HISTORY
Green-Grey, Dark Green ...
Part 1
Text: Michal Ovčáčík
Photos: collections of the author, Jaroslav Bartáček
Miroslav Irra and Bohumír Kudlička; Aviation Research
archives via Pavel Krejčí
An interesting view of an S-199 with an unknown production number. The aircraft has evidently gone through repairs or an overhaul with a bubble canopy upgrade. The photograph
reveals points of interest for the modeler with respect to the paint scheme: the front of the aircraft to the firewall has a light color (or is new), while the remainder of the fuselage,
wings and tail surfaces yield shades consistent with the use of different materials. The fuselage has panel joints puttied over and is waiting on its base coat of paint. The control
surfaces are fabric covered and are clearcoated.
Paint Schemes of
the S-199 in the
Czechoslovak Air Force
Just as the history of the creation of this aircraft is unique, so is
the development of the camouflage schemes applied to it. The
schemes bypassed the standards of the day and developed along
similar unique lines, making them look somewhat simple or dull.
It may furthermore appear that when it comes to the looks of
these aircraft, all has been said or written already, but a close
study of not just period photographs, but also relevant archival
materials, suggests otherwise. In the light of newly uncovered
information, the notion of any monotony is dismantled and the
S-199 offers some new secrets to be revealed...
26
INFO Eduard
The situation of paint materials used by
the Czechoslovak aircraft industry in the
immediate aftermath of the Second World
War was far from ideal. Virtually all the
industries in the Protectorate of Bohemia
and Moravia were umbilically connected to
the German war machinery and as such,
was heavily dependent on material supplies from not only Germany, but also from
other Nazi occupied territories. The erratic
and increasingly dwindling supply chains
seen as the war neared its end resulted
in paint supplies falling to a trickle in the
August 2022