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Morning all, I'm going to call it a day with this one. A fun build of a sincere and well meant kit! Definitely recommended for all aficionados of early Soviet bombers, assuming Tamiya isn't about to tool an SB. The kit has lovely detail, but slightly iffy fit in parts, particularly the transparencies, which aren't the most transparent either. But it seems to be an accurate rendition of Russia's Blenheim, right down to the incredibly spindly landing gear (I wondered if the real ones wobbled when you sneezed on them..?) I also had good fun on the weathering, acting on the assumption the VVS didn't regularly clean their bombers. Here is my finished model: ...and thanks to all who followed on my first rather sporadic WiP: Now to clean up the bench and on to the next adventure in styrene! All best Harry

Looking over the stash for the next project, I came across the ICM Tupolev SB. This was a definite temporary pash I experienced earlier this year, and went as far as buying the ICM kit and assembling some picture references. The SB belonged to that period of the war where things were particularly desperate on the Russian side. I have a fondness for underdogs, and the SB certainly fits into this category. Neither modern or effective by 1941 standards, it composed 94% of the VVS bomber force at the start of the conflict, so it had to do. The operational history of the SB with the VVS took in a huge degree of destruction in the air and particularly on the ground as the Germans advanced, and the aeroplane is bound up with a great deal of bitter human experience. But this is no fault of the SB - it was a plucky performer, and the fastest bomber in the sky in its day. Of course, it was quickly superceded by more modern and effective types such as the Pe-2 and Tu-2 as the war progressed. By 1945, records show there were a mere 5 operational SBs still on the VVS' books. It seems these were flown to Moscow in August 1945, to take part in a military flypast. In the end, it was cancelled due to foul weather - but I think this signifies a nod of respect to the venerable old SB, which was the thin end of the wedge at a desperate time. Embarking on this, I knew I wanted to build a GPW Russian example with flat fronted engines (the ones with tunnel inlets look dangerously modern). I like the idea of looking back wistfully on the SB a few years on. And whilst I would love to model one of the 'last SBs' described above, it would be pure fantasy as I don't have any pictures. So for my subject I am going to build a rare late war SB based on photos of a machine apparently used for weather reconnaissance by the Lyetno Issledovatelskiy Institut (Flight Research Institute) based at Rameskoye (now Zhukovsky). It seems this was a base for Pe-8s and Il-4s, with the SB supporting operations. The 2 photos and accompanying detail, courtesy of the excellent "Tupolev SB - Soviet High Speed Bomber" by Mikhail Maslov, aren't great, but show a flat engined example in uncharacteristic (for an SB) two tone camouflage, and most tellingly, late war white-outlined stars. Hardly a complex paint job - but it hints at a story. The photo is captioned as an SB 2M-100, rather than an 2M-100A, and I'd love to know what gives the author that kind of confidence. The only real distinguishing feature of the M-100A as far as I am aware is the cartridge chute at the base of the nose, and frankly it’s impossible to tell on these pictures. Still, I'm going build it as an 2M-100, making it a particularly poignant survivor as an early production SB still flying in 1944. I may even give it the 2-bladed propellers to drive the message home! Harry

Hi, In a middle of 1930s a concept o "fast bomber" appeared. In opposide to "slow bombers" like our favourite Bloch MB 200 they could operate with speed equal or even exceeding those of interceptors, and therfore no fighter escort was neccessary. Spanish Civil War was first war theater in which this concept was tested. From Nacionalist perhaps side the main example of fast bomber was Dornier Do 17 and from Republican side was Tupolev SB2. The "SB" comes from Russian "Skoriy Bobardovshchik" what mean directly : "fast bomber" Here I want to post my very archive models - both are older than 40 years from glueing, although before posting I did some serious refurbishing - which was not a total repair, since glueing was not improved. But majority of painting work is new (since I had to fill some gaps etc...). However, not all of painting is fresh. Especially I wanted to left untouched an arc emblem on SB-2 - which is a free hand painting on model made bu young JWM (myself in age of about 15 ), My Dornier is Do 17F (more recce a/c than bomber in fact) from Legion Condor about 1937, Airfix kit, and Tupolev SB 2 is in markings of Republicans from Barcelona, 1938, Frog kit. BTW - from 1937 or 1938 to 1975, when I made them, elapsed less then 40 years, so times of SCW were closer to time of building the models that those days from now! Here they are, Dornier and Tupolev: The Dornier alone: And a whole small Legion Condor representation from my collection: Tupolev SB 2 M100 (Frog) alone: And the close-up on arc emblem Comments welcome Regards Jerzy-Wojtek