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Spiros Pendedekas
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KP 1/72 Aero L-29 Delfin

October 26, 2021 · in Aviation · · 38 · 2.1K

Hi everyone!


This is my KP 1/72 Aero L-29 Delphin, finished as an Uganda Air Force bird!
The Aero L-29 Delfín is a military jet trainer developed and manufactured by Czechoslovakian aviation manufacturer Aero Vodochody. It was the country's first locally designed and constructed jet aircraft, as well as likely being the biggest aircraft industrial programme to take place in any of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) countries except the Soviet Union.
The L-29 was selected to become the standard jet trainer for the air forces of Warsaw Pact nations, for which it was delivered from the 1960s onwards. During the early 1970s, the type was succeeded in the principal trainer role by another Aero-built aircraft, the L-39 Albatros, heavily contributing to a decline in demand for the earlier L-29 and the end of its production during 1974.
Of the 3665 produced, around 2,000 were reported to have been delivered to the Soviet Union, where it was used as the standard trainer for the Soviet Air Force. Of the others, which included both armed and unarmed models, many aircraft were delivered to the various COMECON countries while others were exported to various overseas nations, including Egypt, Syria, Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda. Reportedly, the L-29 has been used in active combat during several instances, perhaps the most high-profile being the use of Nigerian aircraft during the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s and of Egyptian L-29s against Israeli tanks during the brief Yom Kippur War of 1973.

The Uganda Army Air Force (UAAF) was established in 1964. They possessed a number of L-29 Delfins (5 to 12, with sources varying), that were put into use during the air campaign of Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–79.


Should you wish to read the full build review, you may do so here:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/korean/cz/penl29.htm

Happy modeling!

Reader reactions:
16  Awesome

38 responses

  1. What a wonderful Delfin, Spiros @fiveten
    This is an awesome scheme of the Uganda Air Force.
    Looking at the result and how detailed the pilots are painted, it is difficult to believe this is 1/72.
    Love the article on MM as well.
    Another gem which deserves a nice location.

  2. Nice to see another KP Oldie kit completed, great work Spiros!
    Fine choice on the not too common UAAF camo scheme, and great that you were able to use the issued kit decals too.
    Just in case you feel like trying out a L-29...
    https://waterloowarbirds.com/products/aero-l-29-delfin-jet-flight

  3. Nice build, of a plane I never hear of. I like the paint scheme a little different with some color to catch the eye. I have to say the two aviators in the cockpit look really good, especially considering the scale.

  4. Now that’s cool, Spiros! Unique markings on a golden oldie. Nice to see a lot of older kits being built lately.

  5. Pretty cool Spiros @fiveten. Very unique camo scheme. I read your well done article over at MM last week.

    A couple of years ago I visited the old Aero Vodochody factory site just outside of Prague where Aero has a small but well curated museum featuring about 15 of their planes of all vintages including some serious rarities. The real bonus is that Aero is within walking distance of the Prague-Kbely Air Museum, also a must visit. So next time you're the neighborhood...

    $2,300 for a ride in a L-29? Yow!

    • Thanks my friend @eb801!
      I bet the museum visit was an amazing one: Aero Vodochody have built amazing planes, let alone the licence build ones, like the ungainly looking but so attractive (so ugly it's beautiful? ? )MB-200.
      Yep, a ride for $2300, but what a ride it will be!

  6. Another very nicely finished model from you, Spiros, trainers usually look good and this one is certainly no exception, definitely liked. Maybe we could have a “trainers” group build sometime in the future.

  7. You gotta get yourself the AMK kit, either 1/48 or 1/72, @fiveten. Awesomely great and not hard, either.

    Nice paintjob here.

    • Thanks my friend @tcinla!
      Yep, the AMK kits are the L-29 way to go, my friend! Have had a look at the kits and it indeed look awesome. The completed models look awesome, as well: really great that AMK supplied a great 1/72 version and did not "stop" at the 1/48.

  8. Very nice, Spiros (@fiveten). I don't know how you find time to build all of these models. You must be working on 8 or 9 at a time. Well done.

  9. Nicely done Spiros, good to see models from different nations !

  10. Spiros, @fiveten
    My dear friend, you have been a very busy man ! This one looks great, and I'll bet you are pleased, ( and also very proud), to have it displayed as the headline over at Modeling Madness. This is a well deserved place for this kit.

    You are the most prolific builder I know. Not only do you finish a large number of kits on a regular basis, but each one of them would look right at home in a museum. You never seem to cut corners, and most of the time you even supplement the provided kit parts with some very nice additions of your own.

    This one is no exception ! I also enjoyed reading the article as well.

    I definitely pressed the "like" button on this model. Please stay safe and take care.

  11. Bravo Spiro, the modeling world needs more models from lesser known airforces!

  12. I’ve flown an L-29. Fun but it rolls like a dump truck compared to the L-39.

  13. What an elegant plane and model work spiros. Eastern Europe is well represented in The world of aircraft designs and innovation. You model gives it justice.
    Central Africa themes are being showcases more regularly. The forgotten continent where so much goes on.

  14. Splendid model @fiveten! Spiros, that plane rocks my friend! ?

  15. So unusal model and painting!

  16. You done miracle with this old plastic. Great work and excellent choice of decals, unusual and colourful.
    One more time, you done a great job with this oldie.
    Best regards
    Djordje

  17. Great work Spiros. I always enjoy your unique articles.

  18. Spiros, great job on this build. You really made this kit shine! This kit will go together very easily but will need a lot of cleaning up to make it right. I love the final results!

  19. Excellent build - love your choice of subject and scheme! Fantastic work on it also.

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