The Soviet Union’s first purpose-designed ground support aircraft, proposed in 1938, the Il-2 first saw production and combat action in 1941 as a single-seat platform. As a result of heavy losses from enemy fighters, the 2-seat version with a rear gunner station was fielded in 1943, and proved to be a crucial element in the Red Army’s defeat of the invading Nazi forces. With over 36,000 units produced, the Shturmovik was and still is the most-produced aircraft in aviation history, and accounted for nearly 1/3 of all Soviet aircraft produced during “The Great Patriotic War.”

Outstanding detail, great support of the plastic modeling community, etc… all apply to Squadron Mail order and MMD distributors. We at IPMS/USA appreciate and thank you for providing us items to review!

When I purchased the Revell Ventura kit, I thought, “wow, a decent, out of box build even I can sink the ol’ teeth into…” I did not know that True Details was working to upgrade the kit…and, with this cockpit, the detail level went up.

The major items replaced are the instrument panel, throttle/fuel mixture quadrant panel, the basic floorboard, back bulkhead, seats, and middle “island” instrument and switch panel. There are also two side fuselage panels that replace the truly understated sidewall detail in the cockpit. Several kit parts are required: the seat legs for the right-hand seat, control wheel arms to attach the control yokes, and the lower steps to the forward fuselage.

History

The Seafire was essentially a navalized Spitfire designed for carrier operations with the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier fleet. At the beginning of World War II, although the Royal Air Force was operating some first class equipment (including Spitfires and Hurricanes), the Royal Navy was equipped mainly with types that were decidedly inferior in performance to what the Luftwaffe had. These types, including the Blackburn Skua and Roc, Gloster Gladiator, and later the Fairey Fulmar, were not in a class with the Messerschmitt Bf-109 or the Focke Wulf FW-190, the planes that would become their adversaries. Although the earlier aircraft were used successfully in some operations, it was clear to the naval commanders that more suitable aircraft were required.

Master Model now has covered all the basses when it comes to turned aluminum pitot tubes for Hawker Hunter models by adding one for 1/32 scale kits (currently, that means Revell or Revell of Germany F.6 or FG.9 kits). In this larger scale, the addition of a more accurately proportioned metal pitot tube is almost a must if the builder is striving for accuracy. The photo below of the metal part compared to the injection molded kit part tells the story. Placing it next to the kit part clearly shows show how nicely the tapered Master Model metal looks by comparison.

The Master Model pitot tube can be attached with super glue or epoxy cement. Then, a little filler may be needed to blend the hole in the wing’s leading edge after anchoring the smaller diameter metal tube. The thin metal tube will likely survive an occasional bump or two but, because it is aluminum, it may bend if it is bumped too hard.

History Brief

The early 1930s US Navy needed a torpedo bomber and accepted the all-new monoplane design from the Douglas aircraft company. The TBD-1 Devastator was ordered on June 30, 1934, first flying in 1935 and entering service in 1937. The Devastator was, at that point in time, possibly the most advanced aircraft flying for the USN or any navy in the world. However, the fast pace of aircraft development caught up with it and, by the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the TBD was already outdated. However, it performed well in some of the early battles, such as Coral Sea, where they saw extensive action. But, during the Battle of Midway, six Devastators launched on their mission against the Japanese fleet were all slaughtered save one, and they did not score any direct hits. As a result, the remaining aircraft of the type were immediately withdrawn from front line service and replaced by the TBF Avenger (also ineffective at Midway).