In Box Review of Accurate Miniatures 1/48th
Scale Ilyushin IL-2m3 Sturmovik
Highly Detailed Famous WWII Soviet Ground Attack Aircraft
Landing-gear With Ski’s Version
Kit no. 3409
Copyright: 1997
I paid $28.98 for my kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business years ago.
The kit is available from one individual in the U.S. for S20.00 and 5 places overseas on the web.
I have 2 kits of this aircraft. This one and a wheeled landing-gear one, already reviewed on the site.
In 1997, the modeling world was more or less thrilled, as at last a state of the art quarter scale model kit of this iconic aircraft became available. A single seater and a ski version followed. I have both these kits and the single-seater review will appear here later.
Copyright: 1997
I paid $28.98 for my kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business years ago.
The kit is available from one individual in the U.S. for S20.00 and 5 places overseas on the web.
I have 2 kits of this aircraft. This one and a wheeled landing-gear one, already reviewed on the site.
In 1997, the modeling world was more or less thrilled, as at last a state of the art quarter scale model kit of this iconic aircraft became available. A single seater and a ski version followed. I have both these kits and the single-seater review will appear here later.
HISTORY:
This variation of the Stormovik is an example of a small number of single-seat aircraft which had their landing gear and fairings altered to use retractable skis. The modification was intended to provide all-weather capability for a very important weapon of the Soviet arsenal. The addition of skis allowed the IL-2 Type 1 to operate from virtually any snow-covered surface, with no noticeable decline in performance.
It was found, however, that the addition of skis did little to improve the capabilities of the plane on snow, since the low-pressure tires normally fitted provided virtually identical performance on groomed snow surfaces. These “Flying Tanks” were used with devastating effect against German armor and ground targets.
Originally designed to provide support to Soviet ground forces, the IL-2 series went on to become the most produced warplane in history. Almost 40,000 Sturmovik were produced in five years, and at one point 1,000 aircraft were being built each month. Today, fewer than a half dozen are known to have survived.
The Ilyushin Il-2 is a ground-attack plane that was produced by the Soviet Union in large numbers during the Second World War. The word Sturmovik, the generic Russian term for a ground-attack aircraft, became a synecdoche for the Il-2 in English sources, where it is commonly rendered Sturmovik, Stormovik and Sturmovik.
To Il-2 pilots, the aircraft was known by the diminutive "Ilyusha". To the soldiers on the ground, it was called the "Hunchback", the "Flying Tank" or the "Flying Infantryman". Its postwar NATO reporting name was Bark. First flown as a single-seater (Type 1), the IL-2m (Type 2) was developed to provide better protection from rear attack when a gunner’s position was added. With the Type 3 the wings received a sweep, which allowed the correction of the center of gravity.
There were appalling losses. Even when production reached 1,000 aircraft per month, new airplanes barely equaled attrition. During the war, 36,183 units of the Il-2 were produced, and in combination with its successor, the Ilyushin Il-10, a total of 42,330 were built, making it the single most produced military aircraft design in aviation history, as well as one of the most produced piloted aircraft in history along with the American postwar civilian Cessna 172 and the German then-contemporary Messerschmitt Bf 109.
The Il-2 played a crucial role on the Eastern Front. When factories fell behind on deliveries, Joseph Stalin told the factory managers that the Il-2s were "as essential to the Red Army as air and bread.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 38 ft. 2.78 inches
Span: 47 ft. 10.8 inches
Powerplant: One 4M-38F liquid-cooled V-12 of 1,750 hp
Performance: 250 mph top speed at 4,900 ft, 19,685 foot ceiling
Armament: two 23mm VYa cannons, two 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns, one 12.7mm UBT rear machine gun, two optional 37mm VYa cannons
Ordinance: two 250kg FAB bombs (external). Four RS-132 rockets
This variation of the Stormovik is an example of a small number of single-seat aircraft which had their landing gear and fairings altered to use retractable skis. The modification was intended to provide all-weather capability for a very important weapon of the Soviet arsenal. The addition of skis allowed the IL-2 Type 1 to operate from virtually any snow-covered surface, with no noticeable decline in performance.
It was found, however, that the addition of skis did little to improve the capabilities of the plane on snow, since the low-pressure tires normally fitted provided virtually identical performance on groomed snow surfaces. These “Flying Tanks” were used with devastating effect against German armor and ground targets.
Originally designed to provide support to Soviet ground forces, the IL-2 series went on to become the most produced warplane in history. Almost 40,000 Sturmovik were produced in five years, and at one point 1,000 aircraft were being built each month. Today, fewer than a half dozen are known to have survived.
The Ilyushin Il-2 is a ground-attack plane that was produced by the Soviet Union in large numbers during the Second World War. The word Sturmovik, the generic Russian term for a ground-attack aircraft, became a synecdoche for the Il-2 in English sources, where it is commonly rendered Sturmovik, Stormovik and Sturmovik.
To Il-2 pilots, the aircraft was known by the diminutive "Ilyusha". To the soldiers on the ground, it was called the "Hunchback", the "Flying Tank" or the "Flying Infantryman". Its postwar NATO reporting name was Bark. First flown as a single-seater (Type 1), the IL-2m (Type 2) was developed to provide better protection from rear attack when a gunner’s position was added. With the Type 3 the wings received a sweep, which allowed the correction of the center of gravity.
There were appalling losses. Even when production reached 1,000 aircraft per month, new airplanes barely equaled attrition. During the war, 36,183 units of the Il-2 were produced, and in combination with its successor, the Ilyushin Il-10, a total of 42,330 were built, making it the single most produced military aircraft design in aviation history, as well as one of the most produced piloted aircraft in history along with the American postwar civilian Cessna 172 and the German then-contemporary Messerschmitt Bf 109.
The Il-2 played a crucial role on the Eastern Front. When factories fell behind on deliveries, Joseph Stalin told the factory managers that the Il-2s were "as essential to the Red Army as air and bread.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 38 ft. 2.78 inches
Span: 47 ft. 10.8 inches
Powerplant: One 4M-38F liquid-cooled V-12 of 1,750 hp
Performance: 250 mph top speed at 4,900 ft, 19,685 foot ceiling
Armament: two 23mm VYa cannons, two 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns, one 12.7mm UBT rear machine gun, two optional 37mm VYa cannons
Ordinance: two 250kg FAB bombs (external). Four RS-132 rockets
THE KIT:
Accurate Miniatures is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Charlotte, NC.
This kit comes in a deep shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a IL-2m3 Stormovik that is taking off of a snow-covered field on skis. A second IL-2m3 is flying overhead. Both aircraft are overall chalk-white, Soviet red stars in the usual 6 positions.
One side panel of the box lists the kit’s features:
Delicately recessed panel lines. Over 120 parts. Fully detailed interior. Skis may be positioned either collapsed or extended. Optional tires (weighted and unweighted). Detailed , educational instruction sheet with aircraft history. Protected clear parts. Silk screen printed decals. Optional ordinance. Paint cross-reference chart.
CONTENTS:
One unassembled plastic model kit containing many small parts. Suitable for ages 10 and above. Some building experience helpful. Cement and paint not included.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Basic modeling tools. Hobby knife, cement, tape, etc.
Paint list.
Aircraft specifications (already listed above) In French and English.
Designed and packaged in USA. Plastic parts made in Korea. Decals printed in Mexico. All rights reserved.
Accurate Miniatures’ address in Charlotte, NC and International Hobbycraft (UK) Ltd.'s addresses are provided.
Accurate Miniatures is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Charlotte, NC.
This kit comes in a deep shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a IL-2m3 Stormovik that is taking off of a snow-covered field on skis. A second IL-2m3 is flying overhead. Both aircraft are overall chalk-white, Soviet red stars in the usual 6 positions.
One side panel of the box lists the kit’s features:
Delicately recessed panel lines. Over 120 parts. Fully detailed interior. Skis may be positioned either collapsed or extended. Optional tires (weighted and unweighted). Detailed , educational instruction sheet with aircraft history. Protected clear parts. Silk screen printed decals. Optional ordinance. Paint cross-reference chart.
CONTENTS:
One unassembled plastic model kit containing many small parts. Suitable for ages 10 and above. Some building experience helpful. Cement and paint not included.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Basic modeling tools. Hobby knife, cement, tape, etc.
Paint list.
Aircraft specifications (already listed above) In French and English.
Designed and packaged in USA. Plastic parts made in Korea. Decals printed in Mexico. All rights reserved.
Accurate Miniatures’ address in Charlotte, NC and International Hobbycraft (UK) Ltd.'s addresses are provided.
The other side panel of the box gives 5 one-paragraph histories of the IL-2m3, in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
There is a loose cardboard shelf in the box. Above it, the instructions, decal, some line drawings, a free catalog offer card from Accurate Miniatures and a card to get a free trial issue of Fine Scale Modeler. The parts trees are all below the shelf.
The shelf has a 4-view illustration on it. It further shows a small black no. 6 on the rudder sides.
The shelf has a 4-view illustration on it. It further shows a small black no. 6 on the rudder sides.
Below the shelf there are 7 light-grey plastic sheets and a clear tree in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a 12 paged, staple-bound booklet.
Page one has a side view of the IL-2m3 in the box art scheme.
Page 2 tells some history about the IL-2m3, over a suggested paint color listing of Model Master, Humbrol, Gunze Sangyo Aqueous, Mr. Color, Aeromaster and Floquil Military brands of hobby paints.
Page 3 on through to page 11 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
There is a lot of text in each step to direct the assembly.
Page 12 is a painting and marking guide, marked as step 10. It shows a 4-view of an IL-2m3, that is in a wave-pattern camouflage of dark-grey, earth-brown and dark-green, over a blue undercarriage. It has the Soviet red stars in the normal 6 locations and a small black no. 6 on the rudder sides.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. Bad move Accurate Miniatures !
The trees are almost identical to the ones in the wheeled version kit. It is reviewed here on the site.
Only differences are the addition of the tree of the ski type landing-gear, the canopy is smaller and does not have a opening in the rear window for a machine-gun to shoot through and no rear seat gunner.
The 1st light-grey tree holds: the elevators, flattened and not-flattened wheels, hub caps, wing bottom center section (17 parts)
The instructions consist of a 12 paged, staple-bound booklet.
Page one has a side view of the IL-2m3 in the box art scheme.
Page 2 tells some history about the IL-2m3, over a suggested paint color listing of Model Master, Humbrol, Gunze Sangyo Aqueous, Mr. Color, Aeromaster and Floquil Military brands of hobby paints.
Page 3 on through to page 11 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
There is a lot of text in each step to direct the assembly.
Page 12 is a painting and marking guide, marked as step 10. It shows a 4-view of an IL-2m3, that is in a wave-pattern camouflage of dark-grey, earth-brown and dark-green, over a blue undercarriage. It has the Soviet red stars in the normal 6 locations and a small black no. 6 on the rudder sides.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. Bad move Accurate Miniatures !
The trees are almost identical to the ones in the wheeled version kit. It is reviewed here on the site.
Only differences are the addition of the tree of the ski type landing-gear, the canopy is smaller and does not have a opening in the rear window for a machine-gun to shoot through and no rear seat gunner.
The 1st light-grey tree holds: the elevators, flattened and not-flattened wheels, hub caps, wing bottom center section (17 parts)
The 2nd light-grey tree holds: the propeller and its spinner, bombs, nose side panels, exhaust pipes, guns etc. (24 parts)
The 3rd light-grey tree holds: the fuselage halves, rockets and their railings, cockpit rear-wall, tail-wheel etc. (24 parts)
The 4th light-grey tree holds: landing gear legs, wing spars, cockpit floor, seat, joy-stick, foot pedals etc. (38 parts)
The 5th and 6th light-grey tree hold wing halves (2 part ea.)
The 7th light-grey tree holds the ski parts (11 parts)
The clear tree holds the canopy and dash-board face (7 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
There are no crew figures included.
The detail is excellent.
Recommended.
The detail is excellent.
Recommended.