In Box Review of MPM 1/48th Scale
Soviet Petlyakov Pe-3/Pe-2 Series 1941
Expert Series
Kit no. 48046
By Ray Mehlberger
Kit no. 48046
By Ray Mehlberger
HISTORY:
The Petlyakov Pe-2 (Russian: Петляков Пе-2) was a Soviet light bomber used during World War II. It was regarded as one of the best ground attack aircraft of the war and it was also successful in the roles of heavy fighter, reconnaissance and night fighter.
It was similar in many respects to the wooden British de Havilland Mosquito. Pe-2s were manufactured in greater numbers (11,427 built) during the war than any other twin-engined combat aircraft except for the German Junkers Ju 88 and British Vickers Wellington.
The Pe-2 was fast, maneuverable and durable. Several Communist nations flew the type after the war, when it became known by the NATO reporting name Buck.
Six captured Pe-2s were also transferred from the Germans to the Finnish Air Force during the Continuation War, with the serial code PE- and the unofficial nickname Pekka-Eemeli.
SPECIFICATIONS
Role: Bomber
Manufacturer: Petlyakov
Designer: Vladimir Petlyakov
First flight: 22 December 1939
Introduction to service: 1941
Retired: 1954 (SFR Yugoslav Air Force)
Primary users: Soviet Air Force, SFR Yugoslav Air Force, Air Force of the Polish Army, Czechoslovakian Air Force
Number built: 11,427
Variants: Petlyakov Pe-3
The Petlyakov Pe-2 (Russian: Петляков Пе-2) was a Soviet light bomber used during World War II. It was regarded as one of the best ground attack aircraft of the war and it was also successful in the roles of heavy fighter, reconnaissance and night fighter.
It was similar in many respects to the wooden British de Havilland Mosquito. Pe-2s were manufactured in greater numbers (11,427 built) during the war than any other twin-engined combat aircraft except for the German Junkers Ju 88 and British Vickers Wellington.
The Pe-2 was fast, maneuverable and durable. Several Communist nations flew the type after the war, when it became known by the NATO reporting name Buck.
Six captured Pe-2s were also transferred from the Germans to the Finnish Air Force during the Continuation War, with the serial code PE- and the unofficial nickname Pekka-Eemeli.
SPECIFICATIONS
Role: Bomber
Manufacturer: Petlyakov
Designer: Vladimir Petlyakov
First flight: 22 December 1939
Introduction to service: 1941
Retired: 1954 (SFR Yugoslav Air Force)
Primary users: Soviet Air Force, SFR Yugoslav Air Force, Air Force of the Polish Army, Czechoslovakian Air Force
Number built: 11,427
Variants: Petlyakov Pe-3
THE KIT:
MPM is a model company based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture limited-run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am not fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal 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 Pe-3 flying over a shoreline. Strangely the propellers are shown not moving.
It is in a camouflage of two shades of green, over a light-blue undercarriage. Very similar to German WWII bomber schemes. It has yellow wing tips and fuselage band, with serial no. PE-301 over the band. White circles with blue squares on them in 6 positions on the fuselage and wings. However, these should be swastikas, and not just squares. This was done this way because the swastika is illegal to display in Czechoslovakia.
The decal sheet provides the markings for the swastika in halves that have to be assembled into the whole swastika. Plus a PE-212 serial no. and Soviet red stars with black no. 8.
The decals are well printed and in excellent register.
MPM is a model company based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture limited-run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am not fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal 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 Pe-3 flying over a shoreline. Strangely the propellers are shown not moving.
It is in a camouflage of two shades of green, over a light-blue undercarriage. Very similar to German WWII bomber schemes. It has yellow wing tips and fuselage band, with serial no. PE-301 over the band. White circles with blue squares on them in 6 positions on the fuselage and wings. However, these should be swastikas, and not just squares. This was done this way because the swastika is illegal to display in Czechoslovakia.
The decal sheet provides the markings for the swastika in halves that have to be assembled into the whole swastika. Plus a PE-212 serial no. and Soviet red stars with black no. 8.
The decals are well printed and in excellent register.
The first medium-grey tree of plastic parts are the fuselage halves, prop blades. interior. etc. (33 parts).
The second medium-grey tree has the wing center section, engine halves, propeller hubs, etc. (10 parts).
The third medium-grey tree holds the upper and lower wings, tail section, etc. (16 parts).
The odd trainer canopy is included in the kit along with the regular one (10 parts).
Interior parts are mostly in tan resin. Which will result into a good looking interior.
The air brakes are in tan resin too. The tan parts have an amount of flash on them and pour lugs to remove. However, detail is good.
The plastic parts have thin engraved panel lines and the engine nacelles have excellent detailing throughout. However, the wheel cutouts are faired in and have to be opened.
Recommended.