Another doozie, Joe!

As already mentioned, your builds are always spot on and inspirational.

This one is a little different for you Joe. Fantastic finish as always

I did the Accurate Miniatures ski version a few years ago

As usual she looks simply fantastic!!!!! 

Picked up the same kit as a little Christmas present to myself. If mine comes out 10% as well as yours I'll be thrilled! 

Thanks!it is a nice kit!

You need to stop posting. You're showing the rest of us up! No, seriously, fabulous model. Love the finish.

Hoss WA

Fabulous LD! As always, your weathering is gorgeous. And I think your colors are spot on. Although I'm not an expert either, I spent some time investigating the Russian colors when I built my IL-2 last year and adjusted the MRP paint colors to be pretty close to yours. Isn't that kit perfect? Congrats once again. 

 

Eugene Rowe

 

Outstanding work!  Thanks for sharing

Eugene Rowe

Great job on a classic Soviet design.i made the Accurate Minatures single seater and it is a cool plane!

 

Thanks Eugene.  I have the ski version in my stash.  

Pawel

 

 

keavdog

is that a fuel tank behind the pilot seat?  And did the rear gunner not have a seat?

 

 

The development of the Il-2 was pretty twisted... First it was designed as a two seater with an according armored tub. But it was to heavy and underpowered, so they shortened the tub and made it a single seater. Then the performance was OK. But then the units fielding those planes noticed, that a rear gunner would be extremely useful, so they added the rear gunner as a field modification - that was later made a production feature. So they saved a lot of weight by essentially putting the rear gunner on the outside of armor - look how he seats on the wrong side of the armored plate and mostly outside of the armored tub. The rear gunner uses a leather belt for a seat and has a "throw-away" .50 Berezin machine gun, but with a sophisticated reflex sight. While saving a lot of weight, the rear gunner still shifted the CG alot to the rear and that's the reasons the wings were "folded" to the rear like this - the soviets called it "strielka" - the arrow. And yes, that's a fuel tank behind the pilot - protected a lot better than the rear gunner...

lawdog - your Shtormovik turned out really nice! Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks.....and thanks for the info.  

BrandonK

This too is a kit I've been wanting to get my hands on for sometime, but they usually don't come cheap. One day I will. You build is typical greatness and the chipping is taking that to the next level. Well done, Joe. Your work is always an inspiration.

BK

 

Thanks Brandon.  Indeed it's not cheap, but well worth it if you're a fan of this subject. I built this for someone so I had to buy it.   

keavdog

Thats fantastic!  Turned out great.  I've always been a fan of this plane but never noticed how interesting that wing is.   I recently purchased this kit look forward to building even more after your post.  BTW is that a fuel tank behind the pilot seat?  And did the rear gunner not have a seat?

 

Thanks John.  You'll love this kit.  Very easy build.  Yes, that's the fuel tank, at least one of them I believe.  This version had a strap for the rear gunner.  I believe later versions had an actual seat.  I'm no Shturmo expert.    

Fabulous LD! As always, your weathering is gorgeous. And I think your colors are spot on. Although I'm not an expert either, I spent some time investigating the Russian colors when I built my IL-2 last year and adjusted the MRP paint colors to be pretty close to yours. Isn't that kit perfect? Congrats once again. 

Yes I can see that!

See? That's a single seater with a straight wing (the outer wing panels have the same sweep as the center part)

Great job on a classic Soviet design.i made the Accurate Minatures single seater and it is a cool plane!

keavdog

is that a fuel tank behind the pilot seat?  And did the rear gunner not have a seat?

The development of the Il-2 was pretty twisted... First it was designed as a two seater with an according armored tub. But it was to heavy and underpowered, so they shortened the tub and made it a single seater. Then the performance was OK. But then the units fielding those planes noticed, that a rear gunner would be extremely useful, so they added the rear gunner as a field modification - that was later made a production feature. So they saved a lot of weight by essentially putting the rear gunner on the outside of armor - look how he seats on the wrong side of the armored plate and mostly outside of the armored tub. The rear gunner uses a leather belt for a seat and has a "throw-away" .50 Berezin machine gun, but with a sophisticated reflex sight. While saving a lot of weight, the rear gunner still shifted the CG alot to the rear and that's the reasons the wings were "folded" to the rear like this - the soviets called it "strielka" - the arrow. And yes, that's a fuel tank behind the pilot - protected a lot better than the rear gunner...

lawdog - your Shtormovik turned out really nice! Thanks for sharing!

Lawdog, that turned out great!  That is different camo scheme and I really like it.  What colors did you use?  I still regret selling off my Accurate Minatures dual and single seat kits years ago.  Did you ever see the recent movie "The Pilot"?  This plane was featured in the movie.

tjs 

This too is a kit I've been wanting to get my hands on for sometime, but they usually don't come cheap. One day I will. You build is typical greatness and the chipping is taking that to the next level. Well done, Joe. Your work is always an inspiration.

BK

Thats fantastic!  Turned out great.  I've always been a fan of this plane but never noticed how interesting that wing is.   I recently purchased this kit look forward to building even more after your post.  BTW is that a fuel tank behind the pilot seat?  And did the rear gunner not have a seat?