Hello:
This is my first post at this forum. After few years break I'm coming back with new colour profiles and scale plans. Here are my newest project Il 2; Il 2m3.
For now two models; with wooden fuselage and so called "strielka". My break was very long so I'm waiting for Your opinion. Thanks a lot Simon for anounce me this forum!
Welcome here at Simmers! Have to agree with Peter, the reflections on the propellers is a little bit too strong. Alos I'm not sure about the shadows from the wing on the undercarriage-cover and tail fuselage.
Rest looks fine to me!
You've got an interesting style! I agree with the preceding comments, especially about the shadows, which should not be as curved IMO. Aside from that, it's good work and an interesting subject!
You will want to start your work on the Il-2 by reviewing your sources of information. Most such information available on Soviet aviation is terribly dated, and very much incorrect. Happily for you, your fellow countrymen Michulec and Wrobel have produced a very good volume on the Il-2, "Monografie Lotnicze #22". You will not struggle with the Polish text (!), so this can be your main reference.
You will quickly begin to distinguish between better and lesser sources. For example, any work which refers to these ridiculous nomenclatures such as "Il-2m3", or "-M", or such like can be ignored at once. All Il-2s are named "Il-2", regardless of type, except a few with specific role functions (such as the Il-2KR artillery spotter).
I would have few major complaints with Michulec's work, save for one point: he refers to so strelkoi ('arrow') machines with a metal fuselage; in fact there were no such models. Only the earliest single-seat models ever had metal fuselages.
You will also find that lesser sources are equally errant with regards to colouration and markings. I suspect this will come as no surprise. It is a topic for much greater discussion once you are ready.
If your Russian is useful you can seek out Perov and Rastrenin's Aviatsia i Kosmonavtika article on the Il-2. This is the most comprehensive and accurate description of the programme ever published, and is quite detailed.
Thanks for comments. Blades of propeller are really too brightness, I'll do all necessary adjustments. Shadows on the wheels are to discussion, because it's not only "real" view but graphics.
As I know and have reference materials to this aircraft - late models had both: metal and wooden wings. Look at these photos:
one of late model is on exhibition at Polish MWP - I saw this model: (source airliners.net).
You are correct to state that so strelkoi models had both wooden and metal wings. Surpringly, in fact, the majority had metal. But, metal fuselages-- no. There were no such units on later Il-2s.
The fuselage on the Polish museum example you have shown is just a locally made unit to replace the original fuselage when it detriorated. You can understand that no wooden structure is going to survive outside in a European climate for 70 years! A very similar unit was applied to the Yugoslav Air Museum's Il-2 for the same reason. Although I am sure this was done in each case with the best of intentions, alas, the lack of a sign explaining what was done with these bogus structures have, indeed, been fooling poeple for years.