{"product_id":"hobbyboss-plastic-model-kit-petlyakov-pe-2-bomber-1-72","title":"Hobbyboss Plastic Model Kit Petlyakov Pe-2 Bomber — 1:72","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHobby Boss is a Chinese manufacturer of injection-moulded scale models. Kit 80296 forms part of its compact 1:72 aircraft range, alongside subjects such as the Bf 110, Do 335 and Ju 88. The kit was released in July 2013 and uses newly tooled parts for the Pe-2.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit contains more than 30 plastic parts on three sprues, plus four clear parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fuselage halves\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Main wings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Twin-engine nacelles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tailplane and twin fins\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cockpit\/interior components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Propellers and engine fronts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Retractable landing gear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Wheel and undercarriage components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Transparent canopy and glazing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Clear parts for the aircraft's windows\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decal sheet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Assembly instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe completed model measures approximately 174.6 mm long with a 237.6 mm wingspan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePaint and modelling adhesive are not included and need to be purchased separately.\n\u003cbr\u003eHistory of the full-size aircraft\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Petlyakov Pe-2 was one of the Soviet Union's most important combat aircraft of the Second World War. It was designed initially from the VI-100 high-altitude fighter project, developed under the direction of aircraft designer Vladimir Petlyakov.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe design was subsequently redesigned into the PB-100, a two-engine bomber, and eventually entered production as the Pe-2. The prototype flew in December 1940, with series production beginning in 1941.\n\u003cbr\u003eDesign\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 was a relatively compact, all-metal, twin-engine aircraft with a low-mounted wing and distinctive twin tail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts original purpose was as a fast dive bomber. The aircraft's relatively clean aerodynamic design allowed it to achieve considerably higher speeds than many contemporary conventional bombers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 could therefore perform several missions, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Dive bombing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Level bombing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Ground attack\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Reconnaissance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Heavy fighter operations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Night fighting\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis versatility contributed to its exceptionally long and important wartime career.\n\u003cbr\u003eEngines\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 was powered by two Klimov VK-105 liquid-cooled V-12 engines in its principal production versions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe engines were installed in streamlined nacelles beneath the wings and drove three-bladed propellers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe relatively powerful engines combined with the aircraft's clean airframe gave the Pe-2 a useful combination of speed, manoeuvrability and bomb-carrying capability.\n\u003cbr\u003eDive-bombing capability\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the Pe-2's defining features was its ability to conduct steep dive attacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDive bombing allowed crews to deliver bombs with substantially greater accuracy against tactical targets than conventional level bombing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft incorporated dive brakes to control its speed during the attack. After releasing its bombs, the pilot could recover the aircraft and accelerate away from the target.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis made the Pe-2 particularly useful against bridges, artillery positions, troop concentrations, railway targets and other battlefield objectives.\n\u003cbr\u003eArmament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2's defensive and offensive armament evolved throughout production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDepending on the particular production series, armament could include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Machine guns in the nose\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Flexible defensive machine guns\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Rear-firing armament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Bombs carried internally and externally\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft's armament and armour were progressively improved as Soviet experience with the type accumulated.\n\u003cbr\u003ePerformance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpecifications varied considerably between Pe-2 production versions, but representative figures for the aircraft include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Crew: normally 3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engines: 2 × Klimov VK-105\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Role: Dive bomber \/ tactical bomber\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Configuration: Twin-engine, low-wing monoplane\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tail: Twin-fin\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Construction: Mainly metal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Maximum speed: approximately 540 km\/h, depending on variant and altitude\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 was particularly valued for its combination of speed and bomb-carrying capability.\n\u003cbr\u003eProduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 was produced on a very large scale. Approximately 11,400 aircraft were manufactured during the Second World War, making it one of the most numerous Soviet bomber types of the conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eProduction continued throughout the war as the design was repeatedly improved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft became one of the principal tactical bombers of the Soviet VVS, operating alongside types such as the Il-2 Shturmovik and Tu-2.\n\u003cbr\u003eCombat service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePe-2 units operated extensively on the Eastern Front.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft participated in virtually every major stage of the Soviet-German war, from the early defensive battles of 1941 through the Soviet offensives that eventually carried the Red Army into Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts speed and relatively small size helped make it a difficult target for German fighters, while its dive-bombing capability allowed it to deliver accurate attacks against tactical targets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 was also employed for reconnaissance and other specialist missions.\n\u003cbr\u003eLater development and variants\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 underwent numerous improvements during production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChanges included:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Improved engines\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Revised cockpit arrangements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Increased armour\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Improved defensive armament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Modified bomb-carrying arrangements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Better pilot visibility\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Revised aerodynamic details\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere were also specialised reconnaissance and fighter versions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe type remained an important Soviet combat aircraft until the end of the war.\n\u003cbr\u003ePost-war history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePe-2s continued to be operated after 1945 by the Soviet Union and several other countries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft was exported to a number of Eastern European states, where it remained in service during the early post-war period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts post-war career was comparatively short as newer Soviet bomber designs became available, but the Pe-2 had already established itself as one of the most important Soviet aircraft of the Second World War.\n\u003cbr\u003eHistorical significance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pe-2 is particularly significant because it combined characteristics normally associated with several different aircraft categories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt was:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fast enough to operate as a fighter-like tactical aircraft\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Strong enough for dive bombing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Capable of carrying a useful bomb load\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Adaptable to reconnaissance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Produced in very large numbers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts production total of around 11,400 aircraft demonstrates the scale of its importance to Soviet wartime aviation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobbyboss","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504170279292,"sku":"Hobbyboss-80296","price":12.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/hobbyboss-plastic-model-kit-petlyakov-pe-2-bomber-1-72","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}