Category: Soviet aircraft
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Ilyushin IL-2 – Part Six – Skiing Holiday
The predictions about the Smêr model of the Ilyushin Il -2 proved 100% accurate. The kit has fallen together perfectly and the landing gear variation has proved to be the star of the piece. The gear is based upon the wheeled version, but you need to trim away some of the wheel hub support and…
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Ilyushin Il-2 – Part Five – For One Dollar More…
I get to build a model of Clint Eastwood. No, no, no…Not that at all – for one dollar more I get to build another Ilyushin IL-2 with the winter ski equipment on it. A chap arrived at the club selling kits for a dollar and this turned out to be the hi-tech version of…
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Ilyushin IL-2 – Part Four _ Winter At Uszhitmi
Uszhitmi Air Base is what is known in Russia as a winter wonderland. It’s the place that they send people who have been exiled from Siberia. Thus we see the Ilyushin IL-2 sitting on the tarmac on a bright day in midsummer. You can tell it’s summer as they have not put the snow skis…
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Ilyushin IL-2 – Part Three – The Fit Bit
The Sturmovik is cementing together nicely. You’ll see the gap patch in the front before trimming, but note the wing and tail seams. This is the sort of fit I wish ALL Czech and other eastern European makers could achieve. There will be the tiniest slip of superglue on the port wing at the leading…
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Ilyushin IL-2 – Part Two – Czeching Out The Fit
Part-fit stage is looking good. The cockpit has proved wonderful – in Czech terms that means it has a ledge to sit in and fits onto the lendge without hack-sawing anything. The fuselage closes…almost…The wings are in register and they have decided shapes to fit onto the fuselage. And the tail surfaces are such a…
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Ilyushin IL-2 – Part One – Back On Trackski
This Il-2 is the gift of a club-mate; John. It has been sitting in the stash long enough – the idea has sprouted. This is to be a winter Sturmovik. I shall risk the hazards of the Czech decals and try to put the complete Soviet slogans on the side when it is finished. I’ve…
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Yak 3 – Part Four _ Speed Is As Speed Does
When you are not bending up connecting rods from brass PE sheets for a 1/72 kit, it seems to go a lot faster in the construction. Not as liable to win Best-of-Show at the Anorak Expo, but you have to be realistic. And Hobby Boss are the most realistic moulders I know. The Yak 3…
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Yak 3 – Part Three – Portable Yak
When you build model kits you need not do it in just one place. I have four locations at which I can endeavour to cut my fingers and damage table tops; two at home and two in other premises. If I was a travelling salesman who was sleeping in a different hotel every night I…
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Yak 3 – Part Two – There’s An Hour Of My Life…
Well-spent, as it happens. The Yak 3 basic structure is cemented together with the cockpit painted already. You can see why I like Hobby Boss products – particularly in a case where there is a time constraint. I don’t want to turn out a shoddy model, but I don’t have time for Boola-Boolavarde stops, as…
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Yak 3 – Part One – Yak On
Do not be frightened off by the complexity of the Hobby Boss Yak 3 fighter plane kit. I shall master it. I snatched it off the hobby shop shelf in relief – I need one more Soviet fighter for a diorama and there is limited time for the build. What better than Hobby Boss. While…
The Little World 