AIRFIX 1/72 ILYUSHIN IL-28 BEAGLE

[adey m]

AIRFIX first released this model in 1968. I received one for my tenth birthday. I remember that one of the fuselage halves was warped but I managed to build it and had fun flying it on long-range patrols around the playing field in front of our house.

 

About twenty five years later I decided to have another go with an original 1960s one that I had in my collection. Unlike my first one this one was moulded perfectly in a silver grey plastic.

 

I scratchbuilt the pilot and navigators' cockpits and added detail to the rear gunners position. 

 

I hacksawed the canopy  so I could pose it open or closed. I enabled the gunner's access hatch to open and close by the use of small brass pins.

 

I sprayed the finished model with Halfords Acrylic Grey Primer and then Halfords Acrylic Aluminium. Everything else was brush painted with Humbrol enamels.

 

I cannot remember if I used the AIRFIX decals but the aircraft depicted is a Polish Air Force example from the 1950s/1960s.

 

 

The original 1968 box like the one I built.

 

 

Those wonderful educational 1960s instructions that explained what everything was and where it went. As you can see the interior was quite sparse.

 

 

Quite basic colour schemes ........  but three to choose from.

 

 

Scratchbuilt gound equipment. Figures adapted from AIRFIX German figures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my AIRFIX Ilyushin IL-28.

 

cheers,  adey

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Convair]

Almost ready for a mission (judging by the gentlemen still checking the plane). Very good model with very good scratchbuilt details added. Congratulations! 

[polo1112]

Great work on a rarely seen aircraft.

Congratulations.

[Antti_K]

Fantastic work Adey! You have done excellent job with this classic. What a beautiful Nikita. I built one of theseas kid; maybe I was 10 also...

This kit received much criticism here in Finland but now when I'm looking at it, it is light years better than the Italeri/Bilek/... offering. Much better in overall shape. I need to find one of these!

We had "more than three but less than five" of these at our air force. During my type rating course the aircraft was still classified as "Secret"; not because of it's "state of the art" technology but because of the trade contract between Finnish government and the Soviet Union. Actually the radar and camera equipment were very good; we didn't get nearly as good radars for Learjets that re-placed Il-28s. Nikita was an aircraft that you couldn't fly solo. After engine start-up only the navigator could switch on the generators. Then using a screwdriver you set the voltage to required level. The electrical panel was located on the starboard wall in the navigator's compartment. Oh, I guess I could talk hours about these airplanes

 

Kind Regards,

Antti

 

 

[celt]

Well done on getting a great result from this kit,I have tried at least three times,each time the aircraft hit the wall.Well tidy mun.

[Unfinished project]

That is very nice sir. I’m loving what can be done with these old Airfix kits 👏👏👏

[modelling minion]

Great job on a very old kit, very nice scratch building.

Well done.

[opus999]

What a great subject and expertly executed! I love the little details, like the color on the inside of the canopy frames. The diorama is a superb addition too.  Great job!

[ColinChipmunkfan]

Great job Adey, also remember this kit arriving on the scene. Brings  the cold war back to life,

[MartinSK]

Very nice and clean build! And great selection of the subject.

[Hairtrigger]

Really splendid piece of work.

[Sairou]

Excellent job on this. Makes me want to build some Soviet planes in Chinese markings.

[SimonR]

Lovely build Adey, I built this kit sometime in the early 80's and alway have a soft spot for the Beagle!

 

Cheers

Simon

[stevej60]

Now there's a kit you don't often see built here,great job Adey.

[Rabbit Leader]

Yet another plastic classic, beautifully modelled and photographed to remind us all to never discount these old kits. Like others here, I’ve always liked the look of this aircraft which I seem to somehow compare to the British Canberra. 

 

I know nought about this kit and it’s interesting to read that the Airfix mould is considered more accurate than the later Italeri offering by some members. 

 

Now I really don’t need to increase my large stash with Russian subjects however this model looks too good to not spend a day or two researching the subject and inevitably start those ‘I want one’ voices in my head! 

 

Cheers and thanks.. Dave 

[Brandy]

Beautifully done. A real gem, and a great example of what can be done with some of these old Airfix kits. The instruction sheet definitely brought back memories.....

 

Ian

[FAAMAN]

Excellent work, great to see an Airfix 'oldie' treated so well, congrats on a fine dio and details

Not ever had one of these, 'spose I should remedy that. Builds of this quality make my wallet (and the other half) groan

[JWM]

Very nice build. I've some of  them in air few times...

Regards

J-W

 

[adey m]

A FEW MORE PHOTOS OF THE BEAGLE

 

I posted these photos on the Airfix Tribute Forum a number of years ago and they show the Beagle with wing tip tanks fitted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankyou guys for your very kind comments.

 

adey

 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2018 by adey m

[Bonehammer]

13 hours ago, Antti_K said:

Nikita was an aircraft that you couldn't fly solo. After engine start-up only the navigator could switch on the generators. Then using a screwdriver you set the voltage to required level. The electrical panel was located on the starboard wall in the navigator's compartment.

I'm wondering if it was just an engineering glitch, or a measure to prevent defection flights?

Personally I feel that the Airfix air intakes are oversized and like the look of the Bilek/Trumpeter kit better.

The model however is flawlessly finished and the staged pictures remind me of the "officially released" images of the 70's. I like how the aircraft is silver, rather than NMF.

[Meatbox8]

That must have caused some consternation when on finals at RAF Scarborough!  A great looking Beagle and the figures and tow bar etc really enhance the model.  I think I'll have to get my hands on some Halfords Aluminium as it looks perfect for HSS.  I remember wanting this kit as a kid in the 70s but it never seemed to be available in any of the model shops (yes, shops - plural) in my area.  Airfix seemed to be the only manufacturer who made Soviet types in those days and there was a real mystique about Russian aircraft then. 

[Ryan Hothersall]

A very nice build. 

[Eric Mc]

That is very nice. I like it when a very pleasing result can be obtained using kits which are, metaphorically speaking, from the Bronze Age (if not the Stone Age) of the plastic kit industry.

[Vinnie]

Some very nice modelling there, Adey. Well done.

[F-32]

That really is very nice indeed!