Hobby Boss 1/72 Tu-2 Bomber Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | July 2013 | Manufacturer | Hobby Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Tu-2 Bomber | Scale | 1/72 |
| Kit Number | 80298 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Nice details, fast assembly | Cons | None |
| Skill Level | Beginner | MSRP (USD) | $17.99 |
First Look
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I'm getting addicted to these HobbyBoss Easy Assembly kits. You've seen several quick builds of these kits here on Cybermodeler Online and each one has been a fun project. I have no doubts this kit will inadvertantly find its way onto the bench as well.
This kit represents the Tupolev Tu-2 high speed bomber which entered service in 1941 and remained in production after the war. The aircraft was versatile as it was not only an effective bomber, it was also developed into a torpedo bomber, interceptor, and reconnaissance platform. The aircraft was widely employed during World War II and a number of surplus aircraft were provided to the fledgling PLAAF. The aircraft remained in Soviet Air Force service and received the NATO codename Bat.
This kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on two parts trees plus the upper fuselage/wing half, the lower fuselage/wing half and two lower cowling fairings. One tree with the transparencies rounds out this kit. You can see that this too will be a quick and easy project.
Markings are provided for two examples in Soviet wartime service.
This is another nice release from HobbyBoss with an interesting subject and will be a good platform to try out some new Soviet Air Force color matches from our upcoming online reference.
My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!