The Aircraft

The Boeing 737 was developed in the 1960s as a low-cost development of the 707 and 727. It’s the only Boeing “narrow body” airliner still in production. There are 9 versions, ranging from 85 to 215 passengers. While not approaching the Bf-109 in numbers, the 737 is the best-selling jet airliner in history, with 6638 delivered, with 2186 more on order as of December 31, 2010 (Editor: Boeing source).

The 737 in this kit is the -400 version, with CFM-56 engines. Because of the low wing and large diameter of the engines, the lower side of the nacelle is flattened, giving a distinctive “hamster pouch” look. The -300 and -500 versions differ from the -400 in fuselage length, with the -400 being 10 feet longer than the -300 and the -500 is 8 feet shorter than the -300.

History: The Fieseler Fi 156 is a fabric and steel tube constructed 3 place liaison aircraft. It is noted for its short takeoff and landing characteristics used by all the German forces. It’s primarily used by German upper echelon personnel including Hitler himself. It also played a major role in a daring rescue of the imprisoned Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.First produced in 1939 the type remained in production throughout WWII. The total production was around 1549 aircraft. During the winter months, it was fitted with skis. It was also produced after the war by France and Czechoslovakia.

It had a crew of 2/3; empty weight 930 kg; maximum speed 175 km/h; minimum speed 51 km/h and a range 385 km. Power was provided by an Argus AS-10C inverted V8, (air-cooled) with 240-hp; takeoff distance 26 meters (no wind).

The Model

The SU-85 is a Russian tank destroyer that has a massive 85-mm gun, and was capable of taking out nearly every foe it came across. The tank did not have a moving turret so it made it easy for the Russians to build. It was powered with a V-2 12-cylinder diesel engine that could reach speeds of 34-mph on rough roads. There were roughly 2,050 destroyers built from 1943 until late 1944. It was mainly used in the battle of Kursk, as well as being heavily used from December 1943 to counter-attack German Panthers and Tiger Tanks.

The Kit

The kit contained 4 bags, one with the main body of the tank, one that contained 4 sprues marked A.B, C, and D, a bag with the tracks, and hardware required. The fourth bag contained 6 Russian soldiers to assemble. The kit also came with Tamiya weathering master for Russian Tanks.

This is the first SU-85 I have ever built, and the first Military vehicle I have built in a very long time.

Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4B Global Hawk was conceived in the early 1990’s as part of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s initiative to develop and field advanced concept technology demonstrator (ACTD) unmanned aerospace vehicles (UAVs). By the late 1990’s ACTD versions of the Global Hawk were demonstrating the viability of the concept of High Altitude Endurance (HAE) UAVs in some reconnaissance roles similar to those held by the legendary but venerable U-2. As the United States found itself fully engaged in the War on Terror in 2001, the need for additional HAE reccee assets became acute, and the ACTD design was rapidly advanced into the operational RQ-4A embodiment. As the merits of the RQ-4 crystallized in combat operations, a larger and more capable RQ-4B version was developed to assume even more of the roles traditionally shouldered by the U-2.

The Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik was a ground-attack aircraft produced by the Soviet Union in the Second World War. Soviet sources give the number produced as over 36,000. It is regarded as the most formidable aircraft of WWII and best ground attack aircraft of all.

The aircraft’s engine, cockpit, radiators, and fuel tanks were protected by a steel “tub “designed to be an integral part of the load-bearing frame. This design made it ideal for its low-level ground attack and anti-tank roles.

The Il-2m3 (Type 3) version was introduced in 1943 in the battle of Stalingrad. It was so successful that the Soviets produced this version more than all the others. It was armed with two 23-mm Vya cannons and two 7.62-mm ShKAS machine guns in the wings. The rear gunner operated a 12.7-mm UBT machine gun. It could carry various combinations of rockets and bombs.