1:72 UTK-1 Soviet WWII machinegun turret, for IL-4, Li-2, A-20 Boston models

UTK-1: resin dorsal turret 1:72 (Armory)

Under this designation the Ukrainian brand Armory offers a cast resin UTK-1 gun turret for models of Soviet aircraft in 1:72 scale. The box designates it for the Il-4, Li-2 and A-20 Boston machines. This is not an aircraft kit but an accessory with which the simplified dorsal defensive station is replaced on a model already under construction.

The real subject

The UTK-1 was a Soviet universal turret introduced during the Second World War. It carried the 12.7 mm UBT heavy machine gun and, compared with the earlier mounts with a light machine gun, it markedly increased defensive firepower. It appeared on Il-4 long-range bombers, on armed Li-2 transports and on some of the A-20 machines that the Soviet Union received from Allied deliveries and modified at home according to its own practice.

How to work with a resin part

Resin holds sharper detail than injection-molded plastic, but it calls for a different procedure. First wash the parts in warm soapy water so that they are rid of mold release residue. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc; do not snap them. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue); cement for plastic does not hold on resin. Protect your airways when sanding and work with extraction or a respirator. Before painting, a thin primer pays off, on which the shade then holds evenly.

Who the set is for

• modelers finishing a Soviet bomber or transport machine in 1:72
• anyone interested in a faithful rendition of the defensive armament
• builders with experience of resin accessories
• collectors of aircraft of eastern manufacture

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.