The Little World

When I picked the Ilyushin off the Hobbytech shelf before Father’s Day I knew it would be somewhat of a gamble – Mister Craft kits are always that. They would be the sort of kit that Forrest Gump would buy.

However, this is a Zvezda, not an old FROG, and the basic structure is perfectly sound. The areas of adjustment needed were minimal and the end result was never in doubt.

I’ll amend that – the painting and decoration of a Mister Craft kit can also be a critical point. This is because the decals that the Polish firm supplies are often spectacular in appearance but mediocre in quality. I’ve had trouble with every decal sheet from Mister Craft right from the start.

The decals are thin – a good thing in itself when you consider that you want them to go over rivets and panel lines and sink in – but a nuisance when every second one you try to apply tears at some stage. This kit was no exception, and I knew that it was going to be that way…so I deliberately schose another route.

The colour call-out sheet and box art showed Ilyushins painted with big stars and long, flowing banners. I’m sure they were inspiring, but the chief thing they inspired in me was distrust.

So I searched the net for alternatives. One site showed Baltic torpedo bombers in very simple camouflage schemes with minimal insignia. I scoured the spares box and rounded up enough stars to do the job ( with only two needed from the kit) and set the plane on the jig. No hurried work – I gave each decal a good long soak before floating them off with a soft brush. I did have a couple of breaks but they were so small as to be unnoticeable.

Note that experiments are ongoing for a way to re-enforce these Polish decals with some form of flexible film. Acrylic clear varnish doesn’t work but I’ll try other sprays and even thinned PVA.

In any case, the torpedo and launching air reservoir went on well, the windows cleaned up, and the Ilyushin was ready for display. Well worth the $ 30 the kit cost.