It’s hard to find words to describe this cross between the famous IL-2 Sturmovik and a T-34 tank. Like its WWII cousin, the IL 40 was born as a jet powered heavily armed and armored ground support aircraft. First flown on March 7, 1953, this beast carried 4000 pounds of armor plates protecting the crew and vital airframe components.

Weapons were carried internally and on external hard points. Additional firepower consisted of four 23 mm cannons mounted on the underside and another in a remotely aimed stinger protecting the rear quadrant. This kit represents the refined prototype as the original had air intakes at the wing roots and the cannons in the nose. As many other aircraft designers discovered, cannon gasses don’t mix with jet engines and as a result the guns on the IL 40 were moved back and the intakes moved as far forward as possible.

The next set, QB 48 332, for the Ar-196 is a simple set for the radio set up. The kit offering features soft detail in a highly visible cockpit. This is a simple upgrade. Molded in blemish free light grey resin, this upgrade is as simple as remove the part from the pour block, paint and add. This is a direct replacement for part number 21A. I did notice that the kit part looks slightly different than the Quickboost part. As I don’t have my references handy, I’m leaning towards the Quickboost part as being correct.

These parts are quite nice and will make the work for the modeler so much easier. The radios are a nice addition and certainly look more like radios than what is in the kit.

Highly recommended

You can obtain your copy at your local hobby shop or online.

Our thanks to Quickboost and Aires for the review sample.

Helicopter gunships evolved from the need to provide close quarters combat for the Army. While we think this is a natural thing, the earliest attempts to arm helicopters were frowned upon. It wasn’t until the French started to put guns on some of their aircraft that the US Army took notice. What followed was nothing short of phenomenal culminating with the first purpose built armed helicopter then onto a battlefield essential tool.