Il-2M3 Shturmovik (Tamiya, 1:72)

[InFlames]

Hi everyone!

Workbench is cleaned up, the modelling fluid prepared and I'm off to build a new kit.




Believe it or not, this is my first Tamiya kit I'm gonna build in around 40 years since I am in this hobby.

And guess what - from all the praise I've heard of this iconic Japanese manufacturer, for my first ever kit, I ended up with a short shot example!
The rear gunners bulkhead is severely misshapen and the fuel tank is also short, though I don't care about the later as the bottom won't be seen when installed.

 

[Jim R]

That's unusual for Tamiya. Quality controls day off! Maybe Tamiya can send replacements. I'm not sure how good their customer service is.

 

[InFlames]

That's unusual for Tamiya. Quality controls day off! Maybe Tamiya can send replacements. I'm not sure how good their customer service is.

Yeah maybe bad luck, but I'll try to recreate that bulkhead from sheet styrene... I am fortunate it's such a simple piece and not something more complex.
Not holding any grudge against Tamiya, hey it can happen to the best, but I find it ironic, that the only kit that I plan to build, has this shortcoming

 

[Dave Ward]

Seb,
at least the short shots look like they're on flat parts, so easier to fabricate............... This sort of thing makes you hurriedly look at all the other parts, to make sure that nothing else has gone awry!
Dave

 

[yak face]

Great to see you back seb , nice choice , hopefully nothing else on the kit is short shot , cheers tony

 

[InFlames]

Seb,
at least the short shots look like they're on flat parts, so easier to fabricate............... This sort of thing makes you hurriedly look at all the other parts, to make sure that nothing else has gone awry!
Dave

Yeah, that is a fortunate thing and that is the reason why I won't be trying to get replacement via Tamiya as it would just take too long. After all, scratchbuilding is fun!

Great to see you back seb , nice choice , hopefully nothing else on the kit is short shot , cheers tony

Thank you, Tony. Yeah I've had quite busy couple of years behind me, personally, so I've decided to be more proactive forums wise. I still prefer them to social media. Oh and it looks like those two parts are the only ones affected. I noticed one of the propeller blades appears to be wider than the other two but I'll have to inspect that more closely and can be corrected with a sanding stick.

 

[InFlames]

Scratchbuilt rear bulkhead and the short shot version at the side.

 

[InFlames]

Rear gunner's compartment finished. Used balsa wood for floor to hide a nasty seam, Tamiya didn't catch during designing this kit. And as there was a piece of dark grey painted wood on the real aircraft which was soon scuffed away by the hard soiled gunners boots!

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good Seb. Dark grey painted wood eh……they never skimped on luxuries for the poor old gunner did they. He even got a strap to sit on when he got tired

 

[InFlames]

The cockpit is finished.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Very nice. Certainly belies the scale Seb.

 

[yak face]

Great start Seb , are those Quinta ( or similar ) 3D decals ? I know that Tamiya usually supply standard flat decals for the seat belts ( which never look right )
Cheers tony

 

[InFlames]

Thanks, guys!

Great start Seb , are those Quinta ( or similar ) 3D decals ? I know that Tamiya usually supply standard flat decals for the seat belts ( which never look right )
Cheers tony

Indeed those are Quinta decals. First time using them. In case of ordinary seatbelt decals, I usually carefully cut them out of the sheet together with the backing paper, thus giving them thickness and attaching them using CA glue. After a wash, they look rather well.

 

[adt70hk]

That's work of such quality that it belies the scale.

Very well done indeed!!

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Code no 10]

You certainly thought of everything, Seb. I really like the scuff marks you have made for the model.

 

[InFlames]

Since they are such a big canvas, I've decided to rivet the wings. After almost two hours, this is the result so far... half way there with wings.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Excellent work on those rivets, though rather you than me.

 

[InFlames]

haha, thanks Tim. It ain't that hard but I admit, it is a bit tedious to make em. Some nice music in the headphones and I'm good :D

 

[colin m]

Great work Seb. But I've got to say, I would never be so brave to have a screen that close to my bench. I would ruin it, quickly.

 

[InFlames]

Before riveting the bottom of the wings, I had to install the landing gear bays and since it's gonna be easier to do now, I added some weathering.