In Box Review of ICM 1/72ND Scale
TB-3 SOVIET HEAVY BOMBER
Kit no. 72091
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of kit is 1990. I paid $30.00 for mine back then.
Mars Model released a kit of it later. I think it too is out of production. I also think it was the old ICM molds.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of kit is 1990. I paid $30.00 for mine back then.
Mars Model released a kit of it later. I think it too is out of production. I also think it was the old ICM molds.
History:
The first TB-3 four-engined, low-wing, all-metal bomber completed its maiden flight on December 22nd, 1930. It was designed by Tupolev five years earlier, and had been under active development for some four years.
The first prototype was powered by U.S. Curtiss Conqueror engines and despite some technical problems had given every sign of being an outstanding bomber.
In less than a year, production was underway at two major Moscow aircraft factories run by GAZ.
These first series machines were powered by Soviet-built versions of the German BMW VI engine of 730 hp. After flight tests, the first aircraft was delivered to the Soviet Air Force in early 1932.
Some took part in a fly-over of Red Square on May Day that year. The next year, 50 of these bombers did another fly-over.
These early bombers had a loaded weight higher than any other contemporary land-plane in service anywhere else in the world at that time.
Defensive armament consisted of eight 7.62mm (o.30 in) DA machine-guns. There was a twin-gun mount in the nose and one each in tandem, dorsal, open gun positions.
The remaining guns were installed into semi-retractable turrets in the underside of the wings, just inboard of the outer engines. This was a very similar arrangement to the German early Ju-52s. Another similarity to the Ju-52 was the aircraft's corrugated duralumin sheet covering.
The thickness of the wings allowed the wings to contain 'crawl-ways' giving access to the engines while in flight. The pilots sat, side by side in an open cockpit behind individual windshields.
Internal bomb load of the TB-3 was carried on 25 racks, mounted horizontally and vertically in the bomb bays. Bombs weighing 100kg (220 LB), 80kg (176 LB), or 50kg (110 LB) could be carried.
Final versions of the TB-3 with more powerful engines,, produced in 1937, attained a maximum speed of 187 mph. The tail-skid was also replaced with a wheel and the main gear was reduced to only one wheel per strut. The skinning was also replaced with more smooth metal.
After the German invasion in June 1941, and by October 22nd, there were only 92 TB-3s left. Most of these surviving aircraft were used for transport duties and occasional night-bombing sorties.
Very little was ever done with paratrooper-carrying, as paratroops units were now pressed into service alongside the infantry.
Some experiments were conducted with the TB-3 carrying parasite fighters, above and below its wings. (This combination, known as the 'Zvenlo 2', has been announced as a future ICM kit release).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Heavy bomber
Manufacturer: Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
Designer: Andrei Tupolev
First flight: 22 December 1930
Introduction to service: 1932
Retired: 1939 Soviet Air Force (officially), 1945 Soviet Air Force (de facto)
Primary users: Soviet Air Force and Aeroflot
Produced: 1932–1934, 1935–1937
Number built: 818
Developed from: Tupolev TB-1
Developed into: Tupolev ANT-16
The first TB-3 four-engined, low-wing, all-metal bomber completed its maiden flight on December 22nd, 1930. It was designed by Tupolev five years earlier, and had been under active development for some four years.
The first prototype was powered by U.S. Curtiss Conqueror engines and despite some technical problems had given every sign of being an outstanding bomber.
In less than a year, production was underway at two major Moscow aircraft factories run by GAZ.
These first series machines were powered by Soviet-built versions of the German BMW VI engine of 730 hp. After flight tests, the first aircraft was delivered to the Soviet Air Force in early 1932.
Some took part in a fly-over of Red Square on May Day that year. The next year, 50 of these bombers did another fly-over.
These early bombers had a loaded weight higher than any other contemporary land-plane in service anywhere else in the world at that time.
Defensive armament consisted of eight 7.62mm (o.30 in) DA machine-guns. There was a twin-gun mount in the nose and one each in tandem, dorsal, open gun positions.
The remaining guns were installed into semi-retractable turrets in the underside of the wings, just inboard of the outer engines. This was a very similar arrangement to the German early Ju-52s. Another similarity to the Ju-52 was the aircraft's corrugated duralumin sheet covering.
The thickness of the wings allowed the wings to contain 'crawl-ways' giving access to the engines while in flight. The pilots sat, side by side in an open cockpit behind individual windshields.
Internal bomb load of the TB-3 was carried on 25 racks, mounted horizontally and vertically in the bomb bays. Bombs weighing 100kg (220 LB), 80kg (176 LB), or 50kg (110 LB) could be carried.
Final versions of the TB-3 with more powerful engines,, produced in 1937, attained a maximum speed of 187 mph. The tail-skid was also replaced with a wheel and the main gear was reduced to only one wheel per strut. The skinning was also replaced with more smooth metal.
After the German invasion in June 1941, and by October 22nd, there were only 92 TB-3s left. Most of these surviving aircraft were used for transport duties and occasional night-bombing sorties.
Very little was ever done with paratrooper-carrying, as paratroops units were now pressed into service alongside the infantry.
Some experiments were conducted with the TB-3 carrying parasite fighters, above and below its wings. (This combination, known as the 'Zvenlo 2', has been announced as a future ICM kit release).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Heavy bomber
Manufacturer: Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
Designer: Andrei Tupolev
First flight: 22 December 1930
Introduction to service: 1932
Retired: 1939 Soviet Air Force (officially), 1945 Soviet Air Force (de facto)
Primary users: Soviet Air Force and Aeroflot
Produced: 1932–1934, 1935–1937
Number built: 818
Developed from: Tupolev TB-1
Developed into: Tupolev ANT-16
The Kit:
ICM is a model company based in Kyiv, Ukraine. They are a prolific company that manufactures all manner of model subjects in the popula scales
ICM's TB-3 kit comes in a rather 'blousy' shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The first thing one sees, when opening the box, is the large letter 'L' voids around the parts trees. The box is 5 1/2" too long and 2 1/2" too wide.
This is deceiving, as this kit will make up into a large aircraft. I think that ICM has these parts trees made to the maximum size of the molds that their injection machines can accept. That may explain the breakdown of the kit parts.
One side panel says the kit is made in the Ukraine, followed by histories of the TB-3 in English, German, Czech and Russian. Each marked with a color illustration of the flags of the country that speaks that language.
ICM is a model company based in Kyiv, Ukraine. They are a prolific company that manufactures all manner of model subjects in the popula scales
ICM's TB-3 kit comes in a rather 'blousy' shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The first thing one sees, when opening the box, is the large letter 'L' voids around the parts trees. The box is 5 1/2" too long and 2 1/2" too wide.
This is deceiving, as this kit will make up into a large aircraft. I think that ICM has these parts trees made to the maximum size of the molds that their injection machines can accept. That may explain the breakdown of the kit parts.
One side panel says the kit is made in the Ukraine, followed by histories of the TB-3 in English, German, Czech and Russian. Each marked with a color illustration of the flags of the country that speaks that language.
The other side panel says the kit is for modellers over the age of 10, followed by color box arts or 4 other Soviet aircraft kits that ICM manufactures: a Yak-9, I-15bis, Tu-2 and a I-16. No kit numbers for these is provided. I assume they are all to 1/72nd scale.
WHAT'S IN THE KIT:
Three cello-bags contain 11 dark green trees, 2 loose dark green upper wing halves, and one tree of clear parts, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instruction sheet is a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 7 1/4" x 11 1/4" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, and a quick two paragraph history of the TB-3 in English, German, Czech, and Russian.
Page 2 and 3 provide parts tree drawings for the 11 trees of parts and an international assembly symbols guide.
Pages 4 through 9 give you 18 assembly steps. Throughout these steps letter codes are given to you for the paint colors for parts that need to be painted as you assemble the kit.
Pages 10 and 11 are the color scheme and markings drawings. Unfortunately, no drawing is given to show the upper patterns for the two part camouflage schemes, done in black wave pattern over dark green. Only in overall green with the 2 countries insignias.
Page 12 gives you warnings, about keeping your modeling room well ventilated, when you use glue or paint – and to stay away from open flame too.
It also tells you what tools you need to remove parts from the sprues.
Next, is an explanation of the alphabetic letters used for color indications of parts in the kit. The chart recommends Humbrol brand paints. Decal instructions then follow.
The letter 'A' parts tree holds the outer wing surfaces for the top and bottom of the wings. (4 parts) 2 parts have broken off the tree and are floating around loose.
Three cello-bags contain 11 dark green trees, 2 loose dark green upper wing halves, and one tree of clear parts, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instruction sheet is a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 7 1/4" x 11 1/4" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, and a quick two paragraph history of the TB-3 in English, German, Czech, and Russian.
Page 2 and 3 provide parts tree drawings for the 11 trees of parts and an international assembly symbols guide.
Pages 4 through 9 give you 18 assembly steps. Throughout these steps letter codes are given to you for the paint colors for parts that need to be painted as you assemble the kit.
Pages 10 and 11 are the color scheme and markings drawings. Unfortunately, no drawing is given to show the upper patterns for the two part camouflage schemes, done in black wave pattern over dark green. Only in overall green with the 2 countries insignias.
Page 12 gives you warnings, about keeping your modeling room well ventilated, when you use glue or paint – and to stay away from open flame too.
It also tells you what tools you need to remove parts from the sprues.
Next, is an explanation of the alphabetic letters used for color indications of parts in the kit. The chart recommends Humbrol brand paints. Decal instructions then follow.
The letter 'A' parts tree holds the outer wing surfaces for the top and bottom of the wings. (4 parts) 2 parts have broken off the tree and are floating around loose.
Letter 'B' parts tree holds the forward, lower central wing surface and two mid-wing, upper wing surfaces. (3 parts)
Letter 'C' parts tree holds two rear, lower, central wing surfaces and two rear fuselage sides. (6 parts)
Letter 'D' holds the upper nose surface, rear fuselage top surface, rudder, horizontal tail flaps, wing flaps, and wing leading edge panels. ( 14 parts)
Letter 'E' holds the lower, rear fuselage surface, upper middle fuselage surface, and the lower fuselage nose surface. (6 parts )
Letter 'F' holds the fuselage nose side surfaces, interior cockpit wall panels, and wing flap hinge bars. (18 parts )
Letter 'G' holds the cockpit interior doorway panels, wing spars, and some wing internal braces. (17 parts)
Letter 'H' holds the remaining inner wing braces. (6 parts)
There is no letter 'I' tree.
There is no letter 'I' tree.
Letter 'J' tree holds the engines, propellers, cowl panels, engine bearers, etc. (54 parts)
Letter 'K' tree holds the bombs, machine-guns, wheels, landing gear struts, and assorted other small fittings. ( 152 parts)
The final parts tree, letter 'L', holds the cockpit transparencies, wing lights, and ventral machine-gun tubs, etc. (28 parts)
A large decal sheet contains markings for six different Soviet aircraft, spanning the years from 1936 to 1942, and one scheme for a Chinese Nationalist Aircraft from May of 1938.
I read, in another review of this kit, that the Chinese never got this early version of the TB-3 – so the Chinese decals in the kit may be inappropriate to use.
This kit assembles similar to a balsa and tissue type model kit. This is because of all the internal bulkheads and stringers that you assemble...and then put the corrugated parts over. It should make for a very, very sturdy model.
I have never seen any photos of this aircraft with the solid wheel centers, provided on the main wheels of the kit parts. These shots usually show spoked wheel centers (like a bicycle or WWI aircraft). I did purchase some PE spoked wheel centers 1/2" in diameter by Fotocut Company to use on this aircraft.
This kit assembles similar to a balsa and tissue type model kit. This is because of all the internal bulkheads and stringers that you assemble...and then put the corrugated parts over. It should make for a very, very sturdy model.
I have never seen any photos of this aircraft with the solid wheel centers, provided on the main wheels of the kit parts. These shots usually show spoked wheel centers (like a bicycle or WWI aircraft). I did purchase some PE spoked wheel centers 1/2" in diameter by Fotocut Company to use on this aircraft.
I also read that the later parasite carrying Zvenlo version of this aircraft, that ICM plans for a later kit, may be this early version – re-boxed – with the two I-16 aircraft.
This will be wrong because the Zvenlo was a later version with a different fuselage, cowling and other noticeable differences.
Anyway, if ICM did do this later model it's out of production and not listed by anybody.
Shortly after doing this in-box review, I received the November issue of Fine Scale Modeler magazine. It has a build review in it by David L. Veres.
He warns that the transparencies for this kit are a poor fit and recommends using Krystal Kleer for the windows. He also warned that the decals were brittle and tended to shatter for him when he built the kit.
I sure like this big Pterodactyl looking aircraft and look forward to building it. It should be a real attention-grabber on any modeler's display shelf.
Another review I read talked about the difficulties building this kit. It is not for the novice and only for modelers with very advanced building skills.
This kit was purchased at the local shop.
Highly recommended...if you can find one anymore that is.
This will be wrong because the Zvenlo was a later version with a different fuselage, cowling and other noticeable differences.
Anyway, if ICM did do this later model it's out of production and not listed by anybody.
Shortly after doing this in-box review, I received the November issue of Fine Scale Modeler magazine. It has a build review in it by David L. Veres.
He warns that the transparencies for this kit are a poor fit and recommends using Krystal Kleer for the windows. He also warned that the decals were brittle and tended to shatter for him when he built the kit.
I sure like this big Pterodactyl looking aircraft and look forward to building it. It should be a real attention-grabber on any modeler's display shelf.
Another review I read talked about the difficulties building this kit. It is not for the novice and only for modelers with very advanced building skills.
This kit was purchased at the local shop.
Highly recommended...if you can find one anymore that is.