Learstang

Brilliant job on the Wapiti, Adrian! Wasn't someone going to come out with one in IM plastic? Or did I dream it? Regards, Jason

That is indeed the very film! Thank you, Dmitriy! Best Regards, Jason

I used to have it downloaded, but I'm having trouble finding the file now. If I find it, I'll let you know! Best Regards, Jason

Looking very nice, indeed! I built the Frog version a hog's age ago, but I still have it. I've always rather liked the look of the Barracuda, but then I also like the look of the Blackburn Blackburn, the aeroplane so beautiful they named it twice! Regards, Jason

That does indeed look like the light grey I've seen on Il-2 instrument panels. As you can see, it is lighter than A-14 Steel Grey. Best Regards, Jason

I'm sorry to hear about your loss! However, the Mig-3 looks very nice! If I can remember my Kyrillic, that says something like 'For Vanyu Babaka' (Vanyu being from the diminutive for 'Ivan'). So, the slogan probably commemorates a fallen comrade. Regards, Jason

Yes, it is, and in my humble opinion the best arrow in 1/72nd scale. I've built it, and it's very accurate and a good build. The 1/48th scale version is the best arrow in that scale also, at least until, someday, Zvezda come out with one (they've already come out with the single-seater, and straight-winged two-seater in that scale). Best Regards, Jasone

I think I know who're you're talking about, and that chap was wrong - the Tamiya Il-2, both in 1/72nd and 1/48th scales are excellent representations of a late-war Il-2. Best Regards, Jason

Good - the Vector part is much better. Strangely enough, even though it's not as good as some other Il-2 kits, the Toko Il-2s have a very good spinner and propellers. Best Regards, Jason

I'd say that grey looks usable. Best Regards, Jason

A-14 Steel Grey is similar to the American Neutral Gray [sic] to my eyes. It is a dead-grey (no green nor blue) medium colour. However, it appears from photographs that the instrument panel was painted in a lighter grey. I've used Model Master Light Gray for it, and it looks good to my eyes. Too bad Model Master is pretty much dead, as least as far as enamels. Best Regards, Jason

It's been a while since I've seen that - thank you for posting! That has some nice footage of the Il-2s. You can see the huge flash from those 23-mm cannons. Best Regards, Jason

Massimo's site is the best English-language site for all GPW aircraft. I'm sure he goes into more detail on the very early Il-2s with the metal rear fuselages than I do, even in my book. Best of luck on your Il-2, and please post pictures! Best Regards, Jason

Thank you for buying the book! I'm attempting that conversion myself with the Academy kit. I want to build it as a semi-derelict Barbarossa 'victim' with the spinner missing. Your best bet for exactly how the guns differed (20-mm inboard, 7.62-mm outboard) would be to consult Massimo's site. I wonder if he's still having trouble with it. If you can't access the site, I believe there is a three-view profile of the metal-fuselaged single-seater in my book.* This should help with the placement of the guns and the different panels. Best Regards, Jason *I just checked. There is such a profile.

Yes, the pilot's cockpit was essentially unchanged throughout production. I know there were some minor changes, but nothing major. I don't know if the Eduard instrument panel is pre-coloured, but the colour should be a light grey. Best Regards, Jason

Welcome indeed to the site from a one-time Houstonian (22 years)! Enjoy your stay, and if you ever need help with WWII Soviet aircraft, I know a bit. Best Regards, Jason

Very nice indeed! Good show! Regards, Jason

Very nice! This and the PR.19 are probably my favourite Spitfire Family variants. Regards, Jason

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off as condescending or 'arguing from authority'. Sometimes all we have to go on are photographs, with little or no description for them. In this case, as I understand it, these were just some of the hundreds of Il-2s the Soviets had assembled for their short war on the Japanese forces in Manchuria. Once the war was over, as the Il-2 was to be replaced by the Il-10, there wasn't much need to bring all the Il-2s back west, so the Soviets gave some of them to the Mongolians. These would have been bog-standard Il-2 arrows (with the swept-back wings). As bog-standard Il-2s they would have had the rudder balance, which must have been important items as I've never seen a clear photograph of an Il-2 with them not appearing. That in essence was my reason in stating so 'authoritatively' that these Mongolian Il-2s must have had the rudder balances. I hope this helps! Best Regards, Jason

No. That's just a poor-quality photograph. You can just barely see the antenna mast above the cockpit. Believe me, all the Il-2s had the rudder balance. I wrote an entire book on the Il-2, so I'm reasonably knowledgeable about them. Best Regards, Jason

Nice work on your Il-2, but you do really need that fiddly bit on top of the rudder. It was the rudder balance and was present on ALL Il-2s. Regards, Jason

The one that riles me up is 'unpack' when 'discuss' would do just as well if not better. 'Let's unpack that.' instead of 'Let's discuss that.'. If you're not talking about a suitcase and you use the word 'unpack', the only thing I want to do is unpack my fist on your nose! The other one that makes me grind my teeth is 'trope' when what people mean is 'cliche'. Yes, I know that 'cliche' should have an accent, I just don't know how to add one. Best Regards, Jason - Author/Writer/Grouchy Old Pedant - 'Get off my lawn!'

That does look nice! I'm old enough to remember buying Frog kits when they were new. I miss Frog... Regards, Jason

Excellent job on those La-7s! I really don't know why the La-7 doesn't have more fame. Yes, it appeared fairly late in the war (the middle of 1944), but it saw a great deal of fighting, it was an excellent fighter, especially at low altitudes, and a fine-looking aeroplane in my opinion. In addition, some aircraft were quite colourful, with the red noses and red and white markings on the tail. Regards, Jason

Beautiful work on that Chaika! A kit I've always wanted to get - nice to know it's a good kit. Regards, Jason