Originating in 1936 the Let Company is the largest manufacturer of commuter aircraft and gliders. Since 1953 it produced C11 trainers, LF109, LG124, L13 Blanik, and L-23, L-33, Aero45 L-200 Morova, Z37 agricultural aircraft, L-29 jet trainers, L-410 andL-610.

The L-410 commuter aircraft flew in prototype form in spring 1969 and was later produced in a number of versions. The first 32 units had PTBA-27 engines; and all of the rest L-4210 are powered by Czech made Walter M-601 engines. The most numerous version is L-410 UVP of which over 500 units were manufactured and almost 400 units of L-410 VVP-E version. The latter with 17-19 seat passenger version, or other operations as cargo, ambulance, VIP, photogrammetric and paratroops versions.

Over 1,000 units of all L-410 varieties were delivered to various customers mainly in the continent of Africa, South and Central America, India, Philippines and CIS. Recent air forces that make use of of the L-410 are Czech AF, with L-410T, Slovak AF has L-410 UVP-E, Slovenia AF with L-410 UVP-E and Tunisia also with a similar version. The L-410 can operate consistently on unpaved runways and in severe climatic conditions. 

Moulded in light grey styrene, the kit consists of 58 parts, 2 vac cockpit windscreens (one being spare), 3 side observation blisters and a number of cabin windows including a few spare ones. The kit essentially contains four major assembly stages. These are assembly of a detailed crew and passenger cabin compartments that includes two crew seats, control wheels, instrument panel, and for the cabin there is a full seating arrangement to add to one’s taste. There are roof neon lighting panels and front and rear bulkheads. The completed assembly is then inserted between the two fuselage halves. Other stages are those of main and tail wings, engines and undercarriage. There is a choice of five or three bladed propellers to go with any one of the three operators provided in decal form. Two civil ones include an Aeroflot and one military camouflaged in Dark green and brown green operated by Czech AF.

Following a thorough study of the kit instructions the assembly is a straightforward one. A small issue is the need to sand down the corners of the two fuselage bulkheads, which makes part of a complete interior assembly before this is inserted between the fuselage halves. Weight is also added to nose empty space, as the model needs to rest on the nose wheel. Extra care was needed when cutting the windscreen and the two cockpit side blisters. The passenger windows although these are vac form these made good fit. The Slovak machine required the five bladed propellers to fit to the engines. I also added a crew figure, as this is not supplied with the kit even though this is barely visible from outside.

All interior is light grey and seats are custom painted. Instead of using kit decals I made use of decal sheet AZ7032 that I got from Hannants recently. This sheet has four options, a Czech, Slovak, Slovenian and a Tunisian AF machine and my pick went to the Slovak AF Let-410 UVP-E, which also had a 5-bladed propeller. This is finished in a two-tone grey upper camouflage and light grey undersides.

The end result is a pleasing L-410 completed into a more recent livery. The type also happened to land here at Luqa airfield as also did the Tunisian AF Turbolet. I recommend the model to those keen on adding latest types of military aircraft in service.

Carmel J. Attard

1 May 2018

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