HobbyBoss 80285 Ilyushin IL-2M3 Shturmovik 1/72 Scale Plastic Model Kit

HobbyBoss manufactures static plastic model kits and the company has become an established and very well-regarded brand after many years of hard work. HobbyBoss strives to continually improve and to make the best possible products. This finely detailed plastic model kit requires assembly and painting. During WWII, the worst nightmare of Soviet ground troops were Ju-87 'Stuka' series dive bombers; for Germans, that was Il-2 Sturmovik. TsKB-55/57, designed by Sergey Ilyushin and his team of Central Design Bureau, was a strong, all-metal aircraft, and propelled by AM-38 engine(1,680HP). It was operated by a pilot and a rear gunner, and they're protected by 'armored bathtub' along with fuel tank. But when it came to mass production stage and deployment as Il-2 in 1941, lack of material forced it to become a single-seat aircraft, with wooden parts used for wings and the rear parts of fuselage. Being called as 'Ilyusha', 'Flying Tank' and 'Sturmovik: Storm Bird' by Russians, the Il-2s served with Soviet air force brilliantly and gave their enemy a great fear and massive damage, which was enough to earn the name of 'The Black Death' by Germans, in spite of massive damage of Il-2 themselves. Il-2s were so important that Stalin stated it as 'Necessary like air, like bread'. Il-2s still had problems to solve, so the developments continued; rear gunner revived, more powerful engines were used, more armor and re-designed wings were made to be an enhanced version, Il-2M. Outnumbering the Bf109s (around 35,000 samples produced), Sturmoviks were produced over 36,000 and its still the best record of most-produced combat aircraft. This model kit features: fully engraved panel lines; highly detailed cockpit & landing gear, and high-quality decals.