Tupolev 1/144 Il-96-300 'Airbus' Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | 1998 | Manufacturer | Tupolev |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Ilyushin Il-96-300 'Airbus' | Scale | 1/144 |
| Kit Number | Primary Media | Styrene | |
| Pros | First release of this subject | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
A new modeling presence has emerged from Russia - Tupolev! The Tupolev Aviation Corporation has released four models so far: the Tupolev ANT-25 in 1/72, the Tupolev Tu-154 in 1/200, the Tupolev Tu-334 in 1/144, and the subject of this review - the Ilyushin Il-96-300. This is a little interesting, folks, as this is the same as if Lockheed-Martin were to get into the model making business and start producing Boeing aircraft.
The example I have is an interesting kit. The box claims to have 22 parts, though I count 28. The detail is beautiful in its simplicity, and the details present are finely scribed into the plastic.
As the Il-96 is a four-engined machine, each engine comprises four parts. The winglets are molded seperately, so it should be possible to back-date this aircraft to an Il-86 with minimal effort. The kit does not include landing gear, and a stand is provided for displaying the final product. The decals provided are for 'Rossiya', and markings are included for the windscreen, windows, doorways, and other details.
Now I wonder if we could persuade Tupolev to do a few Antonov machines, a nice An-124 and/or An-225 for example.