Designed by TE Slot for the Dutch firm De Schelde, the S.21 was a single seat fighter which reached the advanced prototype stage. Construction commenced early in 1939. Aspects that deviated from these designs included an extensively glazed cockpit and a semi-reclined seat for the pilot. The intended powerplant was to be a DB 600Ga 12-cylinder inverted-vee of 1,050hp. A three bladed prop was driven via an extension shaft.
A 23mm Madsen cannon was to be fixed for the interceptor role and flexible for ground attack role. Other armament included four 7.9mm FN-Browning machine guns.
The prototype was in final assembly in May 1940 when the Wehrmacht occupied the factory. The airframe was transported to Utrecht where it was tested to destruction in the Zerlegebetrieb.

This is another interesting prototype kit from RS Models. It is nicely done for a short run kit and has a single sprue for all of the parts. A clear canopy section is included. There are no photo etch or resin parts.

Wings are a single molding with wheel wells as part of the mold. The same goes for the tail booms and the horizontal stabilizer. I actually prefer this over two piece upper and lower or left/right constructs as it eliminates a seam. The cockpit consists of a seat, stick, rudder pedals, floor and aft bulkhead. The Masden cannon is also part of this assembly. Machine guns will need to be made from stretched sprue and no length is provided in the instructions. There is some sidewall detail provided for the cockpit.

Landing gear are fairly well done with the nose gear having a separate forward bulkhead. I found it interesting that one will need to install what looks like small tabs to help mount the interior. There are small tabs for fitting the wings and the stabilizer so no worries about butt joins. Finding space for the nose weight will be interesting as there is not much room for it. One will also need to drill holes in the clear canopy for the gun barrels to protrude. Aside from the central cannon, this will require some guesswork on the part of the builder as to precisely where these go. The landing light will need to be made or the area filled with epoxy or other clear substance.

Instructions consist of two construction steps. One detailing the assembly of the cockpit and the other an exploded view of the rest of the kit. Markings are for three planes. One is the box art plane with the orange triangle insignia and standard camouflage. One is undoubtedly how the prototype was painted in silver with the older roundels. The third is how it may have looked as a captured plane and redesignated FW-198. The decals are nicely printed and appear free of registration issues.

WelNice to see this obscure Dutch prototype being kitted. It will take a bit of work as you have to make a few bits and do some guesswork. You will also need to clean up every part prior to use as there is a bit of flash here and there. The end result will be a most interesting aircraft, despite that it never made it into the air.

RS web site

2013

Thanks to me for getting this one on sale

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