Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale
Ilyushin Il-2m3 Shturmovik

by Scott L. Gruszynski

Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale Il-2m3 is avaiable online from Squadron

Having perused the excellent features articles on the HyperScale website for the past couple years, accumulating the fine ideas and techniques other modelers have to offer, I figured it was time to give back to the community.

This is my first submission: the Accurate Miniatures Ilyushin IL-2M3 Shturmovik.

Previous builders of this particular model outlined some of the problem areas, which I'm sure saved me a lot of headache in the end.

I enhanced the basic model with a couple aftermarket items: the CMK resin/photoetch set (which was for the single-seat version, though the photoetch contained parts for the 2 seater) and Aeromaster decal sheet #48-349, titled "Sturmoviks Part 3."

I chose to use the markings for the aircraft flown by "Hero of the Soviet Union," G. Parshin of the 943 ShAP.

The model was painted using WEM's VVS colors: AII Blue, AII Green, and AII Brown. Additional enhancements were as follows: copper wire for the brake lines, telescopic gunsight and cocking lever for the 12.7mm UBT rear gun (used spare styrene & photoetch pieces for this), leather seat strap for the rear gunner, hollowed-out gun barrels, ignition wires for the rockets, and black "invisible" nylon thread for the antenna.

The landing light was simulated using half of a metallic clamshell-like clasp I found while rummaging through my wife's beading accessory box. The lens cover was replaced by a simple piece of transparent tape.

Even armed with the knowledge of the likely problem areas, the kit still took a while to build and I found myself using quite a bit of super glue to fill gaps in the cowl and rear fuselage. Nonetheless, I was happy with the final result.

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Images and Text Copyright © 2008 by Scott L. Gruszynski
Page Created 8 June, 2008
Last Updated 8 June, 2008

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