1:144 Czechoslovak pilots in Ilyushin Il-2M3 Part I

The Il-2M3 in Czechoslovak hands, 1:144 decals

A decal sheet from AML Decals in 1:144 scale, the first part of the subject. It brings markings for the Soviet Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft in the two-seat form that Western literature designates as the Il-2M3. The goods are a standalone accessory for a model.

The real subject

The Il-2 was an armored ground attack aircraft intended for strikes on ground targets. An armored tub protected the engine as well as the pilot, and the machine took hits after which an ordinary fighter would have gone down. The two-seat version added a gunner with a flexible machine gun behind the pilot, which noticeably improved the defense from the rear. In the closing stage of the war Czechoslovak units flew this type on the Eastern Front as well.

Building and painting tips

Soviet attack aircraft tended to be heavily worn, with a scuffed wing leading edge and traces of mud on the underside of the fuselage. Apply the decals, therefore, at the moment when the base finish is done but the weathering is not yet. The large red stars call for a perfectly smooth base, otherwise their edges will lighten. Then take the mud effects across the markings, so that everything looks of a piece. Around the exhausts do not forget a dark sooty tinge.

Who the set is useful for

• modelers interested in the Eastern Front
• builders of Soviet ground attack hardware
• anyone interested in the service of the Czechoslovak airmen in 1944 and 1945
• collectors of small aircraft models with pronounced weathering

You get a sheet with markings. A model, paints and pigments are not included.