In Box Review of Encore 1/72nd Scale
Soviet Tupolev Tu-2
Kit no. 1026
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1990
Out of production
Available in the ICM brand 2000 kit as the Tu-2s version at 1001 Hobbies for $19.99 or at Kit Linx for $19.15 and at 4 different locations on Ebay for prices ranging from $9.00 up to $20.00 and at 9 locations overseas on the net.
I paid $18.95 for my kit at a local shop back in the 90’s that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1990
Out of production
Available in the ICM brand 2000 kit as the Tu-2s version at 1001 Hobbies for $19.99 or at Kit Linx for $19.15 and at 4 different locations on Ebay for prices ranging from $9.00 up to $20.00 and at 9 locations overseas on the net.
I paid $18.95 for my kit at a local shop back in the 90’s that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Soviet Tu-2 dive bomber, also used in the reconnaissance role, was one of the best known Soviet aircraft of WWII. The A. Tupolev Design Bureau was responsible for the design.
The prototype’s maiden flight was on January 29, 1941 and the first early production model entered combat in July of that year over the Zapadny Front. A total of 2,500 aircraft were produced in various versions.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 23.5 meters
Span: 18.86 meters
Ceiling: 9,500 meters
Range: 2,500 kilometers
Weight: 12,800 kg
Max speed: 550 km/h
Armament: two 20mm ShVAK cannons, three 12.7mm UBS machine guns, max bomb load of 3,000
The Soviet Tu-2 dive bomber, also used in the reconnaissance role, was one of the best known Soviet aircraft of WWII. The A. Tupolev Design Bureau was responsible for the design.
The prototype’s maiden flight was on January 29, 1941 and the first early production model entered combat in July of that year over the Zapadny Front. A total of 2,500 aircraft were produced in various versions.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 23.5 meters
Span: 18.86 meters
Ceiling: 9,500 meters
Range: 2,500 kilometers
Weight: 12,800 kg
Max speed: 550 km/h
Armament: two 20mm ShVAK cannons, three 12.7mm UBS machine guns, max bomb load of 3,000
THE KIT:
Encore was based in the Ukraine in the 90’s when this kit was manufactured. I believe they went out of business.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a black and white illustration of four Tu-2’s flying through flack. Colors are olive-drab over light-blue under carriages.
The lead one has a black number 100 on the sides of the cowlings and again on the sides of the fuselage followed by the Soviet red star outlined in white. Star is repeated on the rudders and under the wings. It has red propeller spinners.
The second Tu-2, shown flying just below the lead one, just shows the end of the fuselage. It has the stars on the fuselage sides and rudders.
The third Tu-2 following them has a black 108 on the sides of it’s cowlings and fuselage and the stars on the fuselage and rudders.
The fourth Tu-2 in the background is too far away to make out anything other than the rudder stars.
One side panel begins with a small black and white repeat of the cover art, followed by a one-paragraph history of the Tu-2 and Squadron Products address in Carrollton, TX, who was the importer and distributor of Encore kits in the 90’s. Model was made in the Ukraine and packaged in the USA.
Encore was based in the Ukraine in the 90’s when this kit was manufactured. I believe they went out of business.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a black and white illustration of four Tu-2’s flying through flack. Colors are olive-drab over light-blue under carriages.
The lead one has a black number 100 on the sides of the cowlings and again on the sides of the fuselage followed by the Soviet red star outlined in white. Star is repeated on the rudders and under the wings. It has red propeller spinners.
The second Tu-2, shown flying just below the lead one, just shows the end of the fuselage. It has the stars on the fuselage sides and rudders.
The third Tu-2 following them has a black 108 on the sides of it’s cowlings and fuselage and the stars on the fuselage and rudders.
The fourth Tu-2 in the background is too far away to make out anything other than the rudder stars.
One side panel begins with a small black and white repeat of the cover art, followed by a one-paragraph history of the Tu-2 and Squadron Products address in Carrollton, TX, who was the importer and distributor of Encore kits in the 90’s. Model was made in the Ukraine and packaged in the USA.
The other side panel also begins with the small black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the specifications of the Tu-2, again followed by Squadron’s address, made in the Ukraine and packaged in the USA.
The bottom of the box is a black and white marking guide. It shows three 2-Views of Tu-2’s.
The first one is in a wave pattern of olive-drab and grey over a light-blue under carriage. It is marked with a white stenciled fuselage number 276 followed by the red star outlined in white. Star is again on its rudders. This is a Tu-2 with the Pacific Fleet Air Force, November, 1946.
The second Tu-2 is olive-drab above a light-blue under carriage. It is marked with Polish Air Force red and white checkerboard insignias on the fuselage sides, under the wings and on the rudder. Also on the rudder is a white 5. It has red and white propeller spinners. Shown as how it looked in 1952.
The third Tu-2 is the box art scheme (already described above) However, it further says it has red propeller spinners and the fuselage number 100 can also be done in white. This Tu-2 was with A. Pushkin CO 88 BAD (Bomber Div.) 1945.
Colors of the illustrations on the box bottom are NOT called out. They are called out on page 4 of the instructions however.
The first one is in a wave pattern of olive-drab and grey over a light-blue under carriage. It is marked with a white stenciled fuselage number 276 followed by the red star outlined in white. Star is again on its rudders. This is a Tu-2 with the Pacific Fleet Air Force, November, 1946.
The second Tu-2 is olive-drab above a light-blue under carriage. It is marked with Polish Air Force red and white checkerboard insignias on the fuselage sides, under the wings and on the rudder. Also on the rudder is a white 5. It has red and white propeller spinners. Shown as how it looked in 1952.
The third Tu-2 is the box art scheme (already described above) However, it further says it has red propeller spinners and the fuselage number 100 can also be done in white. This Tu-2 was with A. Pushkin CO 88 BAD (Bomber Div.) 1945.
Colors of the illustrations on the box bottom are NOT called out. They are called out on page 4 of the instructions however.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 4 dark-green parts trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 ½”x 11” page format, folded again to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history and specifications of the Tu-2 in English and German.
Page 2 has the parts trees illustrations at the top, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of the names of all the parts on the trees, in English.
Page 3 has 10 assembly steps on it.
Page 4 has a painting and marking guide at the top. It is a repeat of the same box bottom illustrations, but now calls out the colors of things. Below this is a repeat of the international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Humbrol brand hobby paints, with FS number matches (Federal Standard) for the colors. Decal application method instructions are supplied in English and German.
Trees are alphabetized.
The dark-green letter A tree holds: wing upper and lower halves, lower center wing half, wing flaps, propellers, engine cowling parts, 3 machine guns, 2 air intakes, pilot – gunner/radio operator – navigator figures (26 parts)
The kit holds 4 dark-green parts trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 ½”x 11” page format, folded again to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history and specifications of the Tu-2 in English and German.
Page 2 has the parts trees illustrations at the top, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of the names of all the parts on the trees, in English.
Page 3 has 10 assembly steps on it.
Page 4 has a painting and marking guide at the top. It is a repeat of the same box bottom illustrations, but now calls out the colors of things. Below this is a repeat of the international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Humbrol brand hobby paints, with FS number matches (Federal Standard) for the colors. Decal application method instructions are supplied in English and German.
Trees are alphabetized.
The dark-green letter A tree holds: wing upper and lower halves, lower center wing half, wing flaps, propellers, engine cowling parts, 3 machine guns, 2 air intakes, pilot – gunner/radio operator – navigator figures (26 parts)
The dark-green letter B tree holds: the fuselage halves, bomb bay doors, fuel tank cover, fuselage rear top panel, engine nacelles, rudders and rudder flaps, main gear doors (22 parts)
The doors are molded together and have to be cut in two to show them in the opened position.
The doors are molded together and have to be cut in two to show them in the opened position.
The dark-green letter C tree holds: 2 ShVAK cannons, seats, 2 oil coolers, 2 foot pedals, armour plate, 2 bomb racks, tailwheel, throttle controls, ammo box, 2 holders, instrument panel, rear wing spar, main gear struts, front wing spar, main wheels, bulkhead, tailwheel strut, control column, exhaust collector, cockpit floor, propeller shafts, radio station, spinners, bombs, turret, radio mast (58 parts)
The clear tree holds the pilot’s cockpit and the navigators cockpit windows and fuselage side windows (12 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
This is one neat Soviet aircraft. It is highly detailed with many parts. Not for novice modelers and not a weekend project either.
Highly recommended.