accounted for ten of these victories, with Müller

  himself credited with half of them.

  The second most successful pilot of the 1st

  Staffel was former transport airman Oberleutnant

  Fritz Krause, whose aircraft is depicted in a box

  art illustration by Piotr Forkasiewicz. Krause

  achieved his first success on 8 July 1944, when

  he shot down a Mosquito from No. 692 Sqn RAF.

  Details of this dramatic battle can be found on Neil

  Page’s blog.

  His Fw 190 A-6 (WNr. 550143), equipped with FuG

  217 Neptun radar, was later handed over, without

  its radar equipment, to the operational training

  unit of JGr. West, where it was designated "Yellow

  26." It was subsequently destroyed in a fatal crash

  on 7 October 1944.

  During his service with 1./NJGr. 10, Fritz Krause

  was forced to abandon his aircraft several times,

  once even after being shot down by his own flak.

  He apparently achieved one more victory with the

  unit, claiming a Lancaster from No. 419 Sqn RCAF

  on 4 November 1944. In this engagement, however,

  he was shot down while flying a Bf 109. Some

  sources suggest that he scored this victory as

  a member of 3./NJG 11.

  Krause's colleagues from the 1st Staffel scored

  two additional four-engine bombers and two

  Mosquitos. At the end of August 1944, half of

  the 1./NJGr. 10 personnel were detached to form

  2./NJG 11. The remaining members of 1./NJGr. 10

  were similarly transferred to 3./NJG 11 in October.

  In 1945, NJGr. 10 continued its combat operations,

  engaging both night bombers and conducting night

  attacks on Red Army ground columns. However,

  I have not found any record of air victories by this

  unit in 1945 in Theo Boiten’s publications. NJGr. 10

  was disbanded in April 1945, with its remaining

  elements absorbed by NJG 5.

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  The Night Tests

  INFO Eduard32

  May 2025

• Strana 33

  #8463

  BOXART STORY

  The Allied landings on the Italian island of Sicily,

  intensively prepared in the spring of 1943, were

  intended to open up the Italian campaign with the aim

  of expelling Italian and German troops from the entire

  territory of Italy.

  The preparations for the invasion, codenamed

  Operation Husky, included not only the concentration

  of British, Canadian and American invasion forces

  in Tunisia, Malta and the Suez. An accompanying

  bombing offensive would disrupt transport, air force

  bases, ground force bases, and several deception

  operations of a military and intelligence nature would

  be used as well. These were intended to convince

  the enemy as to the areas of an anticipated Allied

  invasion, and thus to induce him to redeploy his own

  assets. This part of the preparation later proved to be

  very effective and certainly saved many Allied lives.

  The commander-in-chief of the entire operation

  was General Dwight D. Eisenhower, as Commander-

  in-Chief of American forces in North Africa.

  His deputy was British General Sir Harold Alexander.

  The ground invasion forces were divided into two

  tactical groups (Task Forces). No. 545, the eastern

  section (consisting of British and Canadians, under

  the command of Sir Bernard Montgomery) and

  No. 343, the western section (American General

  George S. Patton commanding). The ground invasion

  forces were to land on the southeast coast of

  the island and in the middle of the south coast.

  The invasion counted on the support of naval artillery

  fire, bombardment of the lines behind the invasion

  front, as well as direct air support.

  The landings themselves began on the night of July

  9/10th 1943. They were preceded by intensive bombing

  of Sicilian airfields and its transport network. On the

  other hand, the coastal batteries remained out of the

  main focus of the air attacks, so as not to undermine

  the effect of the misleading information that the

  Allies managed to sow through the aforementioned

  diversionary operations. The main burden of the

  invasion rested on the ground troops, concentrated

  in landing craft and on paratroopers. The activities of

  both of these were severely affected by strong winds,

  which greatly disrupted the plans of the invasion

  planners in many places. Several units landed in

  places other than where they had planned. Despite

  the initial difficulties, the element of surprise was not

  lost and subsequent progress was relatively rapid.

  Strong air support combined with the pressure

  applied in the previous months had also paid off. From

  May, 1943 to the beginning of the July invasion, Allied

  airmen destroyed more than four hundred enemy

  aircraft. Of course, this was not without cost, as their

  own losses reached 250 aircraft, most of them falling

  victim to the island's anti-aircraft artillery. By July

  10th, only two airfields remained operational in Sicily,

  and about half of the German and Italian aircraft had

  been forced to withdraw to the continent.

  The 81st Fighter Group also provided air support

  for the invasion, undertaking escort duties and direct

  support of the invasion ships. Its Airacobras took off

  from Sidi Ahmed Air Base in Tunisia to participate

  in the invasion process. The unit, which was formed

  in January, 1942, and after advanced training of its

  pilots in joint operations and tactics, moved to Europe

  and then to Africa, from where it participated in the

  fighting in the Mediterranean from early 1943 under

  the command of the 12th Air Force. Its main tasks

  included protecting Allied ships in the Mediterranean

  and in June, 1943 participated in the occupation of the

  island of Pantelleria. This was only a prelude to the

  invasion of Sicily, which came a month later.

  Fierce fighting continued until the end of July,

  when the evacuation of German troops began, mainly

  through the Strait of Messina, to the continent.

  By August 18th, Sicily was considered cleared

  for the Allies. According to contemporary reports,

  the Germans managed to move over 60,000 men

  to the continent, the Italians even around 75,000.

  The actual numbers will be somewhat lower, but they

  nevertheless make it clear that opposition to the

  Allies was fierce.

  However, Allied losses were also high. Official

  records put the count at 8,781 dead, wounded and

  captured members of the American Seventh Army,

  while for the British Eighth Army this total reached

  almost 12,000 and for the Canadians, close to 2,500.

  Add to that 1,200 sailors (for the US and Royal Navy

  combined). For the USAAF, losses exceeded 150 men.

  On the German side, losses incurred in the defense of

  Sicily against the Allies reached almost 28,000 troops

  and for the Italians it was almost 190,000 (according

  to the historical section of the Italian army). The price

  of the occupation of Sicily was enormous on both

  sides. Unfortunately, there was also a lot of violence

  committed against the civilian population and war

  crimes against prisoners, which some Allied soldiers

  committed during the occupation of Sicily.

  As a result, this operation opened the door to the

  advance into continental southern Europe, which

  continued through September, 1943. It was also one

  of the reasons for the fall of Mussolini's regime at the

  end of July. Another significant benefit was the full

  opening up of the Mediterranean shipping lanes to

  the Allies.

  Illustration: Gareth Hector

  Cobras over Sicily

  Text: Jan Zdiarský

  INFO Eduard

  33

  May 2025

• Strana 34

  #2151

  MiG-21bis

  1/72

  The Limited edition kit of the Soviet jet plane MiG-21bis

  in 1/72 scale. The kit offers markings for 10 aircraft used

  in different countries around the world. The box contains

  plastic sprues for two complete kits.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 10

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  Dual Combo

  Product page

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard34

  May 2025

• Strana 35

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75061904, 2 Fighter Squadron, Taszár Air Force Base, Hungary, 1993

  MiG-21bis, 115 GIAP, Soviet VVS, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 1980

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75084300, HävLLv 31, Kuopio airbase, Finland, 1980 – 1981

  Ground personnel from Taszár Air Base sprayed

  a special paint scheme on the MiG-21bis in 1992.

  The purpose of the coloring was to represent

  the enemy aircraft in training combat. The color

  scheme shown here is a representation of the

  aircraft’s appearance at the 1993 International

  Air Tattoo in Fairford. The aircraft named Capeti

  (shark) 1904 is currently on display at the

  Szolnok Air Museum in a similar color scheme

  to the one it flew in 1992.

  Fighter cover duties during the Soviet invasion

  of Afghanistan were conducted by the 115

  Guards’ Regiment at the end of 1979. The unit

  was equipped with the MiG-21bis and was based

  at Kokaity in Uzbekistan, a Soviet Socialist

  Republic at the time. Three days into the

  invasion, the first squadron moved to Bagram

  Air Base, followed by a second squadron on

  January 23, 1980. Due to the lack of enemy

  aerial power, the 115 GIAP became involved in

  ground support duties together with the 136

  APIB. MiG-21bis aircraft of the 115th GIAP used

  in Afghanistan were painted in green and brown

  on the upper surfaces at the beginning of the

  war, with bottom surfaces in a blue-grey shade.

  This aircraft was accepted for service on July

  17, 1980, and assigned to 31 Fighter Squadron

  (Hävittäjälentolaivue 31, abbreviated HävLLv

  31). It became the last of six Finnish MiG-21BIS

  fighters to be modified for reconnaissance

  tasks. After the modification, the aircraft was

  assigned to TiedLLv (Reconnaissance Squadron)

  and following its end of service it was used as

  a teaching aid at the Technical School located

  at the Kuopio Air Base. The aircraft is shown as

  it appeared between 1980 and 1981 before being

  upgraded by western avionics, which included

  cockpit instrumentation. Unlike other users,

  Finland used capital letters for designation of

  their MiGs, that’s why it is written as BIS here

  as well.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard

  35

  May 2025

• Strana 36

  MiG-21bis, No. 47 Squadron, Iraqi Air Force, Al Hurrya Air Base, Iraq, 1990

  MiG-21bis, Free Libyan Air Force, Tobruk, Libya, November 2011

  MiG-21bis, 797, German Democratic Republic, Holzdorf, 1990

  The No. 47 Squadron was equipped with the

  MiG-21bis through the seventies, and over the

  fall of 1980 scored significant number of kills

  of Iranian F-4s and F-5s. During the Iran-Iraq

  war, Iraqi pilots flying the MiG-21bis fired not

  only Soviet air-to-air missiles (R-3S, R-13M),

  but also the French R.550. A typical loadout

  configuration consisted of two air-to-air

  rounds and three drop tanks. The aircraft were

  camouflaged according to the period MiG-21

  standards developed for export aircraft going to

  Africa and the Middle East.

  The Free Libyan national army, under the

  leadership of General Khalifa Haftar, occupied

  several air bases after its formation, some of

  which yielded airworthy examples of aircraft

  abandoned by forces loyal to Muammar

  Gaddafi. One of these was this one, which was

  subsequently coded “800” and was flown by

  pilots of the Free Libyan National Army. The Free

  National Army, under Haftar’s leadership, added

  aircraft to their inventory from other airfields

  (MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Mirage F-1s and Su-22s)

  and purchased other ones from foreign sources

  (these again were MiG-21s and 23s, along with

  Mi-24/35 helicopters). The camouflage scheme

  of this particular aircraft hails from the days

  of Khaddafi and was first displayed at Lavex in

  2007 in Tripoli. The upper and side surfaces of

  this plane were in sand, brown and green, the

  lower surfaces were painted a light blue-grey.

  The national insignias on the upper surfaces of

  the wing remained the pre-revolutionary Libyan

  ones.

  In the mid-1970s, the GDR Air Force began

  taking deliveries of its first MiG-21bis to bolster

  its fighter fleet of aging MiG-21MFs and PFMs.

  German Democratic Republic was to receive

  46 aircraft of this type, 14 of which were to be of

  the “Fishbed-L” variant, i.e., equipped with the

  Lazur-M GCI (Ground Controlled Interception)

  guidance system. The remaining 32 were to

  be delivered in the “Fishbed-N” version with

  the Polyot-OI guidance system. To distinguish

  the two variants, the aircraft were designated

  MiG-21bis Lazur-M and MiG-21bis-SAU in GDR

  service.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard36

  May 2025

• Strana 37

  MiG-21bisD, Eskadrila borbenih aviona, HRZ i PZO, Zagreb-Pleso,

  Croatia, December 2016

  MiG-21bis, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, 1990

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75080880, 1 Pucki DLMW, Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej,

  Gdynia-Babie Doły, Poland, late 1997

  The Croatian Air Force purchased forty MiG-21bis

  fighters and MiG-21UM trainers from Ukraine

  in 1995. In 2003, eight MiG-21bis aircraft were

  modernized to bisD standard in Romania.

  The modernization program included an

  upgrade of the navigation, communication and

  IFF equipment. In 2014, another modernization

  took place involving seven Croat MiG-21bisD/

  UMD aircraft, along with the purchase of another

  five aircraft from a repair facility in Odessa.

  The modernized aircraft received an all-grey

  camouflage scheme. Aircraft coded 116 received

  a stylized number 25 on the left side of the fin to

  commemorate 25th anniversary of the Croatian

  Air Force.

  Deliveries of the most modern MiG-21bis

  aircraft to the Cuban Air Force began in 1981.

  A total of eighty (with some sources claiming

  ninety) aircraft served in four regiments. After

  completing its military career, aircraft coded

  637 was used as an instructional airframe at the

  Instituto Tecnico Militar in Havana. The aircraft

  was camouflaged in a green and blue-grey

  scheme, which was used by the Cubans from

  the beginning of the nineties.

  This aircraft was delivered to Poland on March

  22, 1980 and was assigned to the 1 Pucki Dywizjon

  Lotniczy (Air Division) of the Polish Naval Forces.

  The emblem on the tail surface indicates service

  with the 2 Eskadra (Squadron) of the Division.

  The look of the plane evolved over time and in

  2001 it flew with a sharkmouth and a tiger motif

  on the brake chute housing.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard

  37

  May 2025

• Strana 38

  MiG-21bis, C2776, No. 26 Squadron “The Warriors”,

  Indian Air Force, Adampur, 1990

  No. 26 Squadron took of Indian Air Force an

  active part in combat on the Indo-Pakistani

  border at the end of 1971. At that time, however,

  they were equipped with the Sukhoi Su-7.

  Most Indian MiG-21bis aircraft were painted

  in an overall light grey with only a few being

  camouflaged with more colors. This particular

  aircraft was also photographed without the unit

  badge as well. The camouflage was sprayed

  over the original light grey surface, which was

  still visible around the aircraft code on the tail

  and on the canopy frame.

  672149 R-60 / AA-8 Aphid (Brassin)

  672240 R-3R missiles w/ pylons for MiG-21 (Brassin)

  3DL72064 MiG-21bis SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  72744 MiG-21bis upgrade set (fotolept) release 06/2025

  672414 MiG-21bis exhaust nozzle PRINT (Brassin) release 06/2025

  672415 MiG-21bis cockpit PRINT (Brassin) release 06/2025

  For MiG-21bis 1/72

  RECOMMENDED:

  OVERTREES

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  Product page

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  #672240

  #672414

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard38

  May 2025

• Strana 39

  Dunstable Business Centre, Office Suite No.2, Blackburn Road, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire LU5 5BQ

  Tel: +44 (0)1582 668411, Email: kim@guidelinepublications.co.uk

  All major credit cards accepted.

  Orders can be placed by mail, telephone, email or through the website.

  (www.guidelinepublications.co.uk) Plus postage and packing on all

  orders. Overseas readers pay postage at air mail printed paper rate.

  Warpaint on the web

  For more information and secure ordering please visit:

  www.guidelinepublications.co.uk

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  One of the great unsung fighters of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force was

  Nakajima’s Ki-43 Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon). Codenamed ‘Oscar’ by the Allies, the

  aircraft was frequently mistaken for the Navy’s A6M2 Zero by those encountering it in

  combat, to the extent that it was widely referred to by its adversaries as the ‘Army 0’.

  Highly regarded in Japan, where it was much more widely recognised than the Zero, the

  Ki-43 was the only Japanese fighter from the Pacific War to see active service with other

  air forces, being supplied to both Thailand and Manchukuo by the Japanese, but also

  seeing use by France in Indochina, and by the air forces of Indonesia, the Republic of

  China, and North Korea, who pressed abandoned but airworthy airframes into service,

  some of which survived into the early 1950s. Author Daniel Kowalczuk has compiled a

  compelling narrative that puts the aircraft in context, describes its development and

  active service history in detail, and explains how it came to be so widely regarded by the

  Japanese – so much so that it is the aircraft of choice for producers of Anime rather than

  its better-known contemporary. With colour artwork by Sam Pearson.

  Nakajima

  KKii--4433

  HHaayyaabbuussaa//OOssccaarr

  By Daniel Kowalczuk

  Republic of China Air Force Ki-43-I P-5017,

  one of the Oscars that found its way into

  the Nationalist Air Force.

  WARPAINT SERIES No.147

  Master 12/03/2025 16:10 Page 50

  The US Navy’s experience in the Korean War showed the need for a new long-range strike

  aircraft with high subsonic performance at very low altitude that could penetrate enemy

  defences and find and destroy small targets in any weather. The Grumman A-6 Intruder was

  designed with these needs in mind and was a true bomb truck. From the jungles of Vietnam

  to the deserts of Iraq the Intruder proved its worth, able to catty a plethora of weaponry and

  pack a mighty punch. From the Intruder airframe the KA-6D tanker variant was derived, along

  with the specialised EA-6A Intruder and then the EA-6B Prowler, a sophisticated four-seat

  electronic warfare variant, packed with jamming equipment and electronics. Like the A-6, the

  Prowler was used by both the Navy and Marine Corps. After nearly thirty-seven years and

  with 693 airframes constructed, on February 28, 1997, VA-34 the Blue Blasters, retired the

  Navy’s last operational A-6E Intruders. The Navy retired its Prowlers in 2015, however, the

  Marines Corps carried on flying the EA-6B into the early months of 2019. Warpaint 146 is

  packed full of all the usual historical and reference material, with walkarounds of both

  Prowler and Intruder, colour artwork by Sam Pearson, and a well-paced narrative that places

  this essential aircraft in context and showcases its role in US naval operations over nearly sixty years.

  All these titles are available in printed format via our on demand printing service. Please contact our office for further information.

  £17.00

  Warpaint series No.147

  Orders from the world’s book

  and hobby trade are invited

  Previous Warpaint titles

  £19.00

  Warpaint series No.146

  Nakajima KKii--4433 HHaayyaabbuussaa//OOssccaarr

  Grumman

  AA--66

  IInntt

  rr

  uu

  dd

  eerr

  &&

  EEAA

  --

  66

  BB

  PPrr

  ooww

  lleerr

  GGUUIIDDEELLIINNEE PPUUBBLLIICCAATTIIOONNSS LLIIMMIITTEEDD

  Grumman

  AA--66

  IInnttrruuddeerr

  &&

  EEAA--66BB

  PPrroowwlleerr

  By Andy Evans

  Grumman A-6E Intruder Buno 155678 of VA-85

  Black Falcons based at NAS Oceana, seen

  onboard USS Am erica w hile a nchored in

  Stokes Bay, 25 September

  WARPAINT SERIES No.146

  46 Warpaint A-6 Intruder & EA-6 Prowler.qxp_Warpaint Master 22/12/2024 11:32 Page 58

  New

  release

  Warpaint 147 Ki-43 Hayabusa & 146 A-6 Intruder.qxp_Warpaint Advert 17/03/2025 15:35 Page 1

• Strana 40

  #82137

  Fw 190A-6

  1/48

  The ProfiPACK edition kit of German WWII fighter aircraft

  Fw 190A-6 in 1/48 scale. Machines are from the Eastern

  and Western Front and from the night sky

  over Germany.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 7

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  Product page

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard40

  May 2025

• Strana 41

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550375, Lt. Heinz-Günther Lück, 1./JG 1, Deelen,

  Netherlands, August 1943

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550461, Oblt. Helmut Radtke, 5./JG 54, Immola,

  Finland, summer 1944

  Lt. Lück, a pilot with five aerial victories (all over

  B-17 aircraft) flew during his whole wartime

  career with JG 1. At the beginning of 1944,

  he became the commander of 1./JG 1 and was

  seriously injured on April 9 during an emergency

  landing in Denmark. He never returned to

  combat duty. During the summer of 1943,

  I. Gruppe aircraft carried garish markings in the

  form of the checkerboard on the engine cowling,

  black and white in the case of 1. Staffel. It was

  deleted after the US Thunderbolts sporting

  identical markings attacked Deelen airbase and

  the anti-aircraft gunners did not engage as they

  confused them with friendly aircraft on landing

  approach. Heinz-Günther Lück had his dog pet,

  a black Scottish terrier named Lucki, painted

  under the canopy and his rudder sported two

  victories in the form of white bars.

  On June 9th, 1944, the Red Army launched

  the Karelian operation against the Finnish

  forces in Karelian Isthmus on the front north

  of Leningrad. Marshal Mannerheim being

  aware of his inferior forces asked Germans

  for the air support. German Luftwaffe created

  Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey, named after

  SG 3 commander Obstl. Kuhlmey. Besides

  I./SG 3 (Ju-87D) and I./SG 5 (Fw 190 F) attack

  units a detachment of Focke Wulf Fw 190A-6 from

  Stab, 4. and 5. Staffel of II./JG 54 was included

  under his command. Focke Wulf fighters used

  the airfield in Immola from where they sortied

  under the command of Maj. Erich Rudorffer as

  an escort to the attack aircraft. One of the pilots

  fighting against the Soviet much larger forces

  was Oblt. Helmut Radtke who joined 5./JG 54

  in June 1944 after previous service with the

  operational training unit JG 110. He was killed in

  action on the Western Front on January 14, 1945.

  He was flying black 2 aircraft camouflaged in

  standard RLM 74/75/76 colors. This camouflage

  was complemented by yellow markings peculiar

  to the aircraft operating on the Eastern Front.

  There is an inscription Schlange (snake) painted

  on the side of the fuselage.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard

  41

  May 2025

• Strana 42

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550453, Hptm. Friedrich-Karl Müller, Stab /JG 300,

  Bonn-Hangelar, Germany, October 1943

  Fw 190A-6, Fw. Günther Josten, 1./JG 51, Bobruysk, the USSR, January 1944

  A future Knight’s Cross recipient with 30 night

  victories over enemy aircraft, Friedrich-

  Karl Müller was born on December 4th, 1912,

  in Sulzbach in Saarland. In 1934 he completed

  his pilot training and got a job with Lufthansa.

  After the outbreak of World War II, he was

  ordered to the Luftwaffe. Initially he was flying

  as a transport pilot, later as an instrument flying

  instructor. In December 1942 he was assigned to

  KG 50 operating He 177 aircraft, in the summer

  of the following year he responded to Hajo

  Hermann call and requested reassignment to

  JG 300, famous for its Wilde Sau (single-engine

  fighter night interception deployment) tactics.

  While serving with this unit he was credited with

  19 kills and in January 1944 he was ordered to

  form 1./NJGr. 10. In August 1944 he was promoted

  to command I./NJG 11 and lead this unit until the

  end of World War II, flying a total of 52 combat

  missions and achieving 30 victories. He passed

  away on November 2nd, 1987. His Focke Wulf

  Fw 190A-6 carrying standard camouflage and

  green 3 marking retained the factory call signs

  on the wing lower surfaces during combat

  service. During its service with JG 300 this

  aircraft was equipped with deflectors to prevent

  the exhaust flashes blinding the pilot. To save

  weight the armor head rest was removed.

  During the night from 18th to 19th of October

  1943, Hptm. Muller scored his 19th kill flying this

  aircraft over Hildesheim. British Lancaster crew

  from No. 207 Squadron parachuted to safety and

  spent the rest of hostilities in the POW camp.

  This aircraft featured a search light installed in

  the leading edge of the wing.

  Eighteen year old Gunther Josten joined the

  Lufwaffe in January 1940, completed fighter

  training, and after serving with JGr. Drontheim

  and Erg.JGr. Ost in Western Europe, he reported

  to 3./JG 51 in September 1942. He scored his first

  victory on February 23, 1943 and achieved 19 kills

  in July and 30 more in August. From September

  1943 to February 1944, he served with the

  training unit LKS Fürstenfeldbruck. He received

  the Ritterkreuz on February 5, 1944, after his

  84th victory. On July 20, 1944, he surpassed 100

  victories and was soon appointed commander

  of 3./JG 51. During the Warsaw Uprising,

  on September 18, he shot down a B-17 carrying

  supplies for the resistance. He was awarded the

  Eichenlaub on March 28, 1945, after his 161st

  of 178 kills and was appointed commander of

  IV. Gruppe JG 51 on April 18. Josten joined the

  Bundesluftwaffe on April 4, 1956 and became

  commander of JG 71 in 1962. His final post was

  Deputy Commander of 4. Luftwaffendivision.

  He retired on March 31, 1981, as an Oberst and

  died on July 7, 2004. The camouflage of Josten’s

  aircraft was darkened on the fuselage sides

  with the same paints applied to the upper

  surfaces. The yellow recognition markings, used

  on the aircraft operating on the Eastern Front,

  were added. To better conceal the aircraft in

  the surrounding terrain during winter the upper

  and side surfaces were partially painted white.

  His brother Reinhard Johannes, Oberleutnant

  with I./JG 51, scored 6 victories and was killed

  on April 21, 1942.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard42

  May 2025

• Strana 43

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550473, Fw. Walter Nietzsche, II. /JG 300,

  Rheine, Germany, summer 1943

  Fw 190A-6/R11, WNr. 550143, Oblt. Fritz Krause, 1./NJGr 10,

  Werneuchen, Germany, January 1944

  In the middle of June 1943, II. /JG 1, commanded

  by Hptm. Hoeckner, was transferred from

  Woensdrecht, in Holland, to Rheine from where,

  in the course of the following eight months,

  it sortied against large formations of American

  four-engine bombers penetrating, in ever

  increasing numbers, the German Reich airspace.

  The same airbase was home to II. /JG Hermann

  as well, later renamed II. /JG 300, which for the

  rest of 1943 operated II. /JG 1 aircraft in the

  night-fighting role since JG 300 pilots had been

  trained in single-engine aircraft at night. One of

  the II. /JG 300 pilots flying this Fw 190A-6 night

  fighter “borrowed” from II. /JG 1 was Fw. Walter

  Nietzsche, who during the night from 27th to

  28th September 1943 was killed in the cockpit

  while fighting over Braunschweig. The legendary

  worm Tatzelwurm painted in red confirms that

  this aircraft belonged to 5. Staffel JG 1.

  Fritz Krause started his wartime career with

  III./JG 300 and in January 1944 was transferred

  to 1./NJGr. 10. He was assigned to 1./NJG 11.

  In September 1944 and became the commander

  of 3./NJG 11 in November. In January, he was

  appointed head of the entire III./NJG 11, which

  he led until the end of the war. He completed

  213 combat missions and achieved a total of four

  victories. NJGr 10 was formed as a nightfighter

  unit on January 1, 1944. It was equipped with

  various types of aircraft. The 1st Staffel flew

  Bf 109Gs and Fw 190As. The FuG 217 Neptun

  radar was installed in NJGr. 10 aircraft to

  test its efficiency under combat conditions.

  A total of 48 Fw 190As were converted to this

  nightfighter configuration. Fritz Krause flew the

  aircraft depicted for a short period only, as in

  the early summer of 1944, the NJGr 10 Fw 190As

  were handed over to fighter schools and were

  replaced with Bf 109G-6/AS. The Messeschmitts

  were more capable in intercepting Allied

  bombers and Mosquitos. The origins of the

  badge on the cowling can be found with JG 300,

  as NJGr 10 was formed using JG 300 pilots.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard

  43

  May 2025

• Strana 44

  Fw 190A-6/R11, II. /JG 300, Lobnitz, Germany, fall 1943

  The Jagdgeschwader 300 “Wilde Sau” was

  formed from the JG Herrmann in July 1943, its

  main task was the perfecting of single-engined

  aircraft night fighting tactics. Besides the

  visual acquisition of targets, it initiated testing

  on-board radar systems. The Fw 190 was

  equipped with FuG 217 Neptun, along with

  associated radar antennae. The illustrated

  Fw 190A-6 Black 8 field modified R11 for night

  fighting was one of the Neptun equipped aircraft

  of JG 300. What makes this aircraft even more

  interesting is its camouflage application.

  The search for effective camouflage schemes

  gave rise to interesting color variations.

  The pictured Fw 190 received a lighter spray of

  RLM 76 over the top portions of the fuselage that

  blended into the darker sides of RLM 75 and 74

  and into the RLM 76 bottom. Known photographs

  of this aircraft have been interpreted as the

  sides of the fuselage being composed of sharply

  demarked RLM 76 and 74. Closer inspection

  reveals that the contrast between the darker

  and lighter shades were not so strong, and

  further research leads to the presentation

  here. The top and bottom camouflage colors

  are RLM 74/75/76. The Wilde Sau emblem is in

  its classic style as used by JG 300 on a yellow

  background and as per the usual practice of the

  unit, appeared only on the left side.

  481017 Fw 190A-6 (PE

  -

  Set)

  FE863 Fw 190A seatbelts STEEL (PE

  -

  Set)

  644050 Fw 190A-6 LööK (Brassin)

  648152 Fw 190 wheels early (Brassin)

  648356 Fw 190A wingroot gun bays (Brassin)

  648366 Fw 190A propeller (Brassin)

  648371 Fw 190A control surfaces early (Brassin)

  648381 Fw 190A exhaust stacks (Brassin)

  648736 Fw 190A landing flaps PRINT (Brassin)

  6481014 Fw 190A seat PRINT (Brassin)

  6481038 Fw 190A seat w/ integral belts PRINT (Brassin)

  6481101 Fw 190A-6 cockpit PRINT (Brassin)

  6481102 Fw 190A-6 engine (Brassin)

  D48029 Fw 190 A stencils (Decal Set)

  D48052 Fw 190A-6 national insignia (Decal Set)

  EX587 Fw 190A TFace (Mask)

  For Fw 190A-6 1/48

  RECOMMENDED:

  OVERTREES

  #82148X

  Fw 190A-6

  1/48

  OVERLEPT

  #82137-LEPT1

  Fw 190A-6

  1/48

  Product page

  Product page

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard44

  May 2025

• Strana 45

• Strana 46

  #8463

  P-39K/L Airacobra

  1/48

  The Weekend edition kit of US WWII fighter aircraft

  P-39K/L Airacobra in 1/48 scale.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 4

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: no

  painting mask: no

  resin parts: no

  Product page

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard46

  May 2025

• Strana 47

  P-39L, 42-4558, 93rd FS, 81st FG, Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia, summer 1943

  P-39K, 42-4275, 70th FS, 347th FG, Guadalcanal, spring 1943

  The 81st Pursuit Group was formed on January

  13, 1942, and activated less than a month later.

  Its pilots began training on the P-39s and in

  May the unit changed designation to the 81st

  Fighter Group. After further training in England,

  the pilots began combat operations in Africa

  in early 1943. Their mission was primarily to

  support ground and naval forces in Tunis. As

  an air patrol they then covered the Allied

  landings in Sicily in June and July 1943. The

  Airacobra named Petite Bandit with a drawing

  of a parrot-gunslinger on the starboard side of

  the nose was given the standard desert livery

  in DuPont colors, corresponding to the British

  shades of Middle Stone, Dark Earth and Azure

  Blue, but the color fields were swapped on the

  upper surfaces, contrary to common practice.

  The paintwork has been modified by repainting

  the section of the nose in front of the cockpit.

  This was done probably with a shade of Middle

  Stone, but the fresh paint appears as a darker

  shade in the photos. The repaint was probably

  over the markings of the previous user of the

  aircraft. There was also a change of covers

  on the nose. These were taken from another

  machine of some of the previous versions of

  P-39, so the aircraft did not have the vents

  typical of aircraft starting with the P-39K

  version up. These covers also did not match the

  camouflage of the aircraft. The original yellow

  stripes on the wing and fuselage were repainted

  in Olive Drab, the national insignia on the lower

  wing was left in its older form without the wings

  with a red border.

  The Airacobra named Short Stroke fought on

  Guadalcanal in the ranks of the 12th FS/18th

  FG from late 1942 and retained the squadron

  markings after transferring to the 70th FS.

  It cannot be documented whether the aircraft

  was assigned to a specific pilot at that time.

  However, one of the photographs shows

  Lt. Darrell R. Cosart posing with the aircraft.

  A small heart is also documented on another

  70th FS Airacobra, apparently a Flight symbol.

  Although all versions of the Airacobras at

  Guadalcanal were used primarily for ground

  attacks, the victory symbols marked on the

  starboard side of the Short Stroke prove that

  they could succeed in aerial combat as well.

  Interestingly, the appearance of the kills was

  changed during service. Also documented is the

  replacement of the rudder from an Airacobra of

  D mark. The color scheme thus shows the latest

  known appearance of the aircraft with the serial

  number on the rudder already blacked out. In the

  summer of 1943, Short Stroke was transferred

  to the 67th FS, with which it provided air defense

  for the base built on Wodlark Island from July 23,

  suffering unspecified damage.

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard

  47

  May 2025

• Strana 48

  P-39L, 42-4472, 346th FS, 350th FG, Tunisia, spring 1943

  P-39K, 42-4358, Lt. William McDonough, 40th FS, 35th FG, Port Moresby,

  New Guinea, February 1943

  The 350th FG was activated in England with

  American pilots fighting as volunteers filling the

  ranks of the RAF. The unit was equipped with

  export versions of the P-39, originally ordered

  by France. These aircraft remained in the UK

  after the fall of France, where they subsequently

  served as a quick-fix armament solution for

  the new American units needed to support the

  upcoming invasion of North Africa. The group

  operated as part of the 12th AF from January

  1943 until the end of the war, its pilots flying

  patrol and interdiction missions, protecting

  convoys, conducting aerial reconnaissance,

  and providing air support to ground forces.

  The aircraft shown here underwent repairs

  during its service, which added Olive Drab

  fields to the standard desert livery. These were

  either parts from another aircraft in Olive Drab

  or original parts repainted with this shade.

  Between numbers 4 and 5 on the nose, there

  was a small drawing not very clearly visible in

  the photo. The decal offers a reconstruction of

  its probable appearance.

  In February 1942, William F. McDonough used, in

  combat over NewGuinea, an Airacobra decorated

  on the bow with a painting of Donald Duck.

  The “Angry Duck” was a popular motif for other

  40th FS pilots, who liked to have their pictures

  taken in front of it. This Airacobra served with

  the unit from late 1942 until at least the end of

  the summer of 1943, but sometime during the

  spring the painting of the Donald Duck was

  removed from the nose. His combat account

  was opened by Lt. McDonough in an air battle

  over Wau on February 6, 1943, by shooting down

  two Ki-43 Oscar fighters and another probably.

  The pilot had the confirmed kills marked on

  the starboard side below the cockpit in small

  silhouettes. However, these were eventually

  replaced by Japanese flags. For the successful

  action, the pilot was awarded the Distinguished

  Flying Cross (DFC) and promoted to the rank

  of Captain. In the spring of 1944, McDonough

  became the 35th FG’s first Ace outside the 39th

  FS when he shot down one of a quartet of Tony

  fighters that made a surprise raid over the

  Gusap base on March 3, 1944. By this time, he

  was already a member of the 35th FG staff at

  the rank of Major. William McDonough was killed

  on April 22, 1944, just before the end of a combat

  tour when he had to bail out of a malfunctioning

  P-47 Thunderbolt and his parachute failed to

  open.

  48872 P-39/400 landing flaps (PE

  -

  Set)

  49238 P-39Q/N (PE

  -

  Set)

  FE919 P-39 seatbelts STEEL (PE

  -

  Set)

  648202 P-39 wheels early (Brassin)

  648203 P-39 wheels late (Brassin)

  648957 P-39 seat PRINT (Brassin)

  648958 P-39 exhaust stacks fishtail PRINT (Brassin)

  648959 P-39 exhaust stacks rounded PRINT (Brassin)

  D48068 P-39 stencils (Decal Set)

  EX250 P-39/P-400 Weekend (Mask)

  EX702 P-39/P-400 TFace (Mask)

  For P-39K/L Airacobra 1/48

  RECOMMENDED:

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard48

  May 2025

• Strana 49

  #8801

  PSP plates - perforated steel plates

  Size of display 220x157 mm.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: none

  decals: no

  PE parts: no

  painting mask: no

  resin parts: no

  1/48

  Product page

  KITS 05/2025

  INFO Eduard

  49

  May 2025

• Strana 50

  BRASSIN

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL

  seat belts for Lysander Mk.I/III in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Airfix

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL

  seat belts for Mosquito FB Mk.VI in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  644305

  Lysander Mk.I/Mk.III LööK

  1/48 Airfix

  674032

  Mosquito FB Mk.VI LööK

  1/72 Tamiya

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard50

  May 2025

• Strana 51

  674033

  Mosquito B Mk.IV/PR Mk.IV LööK

  1/72 Tamiya

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for Mosquito B Mk.IV

  or PR Mk.IV in 1/72 scale. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  BRASSIN

  Collection of 4 sets for F4F-4 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Academy

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  - painting mask

  644303

  F4F-4 w/ early wheels LööKplus

  1/48 Academy

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  51

  May 2025

• Strana 52

  BRASSIN

  674029

  P-47D Bubbletop LööKplus

  1/72 Tamiya

  Collection of 3 sets for P-47D Bubbletop in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - painting mask

  Product page

  Collection of 4 sets for F4F-4 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Academy

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  - painting mask

  Product page

  644304

  F4F-4 w/ late wheels LööKplus

  1/48 Academy

  INFO Eduard52

  May 2025

• Strana 53

  BRASSIN

  674035

  Mosquito NF Mk.II LööKplus

  1/72 Tamiya

  Collection of 4 sets for Mosquito NF Mk.II in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust, stacks

  - painting mask

  Product page

  Brassin set - pre-painted radio equipment for Sd.Kfz. 250

  in 1/35 scale. Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Takom

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 14 parts

  - resin: 1 part, pre-pained

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  635038

  Sd.Kfz. 250 radio equipment PRINT

  1/35 Takom

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  53

  May 2025

• Strana 54

  BRASSIN

  6481077

  P-40 250lb Mk.2 British bomb

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - 250lb British bomb for P-40E

  in 1/48 scale. Set consists of 1 bomb.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 6 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for Mosquito

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  6481073

  Mosquito exhaust stacks PRINT

  1/48 Tamiya

  INFO Eduard54

  May 2025

• Strana 55

  BRASSIN

  6481078

  P-40 30lb frag bombs

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - 30lb bombs for P-40E

  in 1/48 scale. Set consists of 6 bombs.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 6 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  Brassin set - 500lb British bomb for P-40E

  in 1/48 scale. Set consists of 1 bomb.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 7 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  6481080

  P-40 500lb GP British bomb

  1/48 Tamiya

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  55

  May 2025

• Strana 56

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - 250lb British bomb for P-40E

  in 1/48 scale. Set consists of 1 bomb.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 5 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  6481081

  P-40 250lb Mk.1 British bomb

  1/48 Eduard

  6481082

  P-40 250lb MC British bomb

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - 250lb British bomb for P-40E

  in 1/48 scale. Set consists of 3 bombs.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 30 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  INFO Eduard56

  May 2025

• Strana 57

  6481091

  F-35B exhaust nozzle PRINT

  1/48 Tamiya

  Brassin set - exhaust nozzle for F-35B

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 5 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - the wing gun bays for A6M5 Type 52

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of both wings bays.

  Made by 3D direct print. Not suitable for A6M5a

  Type 52a, A6M5b Type 52b nor A6M5c Type 52c.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 14 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  6481095

  A6M5 Type 52 gun bays PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  57

  May 2025

• Strana 58

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - engine oil and cooling radiators and

  radiator flaps for P-40E in 1/48 scale. Made by direct

  3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  6481097

  P-40E radiators upgrade set PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  6481100

  P-40E tail wheel bay PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - tail wheel bay for P-40E

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 5 parts

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: yes

  Product page

  INFO Eduard58

  May 2025

• Strana 59

  6481101

  Fw 190A-6 cockpit PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - cockpit for Fw 190A-6 in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 19 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - a complete engine for Fw 190A-6

  in 1/48 scale. Cowlings are included.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 32 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  6481102

  Fw 190A-6 engine

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  59

  May 2025

• Strana 60

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for P-51 in 1/72 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  672411

  P-51 exhaust stacks PRINT

  1/72 Tamiya

  672412

  P-51 exhaust stacks w/ fairing PRINT

  1/72 Tamiya

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for P-51 in 1/72 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  INFO Eduard60

  May 2025

• Strana 61

  672413

  P-51D seat w/ integral belts PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - pilot seat for P-51D in 1/48 scale. Made by

  direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Product page

  BRASSIN

• Strana 62

  Collection of 10 sets for A-10A in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Great Wall Hobby

  - AGM-65 Maverick

  - TER

  - LAU-3/A

  - GBU-10 Paveway II

  - AIM-9M/L Sidewinder

  - Mk.82 bombs w/airbrake early

  - GBU-12 bomb

  - Sniper ATP

  - AN/ALQ-131 (deep) ECM pod

  - AN/ALQ-184 (short) ECM pod

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN648138

  A-10A armament

  1/48 Great Wall Hobby

  Product page

  BRASSIN

  INFO Eduard62

  May 2025

• Strana 63

  Product page

  Collection of 4 sets for F-35B in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - cockpit

  - undercarriage wheels

  - RAM coating panels die-cut painting mask

  - Remove Before Flight tags

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN67233

  F-35B

  1/72 Tamiya

  BRASSIN

  INFO Eduard

  63

  May 2025

• Strana 64

  MAY 2025

  A6M5 landing flaps

  Go 242A

  1/48 Eduard

  1/72 IBG

  #481163

  #73849

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  INFO Eduard64

  May 2025

• Strana 65

  Mi-24A

  1/48 Trumpeter

  #491527

  #FE1527

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  Sea King HC.4

  1/48 Airfix

  #491523

  #FE1523

  INFO Eduard

  65

  May 2025

• Strana 66

  3DL48221 A6M5 Zero (Mitsubishi) SPACE 1/48 Fine Molds

  3DL48222

  A6M5 Zero (Mitsubishi) SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  Product page

  easy

  application

  INFO Eduard66

  May 2025

• Strana 67

  SPACE

  3DL48223 Mi-24A SPACE 1/48 Trumpeter

  3DL48224

  Sea King HC.4 SPACE 1/48 Airix

  SPACE

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  67

  May 2025

• Strana 68

  SPACE

  3DL48225 B-26G Marauder cockpit & nose SPACE 1/48 ICM

  3DL48226

  B-26G Marauder cockpit

  insulation & armour plates SPACE

  1/48 ICM

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard68

  May 2025

• Strana 69

  SPACE

  3DL48227 B-26 Marauder rear interior SPACE 1/48 ICM

  3DL72063

  Go 242A SPACE 1/72 IBG

  SPACE

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  69

  May 2025

• Strana 70

  SPACE

  3DL72064 MiG-21bis SPACE 1/72 Eduard

  Product page

  DECALS

  Product page

  D72055

  MiG-21bis stencils

  1/72 Eduard

  INFO Eduard70

  May 2025

• Strana 71

  www.eduard.com/bfc

  BUNNY BUNNY FIGHTERFIGHTER

  CLUB

  Eduard's special membership club for all modeling enthusiasts!

  15% Permanent Club discount at Eduard Store – you will receive permanent 15% discount on all Eduard

  products and also discount on various other non-Eduard products. Fixed, permanent, forever!

  Unique valuable Club kits and accessories – you will gain access to unique and nowhere else to be sold

  products, specially made for BFC members.

  Even better prices at Eduard events stand – do you know that Eduard usually has huge discounts on

  their products at fairs and events all over the world? BFC members will have even higher discount at

  these events.

  Club T-shirt – you will receive fancy BFC T-shirt with unique design and special barcode

  (used for event discounts). This exclusive T-shirt will be only available

  to the members of BFC.

  Free entry fee on E-day – you will not have to pay a penny to visit Eduard's E-day.

  That means lot of fun at E-day for two days and entry kit, absolutely free!

  * E-day - INTERNATIONAL SCALE KIT EXHIBITION - IPMS Czech Republic Championship

  BOX CONTENT:

  Plastic parts, Marking options 6, Decal Set, PE parts, Maska, Brassin

  parts (two different types of wheels, landing flaps, dust filter with

  eyelid, intake ring and RP-3 60lb rockets), 3D decals for main and si

  -

  dewalk instrument and control panels with photo-etched details and

  seat belts.

  BOX CONTENT:

  Plastic parts, Marking options 4, Decal Set, PE parts, Maska, Brassin

  parts (undercarriage wheels, cockpit, exhaust nozzle, FOD).

  How to become a member of BFC?How to become a member of BFC?

  Simply by purchasing the Activation product. You will be given 15% discount on (almost) every Eduard

  product in your shopping cart. To apply this discount, the Activation product has to be in your shopping

  cart. Activation product is excluded from this calculation.

  Activation products:Activation products:

  Tempest Mk. V + T-shirt 1/48MiG-21MF + T-shirt 1/72

• Strana 72

  BIG ED

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

  but with every BIG ED set you save up to 30%.

  BIG33166 Bf 109F-2 1/32 Hobby 2000 / Hasegawa

  BIG33167

  Bf 109F-4 1/32 Hobby 2000 / Hasegawa

  32493 Bf 109F-2/4 exterior

  321022 Bf 109F-2

  33377 Bf 109F-2/4 seatbelts STEEL

  JX330 Bf 109F-2

  32493 Bf 109F-2/4 exterior

  321023 Bf 109F-4

  33377 Bf 109F-2/4 seatbelts STEEL

  JX332 Bf 109F-4

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard72

  May 2025

• Strana 73

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

  but with every BIG ED set you save up to 30%.

  BIG ED

  BIG49444 Bf 109E-3 1/48 Hobby Boss

  BIG49445

  F-86F-25/30 1/48 Airix

  491501 Bf 109E-3

  FE1502 Bf 109E-3 seatbelts STEEL

  EX1092 Bf 109E-3

  49103 Remove Before Flight STEEL

  491499 F-86F-25/30

  FE1500 F-86F-25/30 seatbelts STEEL

  EX1090 F-86F-25/30

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  73

  May 2025

• Strana 74

  MASKS

  IT FITS!

  EX1114 Mi-24A

  1/48 Trumpeter

  EX1115 Mi-24A TFace

  1/48 Trumpeter

  EX1116 B-26G Marauder

  1/48 ICM

  EX1117 B-26G Marauder TFace

  1/48 ICM

  EX1118 B-26G Marauder

  US national insignia

  1/48 ICM

  EX1119 P-51B/C D-day stripes

  1/48 Eduard

  EX1120 P-40E US national

  insignia circular

  1/48 Eduard

  EX1114 Mi-24A

  EX1115 Mi-24A TFace

  EX1115 Mi-24A TFace

  EX1117 B-26G Marauder TFace

  EX1117 B-26G Marauder TFace

  EX1117 B-26G Marauder TFace

  EX1117 B-26G Marauder TFace

  EX1115 Mi-24A TFace

  EX1115 Mi-24A TFace

  EX1114 Mi-24A

  EX1116 B-26G Marauder

  EX1116 B-26G Marauder

  INFO Eduard74

  May 2025

• Strana 75

• Strana 76

  KITS

  PE

  -

  SETS

  ZOOMS

  MASKS

  2151 MiG-21bis DUAL COMBO 1/72 Limited

  82137 Fw 190A-6 1/48 ProfiPACK

  8463 P-39K/L Airacobra 1/72 Weekend

  8801 PSP Display - perforated steel plates 1/48

  481161 Fw 190A landing flaps 1/48 Eduard

  481162 A6M2-K landing flaps 1/48 Eduard

  481163 A6M5 landing flaps 1/48 Eduard

  481164 B-26G Marauder exterior 1/48 ICM

  481165 B-26G Marauder bomb bay 1/48 ICM

  491520 A6M5 (Nakajima) upgrade set 1/48 Eduard

  491521 A6M5 (Mitsubishi) upgrade set 1/48 Eduard

  491522 A6M2-K upgrade set 1/48 Eduard

  491523 Sea King HC.4 1/48 Airfix

  491524 Sea King HC.4 cargo seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Airfix

  491527 Mi-24A 1/48 Trumpeter

  491529 B-26G Marauder 1/48 ICM

  491530 B-26G Marauder rear interior 1/48 ICM

  73849 Go 242A 1/72 IBG

  FE1527 Mi-24A 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1528 Mi-24A seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1523 Sea King HC.4 1/48 Airfix

  FE1525 A6M5 seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Eduard

  FE1526 A6M2-K seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Eduard

  FE1529 B-26G Marauder 1/48 ICM

  FE1530 B-26G Marauder seatbelts STEEL 1/48 ICM

  EX1114 Mi-24A 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX1115 Mi-24A TFace 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX1116 B-26G Marauder 1/48 ICM

  EX1117 B-26G Marauder TFace 1/48 ICM

  EX1118 B-26G Marauder US national insignia 1/48 ICM

  EX1119 P-51B/C D-day stripes 1/48 Eduard

  EX1120 P-40E US national insignia circular 1/48 Eduard

  DECAL SETS

  D72055 MiG-21bis stencils 1/72 Eduard

  RELEASES

  MAY 2025

  INFO Eduard76

  May 2025

• Strana 77

  BIG-EDBIG-ED

  BRASSIN

  LöökPLUS

  BIG SIN

  SPACE

  644305 Lysander Mk.I/Mk.III LööK 1/48 Airfix

  674032 Mosquito FB Mk.VI LööK 1/72 Tamiya

  674033 Mosquito B Mk.IV/PR Mk.IV LööK 1/72 Tamiya

  635038 Sd.Kfz. 250 radio equipment PRINT 1/35 Takom

  6481073 Mosquito exhaust stacks PRINT 1/48 Tamiya

  6481077 P-40 250lb Mk.2 British bomb 1/48 Eduard

  6481078 P-40 30lb frag bombs 1/48 Eduard

  6481080 P-40 500lb GP British bomb 1/48 Eduard

  6481081 P-40 250lb Mk.1 British bomb 1/48 Eduard

  6481082 P-40 250lb MC British bomb 1/48 Eduard

  6481091 F-35B exhaust nozzle PRINT 1/48 Tamiya

  6481095 A6M5 Type 52 gun bays PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481097 P-40E radiators upgrade set PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481100 P-40E tail wheel bay PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481101 Fw 190A-6 cockpit PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481102 Fw 190A-6 engine 1/48 Eduard

  672411 P-51 exhaust stacks PRINT 1/72 Tamiya

  672412 P-51 exhaust stacks w/ fairing PRINT 1/72 Tamiya

  672413 P-51D seat w/ integral belts PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  644303 F4F-4 w/ early wheels LööKplus 1/48 Academy

  644304 F4F-4 w/ late wheels LööKplus 1/48 Academy

  674029 P-47D Bubbletop LööKplus 1/72 Tamiya

  674035 Mosquito NF Mk.II LööKplus 1/72 Tamiya

  SIN648138 A-10A armament 1/48 Great Wall Hobby

  SIN67233 F-35B 1/72 Tamiya

  3DL48221 A6M5 Zero (Mitsubishi) SPACE 1/48 Fine Molds

  3DL48222 A6M5 Zero (Mitsubishi) SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48223 Mi-24A SPACE 1/48 Trumpeter

  3DL48224 Sea King HC.4 SPACE 1/48 Airfix

  3DL48225 B-26G Marauder cockpit & nose SPACE 1/48 ICM

  3DL48226 B-26G Marauder c

  ockpit insulation & armour plates SPACE 1/48 ICM

  3DL48227 B-26 Marauder rear interior SPACE 1/48 ICM

  3DL72063 Go 242A SPACE 1/72 IBG

  3DL72064 MiG-21bis SPACE 1/72 Eduard

  BIG ED

  BIG33166 Bf 109F-2 1/32 Hobby 2000 / Hasegawa

  BIG33167 Bf 109F-4 1/32 Hobby 2000 / Hasegawa

  BIG49444 Bf 109E-3 1/48 Hobby Boss

  BIG49445 F-86F-25/30 1/48 Airfix

  RELEASES

  MAY 2025

  INFO Eduard

  77

  May 2025

• Strana 78

  BUILT

  built by Robert Szwarc

  #11183

  MARKING N

  1/48

  INFO Eduard78

  May 2025

• Strana 79

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard

  79

  May 2025

• Strana 80

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard80

  May 2025

• Strana 81

  B-17F-120-BO 42-30788, Lt. Steward A. McClain crew, 350th BS, 100th BG, Thorpe Abbotts,

  United Kingdom, early 1944

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard

  81

  May 2025

• Strana 82

  BUILT

  P-39N Airacobra

  built by Rene Van Der Hart

  #84163

  1/48

  MARKING A

  INFO Eduard82

  May 2025

• Strana 83

  BUILT

  G. Dolnikov, 100 GIAP, 9 GIAD, Germany, 1945

  INFO Eduard

  83

  May 2025

• Strana 84

  Italeri 1/48

  built by Rene Van Der Hart

  Accessories used:

  48754 exterior (PE

  -

  Set)

  49622 general set (PE

  -

  Set)

  Wessex HU.5Wessex HU.5

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard84

  May 2025

• Strana 85

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard

  85

  May 2025

• Strana 86

• Strana 87

• Strana 88

  ON APPROACH

  JUNE 2025

  644306

  MH-60L LööK

  1/48 ICM

  644307

  Fw 190A-4 LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  BIG5376 USS Wasp LHD-1 PART 1 1/350 Trumpeter

  BIG49446 F-35C 1/48 Tamiya

  BIG49447 A-10A 1/48 Great Wall Hobby

  BIG49448 F4F-4 1/48 Academy

  644306 MH-60L LööK 1/48 ICM

  644307 Fw 190A-4 LööK 1/48 Eduard

  644308 A-10A LööK 1/48 GWH

  644309 B-26G LööK 1/48 ICM

  6481096 P-40E cockpit PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481098 P-40 cold weather exhaust stacks fishtail PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481099 P-40 cold weather exhaust stacks rounded PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481103 Fw 190A-3 cockpit PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  6481105 B-26G wheels 1/48 ICM

  6481108 Course Setting Bomb Sight Mk.IX PRINT 1/48

  6481109 UH-60 wheels 1/48 ICM

  6481110 F-35C wheels 1/48 Tamiya

  6481111 B-24D engines PRINT 1/48 Hobby Boss

  6481112 B-24D turbochargers PRINT 1/48 Hobby Boss

  6481113 B-24D wheels 1/48 Hobby Boss

  672414 MiG-21bis exhaust nozzle PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  672415 MiG-21bis cockpit PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  674036 P-51D exhaust stacks w/o fairing LööKplus 1/72 Tamiya

  674037 Mosquito B Mk.IV/PR Mk.IV LööKplus 1/72 Tamiya

  674038 Mosquito FB Mk.VI LööKplus 1/72 Tamiya

  SIN648139 P-40E ADVANCED 1/48 Eduard

  BIG ED (June)

  BRASSIN (June)

  LöökPlus (June)

  BIGSIN (June)

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL seat

  belts for Fw 190A-4 in 1/48 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 5 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for MH-60L in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: ICM

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  644308

  A-10A LööK

  1/48 GWH

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for A-10A in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Great Wall Hobby

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard88

  May 2025

• Strana 89

  644309

  B-26G LööK

  1/48 ICM

  6481096

  P-40E cockpit PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seat belts for B-26G in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: ICM

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - cockpit for P-40E in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 21 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  ON APPROACHJUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  89

  May 2025

• Strana 90

  ON APPROACH

  JUNE 2025

  6481098

  P-40 cold weather exhaust stacks fishtail PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  6481099

  P-40 cold weather exhaust stacks rounded PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  6481103

  Fw 190A-3 cockpit PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for P-40 in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 10 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for P-40 in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 10 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - cockpit for Fw 190A-3 in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 21 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard90

  May 2025

• Strana 91

  6481105

  B-26G wheels

  1/48 ICM

  6481108

  Course Setting Bomb Sight Mk.IX PRINT

  1/48

  6481109

  UH-60 wheels

  1/48 ICM

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for B-26G

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and a nose wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: ICM

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: yes

  Brassin set - British WW2 bomb sight in 1/48 scale.

  Set consists of 3 bomb sights. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended for British

  WW2 bombers like Lancaster, Halifax, Wellington,

  Beaufort etc.

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for UH-60

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and a tail wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: ICM

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  ON APPROACHJUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  91

  May 2025

• Strana 92

  ON APPROACH

  6481110

  F-35C wheels

  1/48 Tamiya

  6481111

  B-24D engines PRINT

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  6481112

  B-24D turbochargers PRINT

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for F-35C

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and a nose wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - resin: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  Brassin set - engines for B-24D in 1/48 scale.

  Set consists of 4 engines, cowlings are not included.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Hobby Boss

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 8 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - turbochargers for B-24D in 1/48 scale.

  Set consists of 4 superchargers. Made by direct

  3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Hobby Boss

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard92

  May 2025

• Strana 93

  6481113

  B-24D wheels

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  672414

  MiG-21bis exhaust nozzle PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  672415

  MiG-21bis cockpit PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for B-24D

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and a nose wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Hobby Boss

  Set contains:

  - resin: 4 parts

  - 3D print: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: yes

  Brassin set - exhaust nozzle for MiG-21bis

  in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 5 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - cockpit for MiG-21bis in 1/72 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 12 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  ON APPROACHJUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  93

  May 2025

• Strana 94

  ON APPROACH

  674037

  Mosquito B Mk.IV/PR Mk.IV LööKplus

  1/72 Tamiya

  674038

  Mosquito FB Mk.VI LööKplus

  1/72 Tamiya

  Collection of 4 sets for Mosquito B Mk.IV or PR Mk.IV in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust, stacks

  - painting mask

  Collection of 4 sets for Mosquito FB Mk.VI in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust, stacks

  - painting mask

  674036

  P-51D exhaust stacks w/o fairing LööKplus

  1/72 Tamiya

  Collection of 4 sets for P-51D in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts)

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust, stacks

  - painting mask

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard94

  May 2025

• Strana 95

  ON APPROACH

  SIN648139

  P-40E ADVANCED

  1/48 Eduard

  Collection of 3 sets for P-40E in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - engine

  - wheel wells w/ canvas

  - gun bays

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  95

  May 2025

• Strana 96

  PE

  -

  SETS

  53323 USS Gambier Bay CVE-73 part 1 1/350 Hasegawa

  36534 T-54 1/35 Hobby Boss

  36535 GPA amphibian 4x4 truck 1/35 Tamiya

  32494 A6M2 Zero landing flaps 1/32 Tamiya

  321024 A6M2 Zero interior 1/32 Tamiya

  491531 A-1J 1/48 Tamiya

  491532 UH-60A 1/48 ICM

  491533 UH-60A cargo seatbelts STEEL 1/48 ICM

  72744 MiG-21bis upgrade set 1/72 Eduard

  72745 TBM-3 landing flaps 1/72 Hobby Boss

  72746 TBM-3 exterior 1/72 Hobby Boss

  72747 TBM-3 folded wings 1/72 Hobby Boss

  72748 TBM-3 bomb bay 1/72 Hobby Boss

  73850 TBM-3 1/72 Hobby Boss

  ZOOMS

  33378 A6M2 Zero seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Tamiya

  33379 A6M2 Zero 1/32 Tamiya

  FE1531 A-1J 1/48 Tamiya

  FE1532 UH-60A 1/48 ICM

  FE1533 UH-60A seatbelts STEEL 1/48 ICM

  SS850 TBM-3 1/72 Hobby Boss

  MASKS

  JX334 A6M2 Zero TFace 1/32 Tamiya

  JX335 A6M2 Zero national marking 1/32 Tamiya

  EX1121 UH-60A 1/48 ICM

  EX1122 UH-60A TFace 1/48 ICM

  EX1123 Fi 156C TFace 1/48 Tamiya

  EX1124 P-40E US national insignia w/ red center 1/48 Eduard

  CX691 TBM-3 1/72 Hobby Boss

  SPACE

  3DL32031 A6M2 Zero SPACE 1/32 Tamiya

  3DL32032 A6M2 Zero seatbelts SPACE 1/32 Tamiya

  3DL48228 UH-60A SPACE 1/48 ICM

  3DL48229 Fi 156C SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL72065 TBM-3 SPACE 1/72 Hobby Boss

  DECAL SETS

  D72056 Bf 109G tropical camouflage scheme 1/72 Eduard

  ON APPROACH

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard96

  May 2025

• Strana 97

  ON APPROACH

  AFRIKA 1/72

  #2112

  Dual Combo

  Bf 109F-4/Trop, Hptm. Eduard Neumann, CO of I./JG 27,

  Martuba, Libya, December 1941

  Bf 109F-4/Trop, W.Nr. 8693, Lt. Hans-Joachim Marseille, 3./JG 27, Martuba, Libya, February 1942

  Bf 109F-4/Trop, Obfw. Karl-Heinz Bendert, Stab II./JG 27, Derna, Libya, December 1941

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  97

  May 2025

• Strana 98

  ON APPROACH

  Bf 109F-4/Trop, W.Nr. 8596, Obfw. Erwin Sawallisch,

  4./JG 27, Martuba, Libya, August 1942

  Bf 109G-2/Trop, Hptm. Heinz Bär, CO of I./JG 77, Bir Dufan,

  Libya, December 1942 – January 1943

  Bf 109G-4/R6/Trop, Fw. Arno Fischer, 1./JG 53,

  Bizerta, Tunisia, February 1943

  Bf 109G-2/Trop, Fw. Anton Hafner, 4./JG 51, Bizerta, Tunisia, November 1942

  Bf 109G-2/Trop, Obfw. Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert, 4./JG 77, Castell Benito, Libya, January 1943

  Bf 109G-4/R6/Trop, Obfw. Stephan Litjens, 4./JG 53, La Marsa, Tunisia, April 1943

  Bf 109G-4/R3/Trop, Oblt. Jürgen Harder, 7./JG 53, Bizerta, Tunisia, February 1943

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard98

  May 2025

• Strana 99

  ON APPROACH

  P-40E Warhawk 1/48

  #82241

  David L. Hill, 2nd FS, AVG, 14th AF,

  Kuomintang, China, May 1942

  11th FS, 343rd FG, Adak, Adak Island, 1942

  AK772, Sqn. Ldr. Clive Caldwell, F/Sgt Henry G. Burney,

  No. 112 Squadron (RAF), LG152 Gambut, Libya,

  March-May 1942

  ET795, 1Lt. Clay Tice, Jr, 9th FS, 49th FG,

  Port Moresby, New Guinea, 1942

  ET600, Lt. Andrew J. Reynolds, 9th FS,

  49th FG, Darwin, Australia, August 1942

  NZ3097, F/O Aitken M. Davis, No. 15 Squadron RNZAF, Espiritu Santo, 1943

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  99

  May 2025

• Strana 100

  ON APPROACH

  MiG-21PFM

  1/48

  #84202

  Le Thanh Dao, 927 Fighter Regiment, Lam Son AB,

  Democratic Republic of Vietnam, May 1972

  No. 9 Squadron IrAF, Iraq Air Force,

  Saddam AB, Iraq, 1973

  3rd Squadron, 11 Fighter Aviation Regiment,

  Czechoslovak Air Force, Žatec,

  Czechoslovakia, 1987-1991

  299 Naval Fighter-bomber Regiment, Saki airfield, Crimea, Soviet Union, spring 1980 - 1989

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard100

  May 2025

• Strana 101

  ON APPROACH

  PSP Display - perforated steel plate 1/72

  #7701

  JUNE 2025

  INFO Eduard

  101

  May 2025

• Tail End Charlie

  The spring round of exhibitions is over. We are glad we could meet with you, happy we were able to visit our favorite places again, and we’ll be delighted if we can keep meeting you at these places in the coming years. That’s never guaranteed. Here in the Czech Republic, some of the biggest events (Modelbrno, Nymburk's Kitsaloon, or Pilsenkit), where we used to have a booth, have disappeared. And the events meant to replace them attract nowhere near as many modelers as their predecessors did. We see declining interest year by year, for example, at PanthersCup in Prosek. I cannot praise the Panthers highly enough for organizing it, as they are among few still willing and able to host a major event in the Czech Republic. It’s actually the last large event in Prague, which might seem odd, but when we researched potential venues for this year’s E-day, we discovered that prices for spaces suitable for such an event in and around Prague are so high that organizing it could be financially unsustainable for any modeling club. So we’re thankful that at least events like PanthersCup are still going strong, and we’re always happy to support them with our participation.

  The spring round of exhibitions is over.

  We are glad we could meet with you, happy

  we were able to visit our favorite places again,

  and we’ll be delighted if we can keep meeting

  you at these places in the coming years. That’s

  never guaranteed. Here in the Czech Republic,

  some of the biggest events (Modelbrno,

  Nymburk's Kitsaloon, or Pilsenkit), where

  we used to have a booth, have disappeared.

  And the events meant to replace them attract

  nowhere near as many modelers as their

  predecessors did. We see declining interest

  year by year, for example, at PanthersCup in

  Prosek. I cannot praise the Panthers highly

  enough for organizing it, as they are among

  few still willing and able to host a major event

  in the Czech Republic. It’s actually the last

  large event in Prague, which might seem odd,

  but when we researched potential venues for

  this year’s E-day, we discovered that prices

  for spaces suitable for such an event in and

  around Prague are so high that organizing

  it could be financially unsustainable for any

  modeling club. So we’re thankful that at least

  events like PanthersCup are still going strong,

  and we’re always happy to support them with

  our participation.

  Since we want to continue attending major

  modeling exhibitions, we’ve started traveling

  abroad. In March, we visited exhibitions in

  Verona, Italy, and Bytom, Poland, for the

  second time. Bytom is a traditional competition

  similar in format to those in the Czech Republic.

  It turned out to be a great destination and

  an opportunity to reconnect with our Polish

  customers, where we hadn't been in years.

  Verona, however, is a completely different

  kind of event. It’s primarily a commercial fair

  for models of airplanes, tanks, ships, trains,

  as well as costumes, masks, toys, and just

  about anything one can play with. Modelers

  from all sorts of clubs across Italy come

  together there, and we thoroughly enjoy the

  whole experience with them. I highly praise

  their friendly attitude and warm hospitality.

  In April, we took part in the exhibition in

  Prostějov and wrapped up the spring program

  last week in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary.

  The “Easter Prostějov“ event keeps getting

  better every year. This year, the tables were

  literally packed with beautifully built models.

  I would like to encourage more modeling

  companies to come and support the Prostějov

  club and their excellent organizational work—

  help turn “Easter Prostějov“ into an even

  bigger show. This year, the hall was full of

  visitors, and I believe this event is well on

  its way to becoming one of the largest in the

  Czech Republic.

  Let me add a few more lines about Moson.

  It truly deserves it. The organizers have long

  done a fantastic job, to the point that Moson

  is now considered a must-attend event for

  modelers every year. This year, about 2,500

  beautifully built models were on display.

  The organizers developed a sophisticated

  category and judging system, secured a high-

  quality judging team, and most importantly,

  arranged for outstanding facilities in

  cooperation with the city. Combined with

  the charm of the spa town, they’ve created

  a perfect mix that works and attracts visitors

  from all over the world. Our booth was visited

  by customers from Taiwan, China, the USA,

  Latin America, Australia, and all corners of

  Europe. The only downside is the declining

  quality of services in the town, which clearly

  only comes alive during cultural and social

  events. Otherwise, it seems pretty dead—

  which, combined with other factors, has led to

  a sharp rise in prices for accommodation, food,

  drinks, and even spa admittance, while quality

  of service has decreased.

  So, what’s next for us this year? For now, we’ll

  rest and recharge. In summer, we’re headed

  to the IPMS USA Nationals in Virginia Beach.

  We also plan to attend the Plzeňský Velbloud

  (Pilsen Camel) for the first time. Later in the

  year, we’ll once again take part in competitions

  in Eindhoven, Telford, and visit our Slovak

  brothers in Nitra and Bratislava. And I almost

  forgot about E-day! This year, for the first time,

  it will be at a new venue—in my hometown

  of Litoměřice, at the prestigeous “Výstaviště

  Zahrada Čech“, Czech Garden Exhibition

  Grounds. This place has the potential to offer

  modelers an experience similar to Moson—or

  maybe even better. So mark your calendars

  for October 4th and come to E-day. This year’s

  event is definitely going to be worth it.

  TOUR OF EXHIBITIONS

  Jakub Nademlejnský

  INFO Eduard102

  May 2025

• Strana 103

• Strana 104

• Editorial

  Dear Friends,

  So I have to say that this April was a good ride. Over the more than thirty-five years of our company's existence, we have experienced various historical events, starting with the revolution and the overthrow of the communist regime in 1989 (yes, Eduard was already a functioning entity back then and we thoroughly enjoyed the revolution), through the terrorist attacks on New York on September 11th, 2001, to the collapse of Lehman Brothers bank and the economic crisis of the late 1990s. All of these events were social and economic upheavals, changing the economic situation and significantly affecting the way business was conducted. To be honest, changing established patterns out of necessity is always difficult and the need to change your behavior and do things differently is not a comforting affair, and when such changes take place, they mainly cause stress and anxiety. Positive feelings only come with time. You may be wondering what the hell was going on here and what actually changed. Well, change it did. The crisis in 2008 was a strong impetus for innovation for us. We introduced the technology that we use to produce our kits today just after 2008. We bought new machines, introduced the production of technically new molds, establishing the path to the current standard in Eduard model kits. The same is true of the Brassin line, they are also a child of the crisis of 2008. Preparations for the production of the cast sets began in the spring of 2009 and the first Brassins were released in January 2010. We had 3D printers in the process from the very beginning of the line, since the masters were always designed using 3D design programs, and then they were printed and refined to be then turned into molds for resin casting.

  The situation today is similar. After the covid episode, which was probably the golden age of the modeling industry, all the companies that had survived until then recovered and experienced two years of unprecedented prosperity. There were shocks in the form of inflation, supply disruptions, the Russian attack on Ukraine, and right now we have another incarnation of the post-covid crisis in the form of US President Trump's tariffs. The start to April was tense. We had to deal with the shock brought on by the introduction of US tariffs, forcing us to a new modus operandi with our American partners and implement it in practice. Maintaining the US market is absolutely crucial for us due to our commitment to it, we export 20% of our production to the US, and we certainly do not feel that we are robbing America in any way. In the end, we found a solution that should maintain the current level of our American prices. But how it all turns out is of course up in the air, the model market will be hit not only in America. Chinese companies are most likely out of the game in America for at least some time, which is certainly not something we are happy about. We do not need the liquidation of competing companies and their elimination from the market, we need them for our life and prosperity, as I have explained several times in the past. So we hope that the whole situation will settle down again. But it will never be the same as before the tariffs. The world has started moving and it will not just stop. We’ll see where this road takes us.

  We’re not stopping, either. April's positives include two significant events, Easter Prostejov and the Moson show. We were in Prostejov at Easter and in Moson in Hungary a week later, both events were great, well-organized and, from our point of view, very successful. Both seemed to be better attended than last year, at least from the point of view of our tables, which were full of activity from morning to evening. We had our May releases at both events, and the 72nd scale MiG-21bis proved to be a great success at both. At Moson we had the MiGs sold out by noon, and the P-40E in the Pacific Star kit joined a few hours later. We also had the first sprues for the MiG-21F-13 in 1:48th for display purposes, in Prostejov just the canopy, which is of course an interesting piece of plastic in and of itself, and in Moson we added two more sprues, the fuselage and the wing, and the reactions were extremely positive. We don’t think that this comes as much of a surprise; the kit will probably be the best we have ever produced both in terms of the execution of surface and internal details, and in terms of buildability. The release schedule is also already taking shape. The F version will have its premiere at E-day in the form of a Limited Edition series kit, dedicated to the service of the MiG-21F-13 in various world air forces. This issue will be derived from the Czechoslovak Limited Edition kit, dedicated to the production of the MiG-21F-13 at Aero Vodochody and its service in the Czechoslovak Air Force. The form of this kit will be decided next week, but in any case it is certain that this kit will include a book about the Czechoslovak MiG-21F-13 by Martin Janousek, and that it will be sold by pre-order in general and from retailers. We will only produce as many kits as we have orders, and the ordered kits will then be shipped a week before E-day with the option of pick up at that show.

  We still have a long way to go until E-day and a lot will happen before October 4th. However, as long as we are on the topic of all these shows, why not say something about this year's E-day, no? We took the opportunity to visit the venue in Litomerice a week before Easter. The Gardens of Bohemia exhibition was taking place there and we wanted to see the area in action. Jirka Fiala, who is significantly involved in the activities of the judges, wanted to see the main exhibition hall, where the competition models will be. And of course, the other halls too, because we will be occupying a total of five halls at the venue. You don't have to worry about that, the halls are not far from each other, and they are mainly concentrated around the central area where the food court will be located, which will be inside military tents. There will also be direct access from the catering area to the hall, where there will be workshops and a space for tables, where visitors will be able to enjoy refreshments from the catering tent in case of inclement weather, which is a bit of a threat in October. Regardless of the weather, it will also be one of the areas for sitting and chatting. There are several of these in the area, and they will certainly be put to good use, because one of the reasons why modelers go to these shows is for the opportunity to meet friends and have a good chat with them. That is why, in addition to the classic Pot Q and A, and other lectures, which will also be in a separate hall, we are preparing a chat session in the ‘Cafe by the Lake’, which is between the Q and A hall and the workshop hall. The plan is that various personalities from our company and the model industry will take turns behind the counter, making coffee, pouring beer and chatting with modelers. It will be an experiment, we have never done anything like this, but something tells me that it will be interesting and fun. From our company, I will be there, as will Katka Borecka, and Jakub and Martin Nademlejnsky, and from other companies we will also invite Fredy Riedel from Special Hobby, Jindra Sterbacek from Modelar and Petr Muzikant from KP, and in general anyone with the courage to show up will be welcome.

  The lecture format is also being formulated and we have secured pilots who flew MiG-21Fs to be there, and we are working on getting someone who still remembers the Avia S-199 to attend. This is quite important, because it will coincide with the release of our S-199. As with the MiG, for which we already have all the molds milled, we are working very hard on the S-199 to have it ready to go on sale at E-day. In fact, we want to have both models completely ready by September, and during September we will present them at a series of meetings with modelers. One will be in Prague, one again in Prostejov, and we are planning the very first presentation of both kits in Pilsen at the Pilsenský Velbloud (Pilsen Camel) competition. We'll be explaining the concept of the kits, which will be quite novel and innovative, and there will probably be the first units in plain white boxes up for grabs. And here too, something tells me you'll like both of these little things.

  To conclude this editorial, let's move from autumn back to spring. At the end of May, preorders for the 48th scale Royal Class P-40N Warhawk will begin. This is a continuation of the P-40 project. The N model is the most beautiful and interesting Warhawk in my opinion, and it will be a colorful and attractive affair in all its releases yet to come. Presentation of the aircraft selected for the Royal boxing will begin during May. We will start the preorders on Friday, May 23rd, and the kit production run will again be determined based on the number of preorders. We will produce as many as there are orders from the e-shop and from dealers. Along with the Royal Class P-40N, it will be possible to order everything from the e-shop assortment, as well as selected accessories, which, like the Royal Class itself, will be among the new releases for August. We will then ship orders to customers in the second week of July, to dealers from July 15th. We will talk more about other new products for August in the next editorial. It will be an interesting month, because just as the November lineup of new items sold on E-day will be distinctly Czechoslovak, the August lineup will be very American. In addition to the P-40N, there will also be a 48th scale F-18C, which will be our boxing of the Kinetic kit. As an example.

  But more on that next time. Today, enjoy looking over May’s new releases, the main focus of which is the 72nd scale MiG-21bis. This is also reflected in today's newsletter, where you will find, for example, an article describing the armament of the MiG-21bis and among new releases, a number of printed accessories, of which, in my opinion, the most attractive is the exhaust nozzle.

   

  Happy Modelling!

  Vladimir Sulc

  
  

• The World of Japanese Calligraphy Shodō

  
  

  Text: Mari Kučera

   

  As part of the box design for the April limited edition 1/48 Kamikaze Tokkōtai IJN Special Attack Units, there is a calligraphy inscription of "Kamikaze Tokkōtai" (Kamikaze Special Attack Unit), created by the Japanese calligraphy teacher living in Prague, Mrs. Mari Kučera. Since unique calligraphy created specifically for a plastic model kit is not a common occurrence, even in Japan, we asked Mrs. Kučera to introduce us to the history and secrets of calligraphy creation. (Editorial note)

   

  In Japanese calligraphy, shodō, we use Chinese characters (kanji) and two types of native Japanese syllabic scripts, kana.

  Chinese characters originated in ancient China, where the reasons and outcomes of divinations were recorded by carving them onto animal shoulder blades or turtle shells. Thus, the act of writing (recording) itself was considered sacred. Each character carries meaning, and by studying the origins of individual characters, one can glimpse the worldview, philosophy, and lifestyle of ancient people.

  Later, with the invention of soft brushes made from animal hair, it became possible to draw curved and varied-width lines. The calligraphy brush is unique because it is both soft and resilient. Thanks to this quality, we can sensitively capture the various rhythms and movements of our bodies and our inner selves. Living tools, such as the calligraphy brush and absorbent paper, allow us to express music, dance, and the image of our soul, evoking different emotions and impressions in viewers and affecting their spirit. In this way, "writing characters" became an art form.

  Because of the brush’s flexibility, each stroke and character contains substance, depth, movement, and direction. Unlike painting, where an artist can pause, have tea, and contemplate where and what color to add, Japanese calligraphy must be executed "in one breath," requiring high energy concentration and yet complete relaxation of the body and senses. Only when we tune into the waves of energy around us – depending on our state and the waves we connect to – and let the energy flow through us without obstruction do substance, depth, movement, and direction appear in every stroke and character. These physical aspects follow natural laws, and harmony reigns in the work, just like in the universe. When everything is connected by one wave of energy and functions in unity, the work becomes alive and beautiful.

  The flow of energy is a very important aspect of Japanese calligraphy. This again is enabled by the brush’s flexibility. Through an invisible yet palpable current of energy, we can experience the mental state or emotions of the creator at the moment the work was made, even if it is several years old. In Japanese culture in general, "things that cannot be seen" remain an essential part of life. If the energy flow were not part of the creative process, the written inscription would essentially be meaningless.

  It is also often said that the "remaining" white space, where nothing is written, is an "essential" white space. This is called johaku. Johaku can be seen everywhere in Japanese culture, most typically in ink paintings, traditional Japanese houses and gardens, and tea ceremonies. By writing letters, we often strive to create beautiful "empty" space.

  However, it is not possible to create this space with the mind alone. The inscription and the "empty" space must resonate, and to achieve this, we need to maintain perspective and perceive the work as a whole during its creation. The slightest thought flashing through the mind interrupts the energy flow, creating disharmony.

  The effort to create good work largely involves removing various obstacles within ourselves. These include the desire for success, a closed view on the world, fixed ideas, etc., which are associated with bodily tension.

  Often, we ignore our own feelings due to thoughts influenced by our nature or approach to life, resonating somewhere deep in our subconscious without our clear awareness. Subconsciously, we tell ourselves we don’t want to ruin the work and we want to succeed. Even before we start writing, we fear failure, and both the soul and the body tense up unpleasantly.

  If the mind constantly dictates, “This stroke should be this long,” or “The next stroke should start here,” the senses fail to perform their primary function of maintaining balance in the developing work. And when the mind controls everything and something doesn't go as planned, internal criticism immediately follows – “Damn, that stroke should have been longer!” This can thoroughly destabilize us, at least until the work is finished.

  It’s truly fascinating to observe how clearly all of this appears on the paper, how our inner world manifests there, and how the body reacts at such moments. Our body’s movement is closely tied to our inner state, making it essential to cultivate our inner selves for calligraphy.

  A finished piece of calligraphy reflects not only the personality and personal approach of the calligrapher but also their shortcomings and weaknesses, which usually show up as flaws in the work. Improvement in Japanese calligraphy demands self-awareness and self-cultivation.

  This is probably why Japanese calligraphy became one of the "Ways – Dō," just like kendō, judō, sadō, and others. By observing our own calligraphy, we can improve our approach to life.

  As you can see, a calligrapher must carefully choose their tools and writing style to best express their inner self in a given work. These choices greatly influence the atmosphere of the work.

  For the inscription "Kamikaze Tokkōtai," I wanted to create an atmosphere of dignity and severity, containing inner strength while avoiding harshness. Therefore, I used the kaisho style – standard script – with a hint of gyōsho – semi-cursive script – which conveys strength and movement within a certain tension. Through this, I wished to express my respect for the souls of those who fought in these aircraft.

   

  Mari Kučera

  She has been practicing Japanese calligraphy, shodō, since the age of six. Her life and calligraphy are deeply intertwined with faith and Asian philosophy, heavily influenced by nature, Taoism, and Buddhism. She has lived in the Czech Republic since 2003. Besides her own artistic work, she leads numerous courses and workshops throughout the country, gives lectures, and performs large-format demonstrations. She has written several articles for magazines and appeared on the "Dobré ráno" (Good Morning) program on Czech Television.

  She belongs to the Kenshin Shodō Kai, one of the most traditional schools of Japanese calligraphy in Japan, and received the Hōjō Award at exhibitions in 2024 and 2025.

  
  

• Aerial War in Ukraine

  New footage of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets.

  
  

  Retreat from the Kursk Region and Global Chaos

  Text: Miro Barič

  
  

  In this continuation of the series, we cover events that occurred between March 1 and March 31. The fighting continued on land, at sea, and in the air—despite U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire. With the benefit of hindsight, it can be said that Russia is playing for time and stringing Trump along...

   

  On the ground battlefield, the most significant events took place in Russia's Kursk region. Russian and North Korean troops finally managed a successful counteroffensive there, during which they recaptured the town of Sudzha. The Ukrainians had to withdraw from almost the entire Kursk region, retaining only two villages near the border. Drones played a key role in this Russian counteroffensive, particularly those with optical fibers that cannot be jammed. Using them, the Russians cut off Ukrainian supply lines, which was the main reason the Ukrainians had to retreat.

  On the other hand, the Ukrainian armed forces launched a raid into Russia’s Belgorod region, where fighting took place in several border villages. At the same time, there were several successful counterattacks were launched, especially around the towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, as well as in other areas. As a result, the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine essentially stalled during the monitored period.

   

  Does He Want Peace or Capitulation?

  On the global stage, U.S. President Trump was the key player. The question is whether anyone, including himself, really knows what he’s doing. Consider the trade wars he has started with virtually the entire world—imposing tariffs in the morning, only to lift them by evening. And the next day, the cycle repeats... Even American companies are now speaking out against this chaos.

  Practically the only country on which Trump hasn’t imposed additional tariffs is Russia. This might seem puzzling, but in the context of peace negotiations, it starts to make sense. He is demanding that Ukraine give up Crimea and other territories, and also abandon its ambitions to NATO membership. Additionally, he is pressuring Ukraine into an unfavorable agreement that would effectively hand over its mineral resources to the U.S. And what is he demanding from Russia, the aggressor in this war? Nothing... In fact, Trump’s administration has even begun efforts to halt investigations into Russian war crimes.

  During the observed period, Ukraine agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia rejected it. Ukraine then agreed to at least a limited ceasefire concerning attacks on energy infrastructure and military operations in the Black Sea. Russia seemingly agreed too, but immediately began setting conditions, saying such a ceasefire was only possible if certain sanctions were lifted.

  Both of these limited ceasefires are, from the start, more advantageous to Russia. Although Ukraine has long been facing attacks on its power plants and heating facilities, it has adapted to this situation. A mild winter and current warming trends also play in its favor. On the other hand, Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries, fuel depots, and other oil infrastructure have significantly impacted the Kremlin. Last year, these attacks caused a 10 percent drop in Russian production, costing Moscow a great deal of money.

  In the Black Sea as well, Ukraine holds a more advantageous position, making the ceasefire more beneficial to Russia. Ukrainian naval drones and cruise missile attacks have sunk many ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, forcing the remainder into ports in the eastern part of the sea. Despite regular Russian attacks, Ukraine has managed to resume grain exports on its own. Therefore, it is primarily Russia that is interested in free navigation.

  Despite everything, Ukraine agreed to the U.S. ceasefire proposals without any further conditions. And who does Trump blame for obstructing a peace deal? Ukraine...

  New footage of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets.

  
  

  Oil Infrastructure

  As mentioned earlier, Ukrainian long-range drones continued attacking the Russian oil infrastructure during this reporting period. During the night of Tuesday, March 4, two Russian refineries were hit—one in Syzran and the other in Novoshakhtinsk. Both had been targeted in the past and had only recently resumed full operation. That same night, a pipeline in the Rostov region was also struck.

  On Saturday, March 8, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery near St. Petersburg. Several drones also struck a cannery in Bryansk, which produced food rations for Russian troops. Ukrainians also continued their tactics of launching FPV drones from naval drones in the Black Sea, using them to destroy two Russian air defense systems along the coast.

  On the night of Monday, March 10, the target was the Novokuybyshevsk refinery near Samara, which produces aviation fuel for strategic bombers.

  The following night, Tuesday, March 11, Ukrainians carried out one of the most extensive attacks to date. They launched 337 drones at Russia, with 70 to 100 targeting Moscow and over 120 targeting the Kursk region. The drones hit railway facilities, fuel depots, and other infrastructure. Debris from intercepted drones and missiles from Russian air defenses damaged several homes in the suburbs of Moscow.

  On Saturday, March 15, more than 100 drones again flew towards targets in Russia. A refinery belonging to Lukoil and a railway station near Volgograd were hit.

  On Wednesday, March 19, the large Kavkazskaya fuel depot near Krasnodar was hit. It continued to burn and explode for nearly a week.

  A daring operation took place during the night of Thursday, March 20, when Ukrainians attacked Engels-2 airbase near Saratov—home to the Russian strategic bombers used against Ukrainian cities. Ukraine had previously attacked this base several times. This time, kamikaze drones hit an ammunition depot. The Ukrainian General Staff later announced that 96 Kh-101 cruise missiles were destroyed in the strike. While the exact number is unknown, secondary explosions shook the area well into the next day. Unconfirmed reports later surfaced on social media stating that a Tu-95MS bomber was damaged, and its pilot Ilya Balkin and flight engineer Yevgeny Sidorov were killed.

   A burning fuel depot in Kavkazskaya as seen in satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC.

  Explosion of an ammunition depot at the Russian Engels-2 air base.

  Satellite image of Engels-2 air base by Maxar Technologies. The struck ammunition depot is in the upper right corner.

  Close-up image from Maxar showing the ammunition depot hit at Engels-2.

  Comparison of the depot before (top) and after the explosion, in Maxar images.

  
  

  Civilian Targets

  And what targets did Russia attack? On Friday, March 7 in the evening, it was the city center of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region. Rockets with cluster munitions struck the area. It was Russia’s infamous "double-tap" strike—launching a second wave to kill rescuers aiding victims of the first. The result: eight five-story apartment buildings were destroyed or damaged, and a shopping center was hit. Worse yet, 11 people were killed and 50 injured, including 7 children.

  On Wednesday, March 12, a similar double-tap attack hit the city center of Kryvyi Rih. The target was the Druzhba Hotel. Once rescuers arrived, a second missile struck. Nine people were seriously injured. On the same day, an Iskander missile struck a cargo ship flying the flag of Barbados docked in the port of Odesa. Shrapnel killed four crew members.

  Odesa was again targeted on Friday, March 21, when Russia launched 214 drones in three waves against four Ukrainian cities. Ukrainians shot down 114 drones; another 84 crashed due to jamming or were simply decoys designed to overwhelm air defenses. The attack on Odesa occurred during a visit by Czech President Petr Pavel. Drones struck a shopping center and residential buildings, killing two and injuring ten.

  On Sunday, March 23, Russian drones again targeted multiple Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, several high-rise apartment buildings were hit. In one of them, a man and his 5-year-old daughter—who had fled from Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region—were killed. The mother was the only survivor, injured and hospitalized.

  On Saturday, March 29, Russia launched several ballistic missiles at Kryvyi Rih, hitting homes, a car wash, and a school, injuring seven. Kamikaze drones struck Dnipro, killing four people and injuring more than 20. Eleven homes, an auto shop, a hotel, and a restaurant were damaged. Russian propaganda then used its usual formula, claiming that “10 NATO officers and members of Ukraine's secret services who were celebrating at the restaurant” had been killed.

   Center of the Ukrainian city of Dobropillia after a Russian attack on March 7, which killed 11 people.

  On March 12, a Russian missile hit a civilian ship in Odesa killing four crew members.

  On March 21 Odesa was also targeted, during a visit by Czech President Petr Pavel.

  City of Dnipro in flames after a raid by the Russian kamikaze drones.

  Russian drones often veer off course and crash due to electronic jamming or technical failure. This Shahed drone flew as far as Kazakhstan.

  A “warhead” made of wooden slats inside a drone sent as a decoy to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

  
  

  Mirage in Action for the First Time

  One of the largest Russian air raids of the war occurred at the beginning of the reporting period but deserves its own section because, in addition to F-16s, French Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets took part in Ukrainian defense efforts for the first time.

  On Friday, March 7, Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure: 194 Shahed drones and 67 missiles and cruise missiles. The missile group included 35 Kh-101/Kh-55s, 8 Kalibrs, 8 Kh-59/69s, 3 Iskander missiles, and 4 S-300 missiles used in a ground-to-ground mode. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 100 drones and 34 missiles. Another 86 drones crashed.

  In Kharkiv, the attack damaged at least 30 homes, and in Poltava, a gas facility was hit. Two people were killed and 24 injured. After the attack, a video from the cockpit of a Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5F fighter jet was published, showing the downing of one Russian cruise missile.

  Just like the F-16s in their early days of deployment last year, the Mirage jets are now taking part in defense against Russian air raids. Their pilots are gaining valuable experience before participating in various types of missions.

   A view from the cockpit of a Ukrainian Mirage 2000 fighter jet, which on March 7 shot down a Russian cruise missile.

  
  

  First F-16 Combat

  F-16s are now also striking Russian ground targets. During one mission in this reporting period, the first encounter with Russian fighters occurred — ending without a shootdown but showing the F-16's vulnerability due to the Russian air superiority.

  It happened on Thursday, March 21, over Ukraine’s Sumy region. Russian military bloggers initially claimed to have shot down an F-16, but later corrected the record. According to Russian and Ukrainian sources, two Ukrainian aircraft (likely MiG-29s) loaded with bombs were escorted by one F-16. They flew at low altitude to evade Russian S-400 detection.

  A Su-35 was patrolling high above and fired two long-range R-37 missiles at the group. The Ukrainian aircraft evaded them. As they turned to complete their bombing run, the Su-35 relayed targeting data to an S-400 battery, which launched multiple missiles. One locked onto the F-16. The Ukrainian pilot had to use onboard electronic countermeasures, flares, and extreme maneuvering to evade it. The missile eventually ran out of fuel.

   

  Another „Black Day“ for Russia

  The Ukrainian F-16 escaped the ambush, and Ukraine suffered no confirmed losses during this period. However, several older losses were confirmed.

  Russia, meanwhile, lost multiple aircraft and helicopters in March. On Tuesday, March 18, a Mi-28 helicopter crashed during a training flight in the Leningrad region, killing both crew members, including Captain Ilya Vankovsky.

  On Saturday, March 22, a video showed a Su-34 making an emergency belly landing at Lipetsk airbase after landing gear failure. The engine caught fire after losing a nozzle. The aircraft was likely irreparably damaged.

  Footage of an emergency landing of a Russian Su-34 at the Lipetsk airbase.

  
  

  On Monday, March 24, a Su-25 crashed in Russia’s Far East — the pilot ejected safely. That same day, four Russian helicopters were destroyed in Belgorod region when Ukrainian HIMARS rockets struck a temporary landing site near the town of Ivnya. A reconnaissance drone had spotted them. The GMLRS warheads, filled with tungsten balls, rendered the helicopters irreparable: one Mi-8MTV-5M (“red 54”), one Mi-28NM (“red 96”), and likely two Ka-52s.

   Aftermath of the March 24 attack on four Russian helicopters — all were riddled with shrapnel and damaged beyond repair.

  Russian Ministry of Defense photograph of a Mi-28 helicopter.

  A wreckage of the Russian Mi-28 that crashed on March 18

  
  

  Older Losses Confirmed

  On Wednesday, March 19, Ukraine’s military intelligence released a video of FPV drone attacks launched from naval drones against targets in Crimea — including S-300 and Pantsir-S1 systems, as well as various radar stations. One clip shows a drone exploding next to a parked Mi-8 helicopter at Veseloje airbase. Satellite images confirmed the helicopter had been stationary since at least February 24, suggesting the strike occurred in February and left it irreparably damaged.

  According to the analysis of published footage and satellite images by the Military Watch website, the Mi-8 helicopter had been parked in the same place since at least 24 February and had not moved for the entire following month. All the other helicopters disappeared from the base in mid-February and did not return. Previously, several had been present there every day. This suggests that the attack on Veseloye airport took place in February, and that the Mi-8 seen in the video was so badly damaged that it was left behind.

  During the period under review, various losses on both sides were confirmed. For example, official documents state that a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was damaged on 21 January this year. While flying at 220 km/h at an altitude of 200 metres, the helicopter began to rotate constantly to the left. When the pilot was unable to stop the rotation by steering, he attempted an emergency landing, resulting in a crash.

  Ukrainian court documents show that, on 22 February this year, a Westland Sea King HU.5 helicopter with the tail number “White 51“, belonging to the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade, was seriously damaged (probably beyond repair). Due to a malfunction, the aircraft made an emergency landing near Mykolaiv (presumably at the Kulbakino airbase), sustaining damage and causing injuries ranging from minor to moderate to the crew members. This is the first loss of this type of helicopter in Ukrainian service.

  Two further losses are evident in a documentary film released on Sunday 2 March. It shows the wrecks of two Su-25M1 aircraft with the tail numbers “Blue 21“ and “Blue 23“. The footage was shot at the Kulbakino base in autumn 2024. Both aircraft were destroyed prior to this date. However, the circumstances of their destruction remain unclear, as does the question of whether they were destroyed at the base or elsewhere and their wrecks were subsequently transported there.

  Drone footage dated March 24 showing HIMARS rocket strikes on four Russian helicopters near the town of Ivnya in Belgorod region.

  Wrecks of the Ukrainian Su-25M1 aircraft with tail numbers “blue 21” and “blue 23” at the Kulbakino airbase. The footage was filmed in fall 2024 and recently released in a documentary.

• Hungarian Shark

  Text: Vladimír Šulc

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Cat. No. 2151

   

  The Hungarian MiG-21bis Model 75A, with the serial number 75061904 and the fuselage number 1904, was repainted in its famous anti-camouflage livery in 1992. This colour scheme was originally intended to represent enemy aircraft during combat training exercises. Around this time, aircraft 1904 became part of the Sky Hussars aerobatic team. It bore the logo of the Camel tobacco company on the side of the fuselage and in several other places, and due to the shark's mouth on the nose it was named Cápeti ('Shark') and presented at an air show in Taszár.

  It took part in a number of other air shows and, in 1993, its paintwork was restored, giving the aircraft a slightly different look. In the same year, the Sky Hussars performed at the International Air Tattoo in Fairford, UK, probably the most famous performance in the group's history. The International Air Tattoo was first held in Fairford in 1993 and has been held there annually ever since. Until then, it had been held every two years since 1971. That memorable year, the Slovak Biele Albatrosy also took part in the event alongside other famous aerobatic groups. The newly formed Czech Republic was represented by Su-25Ks from the 30th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Pardubice.

  The Sky Hussars performed their final demonstration in Kecskemét on 6 August 1993. Following their decommissioning, the Shark 1904 ended up in the aviation museum in Szolnok. Although it was completely renovated, the museum's livery differs in detail from the original design. The Shark's mouth, gills and eyes are different; it has different insignia on the tail and wings; the font used for the pilot and technician's names is different; and most importantly, there are no labels. The aircraft in the kit represents the second colour scheme of the 1904 aircraft, as it appeared at Fairford.

  If you are surprised by the high mountains in the background of the MiG-21bis box art, don't expect to see an air show in the foothills of the Alps or Scandinavia. This is artistic licence on the part of the title image's author, Piotr Forkasiewicz. Unlike the cover images of the Profipack and Weekend series, where we aim to depict real historical events and combat scenes realistically, the Limited series is different. In this series, the background and scene are fictional and neutral, and the focus is solely on the colour scheme of the aircraft. The mountains are therefore mainly in the picture to make it look better. The image gains drama and dynamism, and that's what counts!

• The Night Tests

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

  Cat. No. 82137

  
  

  In Germany, prior to the Second World War, flight test centres known as Erprobungs-Stelle (abbreviated as E-Stelle) began operating. These centres were responsible for testing new types of aircraft, their armament, and on-board systems. One such centre, E-Stelle Rechlin, also began testing captured equipment from 1940 onwards.

  In April 1942, the E-Stelle Werneuchen was established at the airfield of the same name. Its mission was to test and develop radar and targeting equipment for air combat and naval reconnaissance, working closely with the Flugfunkforschungsinstitut at Oberpfaffenhofen. Branches for testing ground-based radar equipment were located in Weesow and Tremmen.

  Flight tests of newly developed equipment were initially carried out by the Erprobungsstaffel within the Technisches Versuchskommando (TVK). Among its tasks was the development and testing of equipment designed to defend against jamming and deception by enemy air forces.

  In January 1944, Nachtjagdgruppe 10 (NJGr. 10) was established, with Major Rudolf Schoenert, a successful night fighter pilot, appointed as its commander. At that time, Schoenert had 55 aerial victories to his credit and had previously commanded II./NJG 5 in Western Europe and I./NJG 100 on the Eastern Front. He was also one of the main proponents of installing oblique forward-firing guns, known as Schräge Musik.

  The task of his new unit was to test night-time radio-electronic warfare equipment in combat, using both single- and two-seat aircraft. In this role, NJGr. 10 took over from the aforementioned Erprobungsstaffel TVK and continued close cooperation with E-Stelle Werneuchen. Thus NJGr. 10 was based at the same airfield as the E-Stelle.

  Some aircraft, including the Me 262 and Ar 234 B-2/N test jets, continued to fall under the authority of E-Stelle Werneuchen. Aircraft intended for combat testing, however, were assigned to Schoenert's NJGr. 10. His unit was organized into a staff (Stab) and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Staffeln (squadrons). Later, probably in August 1944, a 4th Staffel was established.

  Single-engine aircraft of various Bf 109 F/G and Fw 190 A variants were concentrated within the 1st Staffel, which was partly formed from personnel of I./JG 300. Its commander was the experienced night fighter Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl "Nasen" Müller. Articles about him can be found in INFO magazine issues 11/2023 and 11/2019.

  Within the 2nd Staffel, during 1944 various versions of the Ju 88, several Bf 110s, and one He 219 were concentrated. In February 1944, Hauptmann Martin Lüdtke was appointed commander of 2./NJGr. 10, and in early March 1945, he took over command of the entire NJGr. 10.

  Several well-known night fighter pilots served with NJGr. 10, including Heinz-Martin Hadeball and Kurt Welter, the latter of whom later participated in the deployment of the Me 262 as a night fighter.

  During 1944, NJGr. 10 achieved a total of 18 victories, lost an equal number of aircraft in combat, and wrote off an additional 23 aircraft due to non-combat reasons. Müller's 1st Staffel accounted for ten of these victories, with Müller himself credited with half of them.

  The second most successful pilot of the 1st Staffel was former transport airman Oberleutnant Fritz Krause, whose aircraft is depicted in a box art illustration by Piotr Forkasiewicz. Krause achieved his first success on 8 July 1944, when he shot down a Mosquito from No. 692 Sqn RAF. Details of this dramatic battle can be found on Neil Page’s blog. 

  His Fw 190 A-6 (WNr. 550143), equipped with FuG 217 Neptun radar, was later handed over, without its radar equipment, to the operational training unit of JGr. West, where it was designated "Yellow 26." It was subsequently destroyed in a fatal crash on 7 October 1944.

  During his service with 1./NJGr. 10, Fritz Krause was forced to abandon his aircraft several times, once even after being shot down by his own flak. He apparently achieved one more victory with the unit, claiming a Lancaster from No. 419 Sqn RCAF on 4 November 1944. In this engagement, however, he was shot down while flying a Bf 109. Some sources suggest that he scored this victory as a member of 3./NJG 11.

  Krause's colleagues from the 1st Staffel scored two additional four-engine bombers and two Mosquitos. At the end of August 1944, half of the 1./NJGr. 10 personnel were detached to form 2./NJG 11. The remaining members of 1./NJGr. 10 were similarly transferred to 3./NJG 11 in October.

  In 1945, NJGr. 10 continued its combat operations, engaging both night bombers and conducting night attacks on Red Army ground columns. However, I have not found any record of air victories by this unit in 1945 in Theo Boiten’s publications. NJGr. 10 was disbanded in April 1945, with its remaining elements absorbed by NJG 5.

• Cobras over Sicily

  Text: Jan Zdiarsky

  Illustrations: Gareth Hector

  Cat. No. 8463

   

  The Allied landings on the Italian island of Sicily, intensively prepared in the spring of 1943, were intended to open up the Italian campaign with the aim of expelling Italian and German troops from the entire territory of Italy.

  The preparations for the invasion, codenamed Operation Husky, included not only the concentration of British, Canadian and American invasion forces in Tunisia, Malta and the Suez. An accompanying bombing offensive would disrupt transport, air force bases, ground force bases, and several deception operations of a military and intelligence nature would be used as well. These were intended to convince the enemy as to the areas of an anticipated Allied invasion, and thus to induce him to redeploy his own assets. This part of the preparation later proved to be very effective and certainly saved many Allied lives.

  The commander-in-chief of the entire operation was General Dwight D. Eisenhower, as Commander-in-Chief of American forces in North Africa. His deputy was British General Sir Harold Alexander. The ground invasion forces were divided into two tactical groups (Task Forces). No. 545, the eastern section (consisting of British and Canadians, under the command of Sir Bernard Montgomery) and No. 343, the western section (American General George S. Patton commanding). The ground invasion forces were to land on the southeast coast of the island and in the middle of the south coast. The invasion counted on the support of naval artillery fire, bombardment of the lines behind the invasion front, as well as direct air support.

  The landings themselves began on the night of July 9/10th 1943. They were preceded by intensive bombing of Sicilian airfields and its transport network. On the other hand, the coastal batteries remained out of the main focus of the air attacks, so as not to undermine the effect of the misleading information that the Allies managed to sow through the aforementioned diversionary operations. The main burden of the invasion rested on the ground troops, concentrated in landing craft and on paratroopers. The activities of both of these were severely affected by strong winds, which greatly disrupted the plans of the invasion planners in many places. Several units landed in places other than where they had planned. Despite the initial difficulties, the element of surprise was not lost and subsequent progress was relatively rapid.

  Strong air support combined with the pressure applied in the previous months had also paid off. From May, 1943 to the beginning of the July invasion, Allied airmen destroyed more than four hundred enemy aircraft. Of course, this was not without cost, as their own losses reached 250 aircraft, most of them falling victim to the island's anti-aircraft artillery. By July 10th, only two airfields remained operational in Sicily, and about half of the German and Italian aircraft had been forced to withdraw to the continent.

  The 81st Fighter Group also provided air support for the invasion, undertaking escort duties and direct support of the invasion ships. Its Airacobras took off from Sidi Ahmed Air Base in Tunisia to participate in the invasion process. The unit, which was formed in January, 1942, and after advanced training of its pilots in joint operations and tactics, moved to Europe and then to Africa, from where it participated in the fighting in the Mediterranean from early 1943 under the command of the 12th Air Force. Its main tasks included protecting Allied ships in the Mediterranean and in June, 1943 participated in the occupation of the island of Pantelleria. This was only a prelude to the invasion of Sicily, which came a month later.

   Fierce fighting continued until the end of July, when the evacuation of German troops began, mainly through the Strait of Messina, to the continent. ByAugust 18th, Sicily was considered cleared for the Allies. According to contemporary reports, the Germans managed to move over 60,000 men to the continent, the Italians even around 75,000. The actual numbers will be somewhat lower, but they nevertheless make it clear that opposition to the Allies was fierce.

  However, Allied losses were also high. Official records put the count at 8,781 dead, wounded and captured members of the American Seventh Army, while for the British Eighth Army this total reached almost 12,000 and for the Canadians, close to 2,500. Add to that 1,200 sailors (for the US and Royal Navy combined). For the USAAF, losses exceeded 150 men. On the German side, losses incurred in the defense of Sicily against the Allies reached almost 28,000 troops and for the Italians it was almost 190,000 (according to the historical section of the Italian army). The price of the occupation of Sicily was enormous on both sides. Unfortunately, there was also a lot of violence committed against the civilian population and war crimes against prisoners, which some Allied soldiers committed during the occupation of Sicily.

  As a result, this operation opened the door to the advance into continental southern Europe, which continued through September, 1943. It was also one of the reasons for the fall of Mussolini's regime at the end of July. Another significant benefit was the full opening up of the Mediterranean shipping lanes to the Allies.

• Markings for MiG-21bis 1/72

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75061904, 2 Fighter Squadron, Taszár Air Force Base, Hungary, 1993

  Ground personnel from Taszár Air Base sprayed a special paint scheme on the MiG-21bis in 1992. The purpose of the coloring was to represent the enemy aircraft in training combat. The color scheme shown here is a representation of the aircraft’s appearance at the 1993 International Air Tattoo in Fairford. The aircraft named Capeti (shark) 1904 is currently on display at the Szolnok Air Museum in a similar color scheme to the one it flew in 1992.

   

  MiG-21bis, 115 GIAP, Soviet VVS, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 1980

  Fighter cover duties during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were conducted by the 115 Guards’ Regiment at the end of 1979. The unit was equipped with the MiG-21bis and was based at Kokaity in Uzbekistan, a Soviet Socialist Republic at the time. Three days into the invasion, the first squadron moved to Bagram Air Base, followed by a second squadron on January 23, 1980. Due to the lack of enemy aerial power, the 115 GIAP became involved in ground support duties together with the 136 APIB. MiG-21bis aircraft of the 115th GIAP used in Afghanistan were painted in green and brown on the upper surfaces at the beginning of the war, with bottom surfaces in a blue-grey shade.

   

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75084300, HävLLv 31, Kuopio airbase, Finland, 1980 – 1981

  This aircraft was accepted for service on July 17, 1980, and assigned to 31 Fighter Squadron (Hävittäjälentolaivue 31, abbreviated HävLLv 31). It became the last of six Finnish MiG-21BIS fighters to be modified for reconnaissance tasks. After the modification, the aircraft was assigned to TiedLLv (Reconnaissance Squadron) and following its end of service it was used as a teaching aid at the Technical School located at the Kuopio Air Base. The aircraft is shown as it appeared between 1980 and 1981 before being upgraded by western avionics, which included cockpit instrumentation. Unlike other users, Finland used capital letters for designation of their MiGs, that’s why it is written as BIS here as well.   

   

  MiG-21bis, No. 47 Squadron, Iraqi Air Force, Al Hurrya Air Base, Iraq, 1990

  The No. 47 Squadron was equipped with the MiG-21bis through the seventies, and over the fall of 1980 scored significant number of kills of Iranian F-4s and F-5s. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iraqi pilots flying the MiG-21bis fired not only Soviet air-to-air missiles (R-3S, R-13M), but also the French R.550. A typical loadout configuration consisted of two air-to-air rounds and three drop tanks. The aircraft were camouflaged according to the period MiG-21 standards developed for export aircraft going to Africa and the Middle East.

   

  MiG-21bis, Free Libyan Air Force, Tobruk, Libya, November 2011

  The Free Libyan national army, under the leadership of General Khalifa Haftar, occupied several air bases after its formation, some of which yielded airworthy examples of aircraft abandoned by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. One of these was this one, which was subsequently coded “800” and was flown by pilots of the Free Libyan National Army. The Free National Army, under Haftar’s leadership, added aircraft to their inventory from other airfields (MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Mirage F-1s and Su-22s) and purchased other ones from foreign sources (these again were MiG-21s and 23s, along with Mi-24/35 helicopters). The camouflage scheme of this particular aircraft hails from the days of Khaddafi and was first displayed at Lavex in 2007 in Tripoli. The upper and side surfaces of this plane were in sand, brown and green, the lower surfaces were painted a light blue-grey. The national insignias on the upper surfaces of the wing remained the pre-revolutionary Libyan ones.

   

  MiG-21bis, 797, German Democratic Republic, Holzdorf, 1990

  In the mid-1970s, the GDR Air Force began taking deliveries of its first MiG-21bis to bolster its fighter fleet of aging MiG-21MFs and PFMs. German Democratic Republic was to receive 46 aircraft of this type, 14 of which were to be of the “Fishbed-L” variant, i.e., equipped with the Lazur-M GCI (Ground Controlled Interception) guidance system. The remaining 32 were to be delivered in the “Fishbed-N” version with the Polyot-OI guidance system. To distinguish the two variants, the aircraft were designated MiG-21bis Lazur-M and MiG-21bis-SAU in GDR service.

   

  MiG-21bisD, Eskadrila borbenih aviona, HRZ i PZO, Zagreb-Pleso, Croatia, December 2016

  The Croatian Air Force purchased forty MiG-21bis fighters and MiG-21UM trainers from Ukraine in 1995. In 2003, eight MiG-21bis aircraft were modernized to bisD standard in Romania. The modernization program included an upgrade of the navigation, communication and IFF equipment. In 2014, another modernization took place involving seven Croat MiG-21bisD/UMD aircraft, along with the purchase of another five aircraft from a repair facility in Odessa. The modernized aircraft received an all-grey camouflage scheme. Aircraft coded 116 received a stylized number 25 on the left side of the fin to commemorate 25th anniversary of the Croatian Air Force.

   

  MiG-21bis, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, 1990

  Deliveries of the most modern MiG-21bis aircraft to the Cuban Air Force began in 1981. A total of eighty (with some sources claiming ninety) aircraft served in four regiments. After completing its military career, aircraft coded 637 was used as an instructional airframe at the Instituto Tecnico Militar in Havana. The aircraft was camouflaged in a green and blue-grey scheme, which was used by the Cubans from the beginning of the nineties.

   

  MiG-21bis, c/n 75080880, 1 Pucki DLMW, Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej, Gdynia-Babie Doły, Poland, late 1997

  This aircraft was delivered to Poland on March 22, 1980 and was assigned to the 1 Pucki Dywizjon Lotniczy (Air Division) of the Polish Naval Forces. The emblem on the tail surface indicates service with the 2 Eskadra (Squadron) of the Division. The look of the plane evolved over time and in 2001 it flew with a sharkmouth and a tiger motif on the brake chute housing.

   

  MiG-21bis, C2776, No. 26 Squadron “The Warriors”, Indian Air Force, Adampur, 1990

  No. 26 Squadron took of Indian Air Force an active part in combat on the Indo-Pakistani border at the end of 1971. At that time, however, they were equipped with the Sukhoi Su-7. Most Indian MiG-21bis aircraft were painted in an overall light grey with only a few being camouflaged with more colors. This particular aircraft was also photographed without the unit badge as well. The camouflage was sprayed over the original light grey surface, which was still visible around the aircraft code on the tail and on the canopy frame.

• Markings for Fw 190A-6 1/48

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550375, Lt. Heinz-Günther Lück, 1./JG 1, Deelen, Netherlands, August 1943

  Lt. Lück, a pilot with five aerial victories (all over B-17 aircraft) flew during his whole wartime career with JG 1. At the beginning of 1944, he became the commander of 1./JG 1 and was seriously injured on April 9 during an emergency landing in Denmark. He never returned to combat duty. During the summer of 1943, I. Gruppe aircraft carried garish markings in the form of the checkerboard on the engine cowling, black and white in the case of 1. Staffel. It was deleted after the

  US Thunderbolts sporting identical markings attacked Deelen airbase and the anti-aircraft gunners did not engage as they confused them with friendly aircraft on landing approach. Heinz-Günther Lück had his dog pet, a black Scottish terrier named Lucki, painted under the canopy and his rudder sported two victories in the form of white bars.

   

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550461, Oblt. Helmut Radtke, 5./JG 54, Immola, Finland, summer 1944  

  On June 9th, 1944, the Red Army launched the Karelian operation against the Finnish forces in Karelian Isthmus on the front north of Leningrad. Marshal Mannerheim being aware of his inferior forces asked Germans for the air support. German Luftwaffe created Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey, named after SG 3 commander Obstl. Kuhlmey. Besides I./SG 3 (Ju-87D) and I./SG 5 (Fw 190 F) attack units a detachment of Focke Wulf Fw 190A-6 from Stab, 4. and 5. Staffel of II./JG 54 was included under his command. Focke Wulf fighters used the airfield in Immola from where they sortied under the command of Maj. Erich Rudorffer as an escort to the attack aircraft. One of the pilots fighting against the Soviet much larger forces was Oblt. Helmut Radtke who joined 5./JG 54 in June 1944 after previous service with the operational training unit JG 110. He was killed in action on the Western Front on January 14, 1945. He was flying black 2 aircraft camouflaged in standard RLM 74/75/76 colors. This camouflage was complemented by yellow markings peculiar to the aircraft operating on the Eastern Front. There is an inscription Schlange (snake) painted on the side of the fuselage.

   

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550453, Hptm. Friedrich-Karl Müller, Stab /JG 300, Bonn-Hangelar, Germany, October 1943

  A future Knight’s Cross recipient with 30 night victories over enemy aircraft, Friedrich-Karl Müller was born on December 4th, 1912, in Sulzbach in Saarland. In 1934 he completed his pilot training and got a job with Lufthansa. After the outbreak of World War II, he was ordered to the Luftwaffe. Initially he was flying as a transport pilot, later as an instrument flying instructor. In December 1942 he was assigned to KG 50 operating He 177 aircraft, in the summer of the following year he responded to Hajo Hermann call and requested reassignment to JG 300, famous for its Wilde Sau (single-engine fighter night interception deployment) tactics. While serving with this unit he was credited with 19 kills and in January 1944 he was ordered to form 1./NJGr. 10. In August 1944 he was promoted to command I./NJG 11 and lead this unit until the end of World War II, flying a total of 52 combat missions and achieving 30 victories. He passed away on November 2nd, 1987. His Focke Wulf Fw 190A-6 carrying standard camouflage and green 3 marking retained the factory call signs on the wing lower surfaces during combat service. During its service with JG 300 this aircraft was equipped with deflectors to prevent the exhaust flashes blinding the pilot. To save weight the armor head rest was removed. During the night from 18th to 19th of October 1943, Hptm. Muller scored his 19th kill flying this aircraft over Hildesheim. British Lancaster crew from No. 207 Squadron parachuted to safety and spent the rest of hostilities in the POW camp. This aircraft featured a search light installed in the leading edge of the wing.

   

  Fw 190A-6, Fw. Günther Josten, 1./JG 51, Bobruysk, the USSR, January 1944             

  Eighteen year old Gunther Josten joined the Lufwaffe in January 1940, completed fighter training, and after serving with JGr. Drontheim and Erg.JGr. Ost in Western Europe, he reported to 3./JG 51 in September 1942. He scored his first victory on February 23, 1943 and achieved 19 kills in July and 30 more in August. From September 1943 to February 1944, he served with the training unit LKS Fürstenfeldbruck. He received the Ritterkreuz on February 5, 1944, after his 84th victory. On July 20, 1944, he surpassed 100 victories and was soon appointed commander of 3./JG 51. During the Warsaw Uprising, on September 18, he shot down a B-17 carrying supplies for the resistance. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on March 28, 1945, after his 161st of 178 kills and was appointed commander of IV. Gruppe JG 51 on April 18. Josten joined the Bundesluftwaffe on April 4, 1956 and became commander of JG 71 in 1962. His final post was Deputy Commander of 4. Luftwaffendivision. He retired on March 31, 1981, as an Oberst and died on July 7, 2004. The camouflage of Josten’s aircraft was darkened on the fuselage sides with the same paints applied to the upper surfaces. The yellow recognition markings, used on the aircraft operating on the Eastern Front, were added. To better conceal the aircraft in the surrounding terrain during winter the upper and side surfaces were partially painted white. His brother Reinhard Johannes, Oberleutnant with I./JG 51, scored 6 victories and was killed on April 21, 1942.

   

  Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550473, Fw. Walter Nietzsche, II. /JG 300, Rheine, Germany, summer 1943

  In the middle of June 1943, II. /JG 1, commanded by Hptm. Hoeckner, was transferred from Woensdrecht, in Holland, to Rheine from where, in the course of the following eight months, it sortied against large formations of American four-engine bombers penetrating, in ever increasing numbers, the German Reich airspace. The same airbase was home to II. /JG Hermann as well, later renamed II. /JG 300, which for the rest of 1943 operated II. /JG 1 aircraft in the night-fighting role since JG 300 pilots had been trained in single-engine aircraft at night. One of the II. /JG 300 pilots flying this Fw 190A-6 night fighter “borrowed” from II. /JG 1 was Fw. Walter Nietzsche, who during the night from 27th to 28th September 1943 was killed in the cockpit while fighting over Braunschweig. The legendary worm Tatzelwurm painted in red confirms that this aircraft belonged to 5. Staffel JG 1.

   

  Fw 190A-6/R11, WNr. 550143, Oblt. Fritz Krause, 1./NJGr 10, Werneuchen, Germany, January 1944

  Fritz Krause started his wartime career with III./JG 300 and in January 1944 was transferred to 1./NJGr. 10. He was assigned to 1./NJG 11 In September 1944 and became the commander of 3./NJG 11 in November. In January, he was appointed head of the entire III./NJG 11, which he led until the end of the war. He completed 213 combat missions and achieved a total of four victories. NJGr 10 was formed as a nightfighter unit on January 1, 1944. It was equipped with various types of aircraft. The 1st Staffel flew Bf 109Gs and Fw 190As. The FuG 217 Neptun radar was installed in NJGr. 10 aircraft to test its efficiency under combat conditions. A total of 48 Fw 190As were converted to this nightfighter configuration. Fritz Krause flew the aircraft depicted for a short period only, as in the early summer of 1944, the NJGr 10 Fw 190As were handed over to fighter schools and were replaced with Bf 109G-6/AS. The Messeschmitts were more capable in intercepting Allied bombers and Mosquitos. The origins of the badge on the cowling can be found with JG 300, as NJGr 10 was formed using JG 300 pilots.

   

  Fw 190A-6/R11, II. /JG 300, Lobnitz, Germany, fall 1943

  The Jagdgeschwader 300 “Wilde Sau” was formed from the JG Herrmann in July 1943, its main task was the perfecting of single-engined aircraft night fighting tactics. Besides the visual acquisition of targets, it initiated testing on-board radar systems. The Fw 190 was equipped with FuG 217 Neptun, along with associated radar antennae. The illustrated Fw 190A-6 Black 8 field modified R11 for night fighting was one of the Neptun equipped aircraft of JG 300. What makes this aircraft even more interesting is its camouflage application. The search for effective camouflage schemes gave rise to interesting color variations. The pictured Fw 190 received a lighter spray of RLM 76 over the top portions of the fuselage that blended into the darker sides of RLM 75 and 74 and into the RLM 76 bottom. Known photographs of this aircraft have been interpreted as the sides of the fuselage being composed of sharply demarked RLM 76 and 74. Closer inspection reveals that the contrast between the darker and lighter shades were not so strong, and further research leads to the presentation here. The top and bottom camouflage colors are RLM 74/75/76. The Wilde Sau emblem is in its classic style as used by JG 300 on a yellow background and as per the usual practice of the unit, appeared only on the left side.

• Markings for P-39K/L Airacobra 1/48

  P-39L, 42-4558, 93rd FS, 81st FG, Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia, summer 1943

  The 81st Pursuit Group was formed on January 13, 1942, and activated less than a month later. Its pilots began training on the P-39s and in May the unit changed designation to the 81st Fighter Group. After further training in England, the pilots began combat operations in Africa in early 1943. Their mission was primarily to support ground and naval forces in Tunis. As an air patrol they then covered the Allied landings in Sicily in June and July 1943. The Airacobra named Petite Bandit with a drawing of a parrot-gunslinger on the starboard side of the nose was given the standard desert livery in DuPont colors, corresponding to the British shades of Middle Stone, Dark Earth and Azure Blue, but the color fields were swapped on the upper surfaces, contrary to common practice. The paintwork has been modified by repainting the section of the nose in front of the cockpit. This was done probably with a shade of Middle Stone, but the fresh paint appears as a darker shade in the photos. The repaint was probably over the markings of the previous user of the aircraft. There was also a change of covers on the nose. These were taken from another machine of some of the previous versions of P-39, so the aircraft did not have the vents typical of aircraft starting with the P-39K version up. These covers also did not match the camouflage of the aircraft. The original yellow stripes on the wing and fuselage were repainted in Olive Drab, the national insignia on the lower wing was left in its older form without the wings with a red border.

   

  P-39K, 42-4275, 70th FS, 347th FG, Guadalcanal, spring 1943

  The Airacobra named Short Stroke fought on Guadalcanal in the ranks of the 12th FS/18th FG from late 1942 and retained the squadron markings after transferring to the 70th FS. It cannot be documented whether the aircraft was assigned to a specific pilot at that time. However, one of the photographs shows Lt. Darrell R. Cosart posing with the aircraft. A small heart is also documented on another 70th FS Airacobra, apparently a Flight symbol. Although all versions of the Airacobras at Guadalcanal were used primarily for ground attacks, the victory symbols marked on the starboard side of the Short Stroke prove that they could succeed in aerial combat as well. Interestingly, the appearance of the kills was changed during service. Also documented is the replacement of the rudder from an Airacobra of D mark. The color scheme thus shows the latest known appearance of the aircraft with the serial number on the rudder already blacked out. In the summer of 1943, Short Stroke was transferred to the 67th FS, with which it provided air defense for the base built on Wodlark Island from July 23, suffering unspecified damage

   

  P-39L, 42-4472, 346th FS, 350th FG, Tunisia, spring 1943

  The 350th FG was activated in England with American pilots fighting as volunteers filling the ranks of the RAF. The unit was equipped with export versions of the P-39, originally ordered by France. These aircraft remained in the UK after the fall of France, where they subsequently served as a quick-fix armament solution for the new American units needed to support the upcoming invasion of North Africa. The group operated as part of the 12th AF from January 1943 until the end of the war, its pilots flying patrol and interdiction missions, protecting convoys, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and providing air support to ground forces. The aircraft shown here underwent repairs during its service, which added Olive Drab fields to the standard desert livery. These were either parts from another aircraft in Olive Drab or original parts repainted with this shade. Between numbers 4 and 5 on the nose, there was a small drawing not very clearly visible in the photo. The decal offers a reconstruction of its probable appearance.   

   

  P-39K, 42-4358, Lt. William McDonough, 40th FS, 35th FG, Port Moresby, New Guinea, February 1943

  In February 1942, William F. McDonough used, in combat over NewGuinea, an Airacobra decorated on the bow with a painting of Donald Duck. The “Angry Duck” was a popular motif for other 40th FS pilots, who liked to have their pictures taken in front of it. This Airacobra served with the unit from late 1942 until at least the end of the summer of 1943, but sometime during the spring the painting of the Donald Duck was removed from the nose. His combat account was opened by Lt. McDonough in an air battle over Wau on February 6, 1943, by shooting down two Ki-43 Oscar fighters and another probably. The pilot had the confirmed kills marked on the starboard side below the cockpit in small silhouettes. However, these were eventually replaced by Japanese flags. For the successful action, the pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and promoted to the rank of Captain. In the spring of 1944, McDonough became the 35th FG’s first Ace outside the 39th FS when he shot down one of a quartet of Tony fighters that made a surprise raid over the Gusap base on March 3, 1944. By this time, he was already a member of the 35th FG staff at the rank of Major. William McDonough was killed on April 22, 1944, just before the end of a combat tour when he had to bail out of a malfunctioning P-47 Thunderbolt and his parachute failed to open.

• Tail End Charlie

  Tour of Exhibitions

   

  Text: Jakub Nademlejnský

   

  The spring round of exhibitions is over. We are glad we could meet with you, happy we were able to visit our favorite places again, and we’ll be delighted if we can keep meeting you at these places in the coming years. That’s never guaranteed. Here in the Czech Republic, some of the biggest events (Modelbrno, Nymburk's Kitsaloon, or Pilsenkit), where we used to have a booth, have disappeared. And the events meant to replace them attract nowhere near as many modelers as their predecessors did. We see declining interest year by year, for example, at PanthersCup in Prosek. I cannot praise the Panthers highly enough for organizing it, as they are among few still willing and able to host a major event in the Czech Republic. It’s actually the last large event in Prague, which might seem odd, but when we researched potential venues for this year’s E-day, we discovered that prices for spaces suitable for such an event in and around Prague are so high that organizing it could be financially unsustainable for any modeling club. So we’re thankful that at least events like PanthersCup are still going strong, and we’re always happy to support them with our participation.

  Since we want to continue attending major modeling exhibitions, we’ve started traveling abroad. In March, we visited exhibitions in Verona, Italy, and Bytom, Poland, for the second time. Bytom is a traditional competition similar in format to those in the Czech Republic. It turned out to be a great destination and an opportunity to reconnect with our Polish customers, where we hadn't been in years. Verona, however, is a completely different kind of event. It’s primarily a commercial fair for models of airplanes, tanks, ships, trains, as well as costumes, masks, toys, and just about anything one can play with. Modelers from all sorts of clubs across Italy come together there, and we thoroughly enjoy the whole experience with them. I highly praise their friendly attitude and warm hospitality.

  In April, we took part in the exhibition in Prostějov and wrapped up the spring program last week in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. The “Easter Prostějov“ event keeps getting better every year. This year, the tables were literally packed with beautifully built models. I would like to encourage more modeling companies to come and support the Prostějov club and their excellent organizational work—help turn “Easter Prostějov“ into an even bigger show. This year, the hall was full of visitors, and I believe this event is well on its way to becoming one of the largest in the Czech Republic.

  Let me add a few more lines about Moson. It truly deserves it. The organizers have long done a fantastic job, to the point that Moson is now considered a must-attend event for modelers every year. This year, about 2,500 beautifully built models were on display. The organizers developed a sophisticated category and judging system, secured a high-quality judging team, and most importantly, arranged for outstanding facilities in cooperation with the city. Combined with the charm of the spa town, they’ve created a perfect mix that works and attracts visitors from all over the world. Our booth was visited by customers from Taiwan, China, the USA, Latin America, Australia, and all corners of Europe. The only downside is the declining quality of services in the town, which clearly only comes alive during cultural and social events. Otherwise, it seems pretty dead—which, combined with other factors, has led to a sharp rise in prices for accommodation, food, drinks, and even spa admittance, while quality of service has decreased.

  So, what’s next for us this year? For now, we’ll rest and recharge. In summer, we’re headed to the IPMS USA Nationals in Virginia Beach. We also plan to attend the Plzeňský Velbloud (Pilsen Camel) for the first time. Later in the year, we’ll once again take part in competitions in Eindhoven, Telford, and visit our Slovak brothers in Nitra and Bratislava. And I almost forgot about E-day! This year, for the first time, it will be at a new venue—in my hometown of Litoměřice, at the prestigeous “Výstaviště Zahrada Čech“, Czech Garden Exhibition Grounds. This place has the potential to offer modelers an experience similar to Moson—or maybe even better. So mark your calendars for October 4th and come to E-day. This year’s event is definitely going to be worth it.