Scale Plastic & Rail

1:32 Il-2m Detail Sets from Eduard

1:32 Il-2m Detail Sets (for Hobby Boss kit)
Eduard
See review for catalogue numbers and prices
Available directly from Eduard

Towards the end of last year, SP&R was lucky enough to receive the 1:32 Hobby Boss Ilyushin Il-2m3 Sturmovik for review. The kit in itself is actually very good, and having seen several of them built up over the last year, I can testify that it's certainly an impressive kit in terms of both size and quality. Eduard recently released an interior set for this kit, aimed at the Il-2m3, but definitely usable for the single seat machine, and now they have released two more sets that we have here for review.

These new releases are:

#32290, Il-2m Exterior, €22,95
#32308, Armament and Bomb Tails, €25,95

#32290, Il-2m Exterior

This set contains two bare metal etch frets which deal with not only the general exterior of the Il-2m, but also some internal areas such as the wheel bays, engine parts and undercarriage. Although the Sturmovik was quite an 'agricultural' looking aircraft, there is still plenty of detail to be had, and indeed added, with this set.

As well as engine ignition harnesses, the Mikulin engine also benefits from a number of corrections and improvements to the cowl area, including whole replacement sections which will need a little surgery in order to remove parts of the kit plastic cowl. The open front of the cowl, to the rear of the spinner, also has an authentic looking blanking plate included here. Radiator intakes also now include scale-looking, multi-part air vanes.

The undercarriage area of the Sturmovik gets some first class attention here as the main wheel bays themselves gain metal linings brackets and braces, the wheels gain new hubs, and the oleo gain just a little extra detail by means of axle shaft end plates. The undercarriage doors though have riveted frameworks which simply sit over the raised plastic detail, so no surgery is required here.

The exterior skin of the aircraft has numerous access panels stiffening plates to attach, and the rocket launch rails are also improved upon, as are the rudder push/pull rod assembly. You will need a little plastic rod though. I wish Eduard would include short lengths in their sets, where required.

Other parts in this set include interior canopy slide rail and exterior handle, plus bomb bay door stiffening plates, leading edge light edge plating, and oil cooler meshes. Overall, minimal surgery is required to fit this set. Etch quality is excellent, and the instruction are clear and concise.

#32308, Armament and Bomb Tails

This set 'does just what it says on the tin', so to speak. Again, this is another two-fret set, finished in bare nickel and there's not too much to report here except to say that all munitions have their tail fins replaced with a combination of flat fins and even a photo etch template to allow you get the position and angle just right. Remember not to glue the template into place though, as the instructions aren't clear that this part is only temporary.

Other tail fins are constructed from either folded metal parts or by slotted parts which then have the separate metal fin spreaders applied. Lastly, the bomb fuse propellers are also included.

Despite this being a simple set, the various weapons included in the kit will look far better with this set applied, and despite what seems to be a relatively high cost, I do think that this is a set which should seriously be considered.

Again, etch quality is excellent and the instructions are clear, with the exception of mentioning the temporary templates!

So what do we think?
I do think these sets offer a lot to the already excellent Hobby Boss kit, and despite the additional cost, the work involved in fitting them is minimal, and the results will look great. Please consider the excellent interior and landing flap sets to accompany these, and without a doubt, you'll have a show-stopper of a Sturmovik!

Highly recommended.

Our sincere thanks to Eduard for the review samples used here. To purchase this directly, click the links provided in the review.

James H.

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