Product: CYMA Zastava CZ-99/SIG P226 AEP
Retailer: Dingodogs UK
Price: £69.99

While no Soviet or Russian handguns are available as airsoft replicas (other than one dodgy TT33 springer) Russian loadout fans have to make do with the next best alternative - this usually amounts to the substitution of one of the Czech Republic handgun replicas, like the vz61 'Scorpion' or the Cz75. The philosophy seems to be 'well, at least they are made in the Eastern Block' (although, technically, that no longer exists and the Czech Republic is now a member of NATO!)...

[Note: Despite this AEP's designation of 'CZ' it is not to be confused - as I originally did - with the Czech 'CZ' pistol series. In fact it's made in Kragujevac, Serbia - which, in a way, is still very much 'Eastern Block' when you consider it's very close ties with Russia!]

Anyway, technicalities aside, the good news is that CYMA have produced what they have branded as a replica of the Serbian Zastava CZ-99. The real steel model of this handgun is highly respected and has even been sought after by US law enforcement agencies (and is currently in service with the armies of Serbia and Iraq).

Above: On the left is the real CZ-99 production version and to the right is the only photo of one I could find of a CZ-99 variant that resembles CYMA's replica. This one does have the lower rail built in, which the normal production CZ-99 does not, but is still a tad shorter than the CYMA AEP.

In fact what CYMA have done is to print the words 'Zastava CZ-99' - rather crudely - onto the slide of what is actually their SIG P226 replica! This is almost forgivable as the Cz-99 is, in fact, a very close copy of the P226, though - unfortunately - the variant CYMA used for it's P226 replica is NOT one which actually closely resembles the normal production CZ-99 (which is shorter and has no rail built in).

Well, I guess beggars can't be choosers and at least it is something we could argue is a 'Eastern Block handgun' - although it really isn't. But on the up side it is a AEP that can be stuck in a holster on a 'Russian' loadout - unlike the ungainly vz-61 replica!

(But role on the day we have a proper GBB Makarov!)

Useful links:

> The official Zastava Arms web page for the CZ-99
> CZ99.org - The unofficial CZ 99 and CZ 999 enthusasts web pages