Sovietwarplanes

Hi,
I'm rewriting the page on Il-2m and I've uploaded a provisional version here.

http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-camo.htm (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-camo.htm)

In the new page, I've connected the peculiarities of the planes with the factories where they were produced.
If it's easy for the early black-green planes, it's much more difficult for later planes with the post-1943 camouflage.
I'm following this idea:
Il-2s built by Z.30 had very large stars and long fairing for the tail wheel, and wooden wings (as Il-37 that were built by this factory);
planes of zavod 1 had medium sized stars, thin fairing, wooden wings, sharp camo made by mask (at least on their wings) (as IL-2KR that were made by this factory);
planes of z.18 had smaller stars, camouflage with more linear and soft lines, metallic wings.
The differences should be followed by Il-2M of 1944 too.

Who can give some contribution to this research?

Regards
Massimo

Great idea about the factories, Massimo!  Best of luck!  I'll PM you my ideas.

Best Regards,

Jason

Hi Jason,
the idea is good, but I am not sure of present conclusions.
It would be important to know if the code 12438 of the plane preserved in Prague-Kbely is real and complete. I deducted that it was built in Zavod 1 (the first number of the code) but now I see that other Czech planes were built in Z.18 and coded 18882116 and 18894113. So, now I suspect that large stars and long tail wheel fairing could be characteristic of Z18, not Z.30.
Besides now I see that many Il2-37, supposedly built in z.30, have relatively small stars as I supposed of planes of z.18. To know where the plane of Prague was built would be the key for an eventual correction of the theory.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
I have to change the previous statements on post august 1943 Il-2s.
Planes of Z.30 are those with small stars, blurried camo on the wings, thin tail wheel fairing (as the Il2-37 that were built there).
Planes of Z.1 have medium to large stars, long tail wheel fairing, sharp curved camo on wings (as Il-2KR that were fortemost built there).
Planes of Z.18 have medium to large stars, blurried camo on the wings, short fairing, always metal wings.
So, unfortunately the size of stars isn't enough to distinguish planes of z.1 from those of z.18.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
I've updated the page.
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-camo.htm (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-camo.htm)
I want to add new color drawings, so probably I'll break it in two, the first part on pre-August planes (black-green), the second one on post-August (three shades).
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
I've splitted the page into early Il-2M, late Il-2M and Il-2M3. They all are accessible from http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il-2.htm (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il-2.htm).
I think that there is still something to do, there are cases of uncertain attributions etc, I'll try to clarify the thing. I'll start to trace and upload color drawings as soon as the text will be stabilized.
Please, let me know any comment.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
I've updated the page again. In the meanwhile, here is n.14:

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/14a.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-al-3view-prof-puzzle14.jpg)
Regards
Massimo

Interesting patterns on the port wing - probably from repairs.

Regards,

Jason

Hi Jason,
yes, the rear fuselage is repainted too. This plane probably was painted as from manual when new, then had to be repaired. The photo is surely of 1944, because one of the fellows planes has an arrow wing.
Perhaps the number has to be a bit more fat, don't you think?
The drawing is available for the book, if you want it.
Regards
Massimo

Massimo, I agree that the number should be larger, and it would make a fine addition to the book.  I think a straight-winged two-seater that might be worth a second look is "White 24", the AVMF Il-2 which also looks like it was extensively repainted (including possibly a replacement rear fuselage).  You might give that one a shot and I can give you my opinions on it.

Regards,

Jason

Ok Jason, I'll correct this 14; now I see that it has a narrow star on the tail, probably the rudder was replaced with one with a star centered in slightly different way.
I'll trace a drawing of 24, I've avoided it till now because I know that there are two different interpretations of it.
I am dealing with the camouflage of the planes built in Zavod 18 after August 1943, it is very different from that of other factories, disordered and lowly contrasted.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/66-17.jpg)
This image is famous, but let a lot of doubts. Compare the camo of the plane behind, certainly from another factory.... 66-17 is so lowly contrasted that it could even seem uniform. I can suppose that they sprayed a base color, then oversprayed other colors in a very thin layer.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/26-il2brok.jpg)
Another example with metal wing, typical of z.18. It's certainly camouflaged, but pattern and colors are unrecognizable.

Regards
Massimo

I gave your new page to a fellow I know who can do skins for an online game I play.
He liked the Polish aircraft here is the link.



http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,340106.0.html

Hi,
here is an attempt to reproduce the plane numbered 66/17.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-am-3view-late66-17-heart.jpg)
Unfortunately the camo is all but clear. To explain the low contrast, I can suppose that the painting practise of Z-18 considered a very thin layer of grey and brown on the green background.
Regards
Massimo

Thank you for the link, BB!  That's a very nice skin - good colours, and he properly "beat up" the port wingroot with the weathering.  Too bad it's not for Wings of Prey; that's the simulator I mainly play now (and I'm looking forward to the successor game, War Thunder).  Wings of Prey has beautiful, almost photo-realistic graphics, but the colours are incorrect on some of the Soviet aircraft, notably, the Shturmovik.  I may get in touch with this gentleman and see if he would do skins for Wings of Prey.  Of course I wouldn't mind helping him out with his skins for Aces High.

Best Regards,

Jason

Nice thing, I see that my profiles have already been useful to someone.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
here is white 26, the same of the photo above. I find it very attractive because of the markings. This time the camo is more recognizable.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-am-3view-26-z18.jpg)
Regards
Massimo

This airplane belonged to HSU Titovich, an interview with whom is available on this site.

Thank you Oleg.
Massimo

Hi,
An Il-2M of early type probably photographed after August 1943. What can be seen of the camouflage looks of Zavod 18, but the position of the stars is a bit unusual for this factory.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/12strange.jpg)
It features:

replacing of the rudder with one of a later type with different painting;
multiple repaintings of the stars on the tail and fuselage;
a field-shortened 'tunnel' canopy to allow a greater field of defensive fire.


(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-am-3view-z18-strange12.jpg)

Regards
Massimo

That's an interesting one, Massimo.  Maybe one for the book?

Regards,

Jason

Any idea as to what unit white 26 belonged to?

Hi Jason,
I've sent the drawings of n.12 for the book.
Hi Barneybolac,
yes, it's the same unit of Emelyanenko. Here is all what I know on it.
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/26/26.html (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/26/26.html)
Regards
Massimo

By the way, I've changed the drawing of 26 after having found new photos of it. The base camo is black-green , the overpaintings are questionable. If one wants, he can paint the plane with black and green only, leaving  pre-august 1943 stars with thin white outline.
Regards
Massimo

Hi, here is another Il-2M.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/14flywinter.jpg)
This late type Il-2M shows the typical tail wheel fairing of Zavod 1. The short radio mast identifies the plane as a straight-wing one built in late summer/fall 1943. The photo was probably taken in spring 1944.

The plane still bears white winter finish on the tail, central fuselage and possibly wings. A white 14 is visible on the tail stabilizer, in an unpainted rectangle. The base camo looks the first one, with a brown band amid the nose. The spinner looks of a medium shade, possibly blue.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-14flywinter.jpg)

Another good one, Massimo!  One for the book, I should think.  By the way, I now have the 1/72nd scale Academy (never released Accurate Miniatures) straight-winged two-seater.  It was released a little earlier than it was supposed to be, probably because of Tamiya and Hobby Boss' imminent releases (even thought their releases will be arrows).  I'll probably do a short review of it as another topic.

Regards,

Jason

Very well Jason, I'll send the hi-res drawing soon. This is interesting because it's one of the few ones with later camo and partial winter finish.
I'm interested to know something on the Academy kit and to buy it, I prefer by much straight-wingers because of their wider possibilties of camo.
Regards
Massimo

O yes I like that one white 14. :D
Maybe make another Il-2? ::)

You can't have too many Il-2's, Michel!

Regards,

Jason

Hi,
here is another one.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/arrowx1.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/arrowwingup.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/arrowtailup.jpg)

Il-2M with an interesting arrow emblem on both the sides of the fuselage.

The plane bears the typical green-black camo of Zavod 1. Note the unusual rear canopy, of cutten' type; it's unclear if this was made in the factory or on the field.

A white cap is visible on the tail, but a hole in the fabric skinning of the rudder could hide an unknown bort number.

The spinner looks to have some color variations, perhaps a thin red line on its rear.

The photos were taken in Belgrod in July 1943.


(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-fl-al-3view-whitearrow.jpg)

This plane bears some resemblances with the recently drawn profile of 12: perhaps that one should be adapted to match a plane of Zavod 1 with wooden wings as this one.
Regards
Massimo

White lightning was 800 shap regimental marking, so this Il-2 may have belonged to this unit.  Strange element is white tail tip - 800 shap planes didn't have white tail tips???
Tail may have originated from an Il-2 that belonged to other regiment...

HTH,
KL

That white lightning looks like the marking on the starboard side of the fuselage of the (in)famous "White 24".  White 24 was with the 8th GvSHAP, Black Sea Fleet, I believe.

Regards,

Jason

Belgorod should be close to Kursk, and the date looks compatible with the famous battle. was 800th ShAP utilized in that battle?
Regards
Massimo

Yes it was, check here http://www.allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi/sssr/struct/p/shap800.dat

За боевые отличия, стойкость и массовый героизм личного состава, проявленные в Курской битве и в сражениях на Правобережной Украине, Приказом НКО СССР No. 016 от 05.02.44 г. преобразован в 144 гшап

HTH,
KL

Thank you. Are there other known photos of planes of this unit with these marks in 1942/43? I've only photos of planes with similar marks in 1944/45.
Regards
Massimo

No, I couldn't find any 800th shap Il-2 photos from 1943...  :-\

This particular regiment had changed name twice during the GPW:  it started war as 226th sbap with Su-2s

(http://forums.airforce.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=22557&d=1265811518)

In 1942 226 sbap was reformed and renumbered as 800 shap.  In October 1942 first UBT armed Il-2 twoseaters made at Zavod 30 were tested by 800 shap.  First combat use of series UBT armed Il-2s occured on Oct 30, 1942.
In 1944, 800 shap was promoted to Guards 144th gshap.  144th gshap continued to use lightning as regimental marking:

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il26.jpg)

(http://s018.radikal.ru/i517/1202/2d/55afeea70abe.jpg)

(http://i066.radikal.ru/1206/b3/dc62ad9eb896.jpg)

HTH,
KL


 

Hi Konstantin, that's interesting. Thank you for the answer.
The last photo of the post is not visible.
The photo of the pilot is interesting because shows a straight winger of late 1943, probably with three shades camo, but unfortunately it's by far unsufficient for a profile.
Regards
Massimo

Another one.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/18banded.jpg)
This plane seems to show the characteristic livery of planes built in Zavod 1 (see below) on its rudder. The plane is probably photographed in mid 1943, and has wooden wings as all those built in Zavod 1 at this time.
The number 18 is overposed to a light band of unknown color, certainly an unit marking. Besides a small red (?) cap with white outline looks visible on the rudder.
The trim fences of the rudder and elevators are painted white.
The plane is certainly an Il-2M because the rear UBT is clearly visible, but the German soldiers cover the canopy; it seems that the rear section was removed to allow a greater field of fire.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-fl-al-3view-18banded.jpg)
Jason, do you want it for the book?
Regards
Massimo

Yes, Massimo; I like the tail markings.

Regards,

Jason

@Jason
Massimo has given you many profiles. :D
Your book is almost an encyclopedia. ;D

Michel, that's kind of the idea - to have a book that can serve as a single reference for Shturmovik modellers.  At least I hope!  And yes, Massimo has given me many very nice profiles!  If nothing else, my book will have lots of nice profiles.

Regards,

Jason

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/15striped1.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/15striped2.jpg)
Those planes share a connon unit mark well visible on the tail of n.15.

This plane shows the typicaltail wheel fairing of planes built in Zavod 1, characterized by wooden wings and a sharp and well contrasted camo on the rear fuselage, tail and wings.

The photo below suggest that the plane is a late production straight-winged one.

The spinner, differently than the one of the closer plane, looks black and white. Perhaps plane n.15 had small stars on the front of the engine nacelles as for the closer plane.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-al-3view-prof-obliqueband15.jpg)
Regards
Massimo

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il2-17.jpg)

Another line of late type Il-2M with 'small' stars, presumably built by Z.30 with wooden wing consoles.
The long radio mast suggests that the planes were built in fall 1943. The date of the photo is unknown.
The image shows that the first and third planes wear the 1st pattern of August 1943, while the second and fourth plane wear the second variant of the camouflage.
Plane n. double 17 has a leather/tissue boot on its tail wheel, supporting the idea that it was built by Z.30.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-al-3view-z30-double17.jpg)

Regards
Massimo

Hi,
I've added many works during last months.
Jason, I'll send to you the high resolution new and updated files when you want.

Here is a revision of a previous one, thanks to inputs from Vitaliy Timoshenko.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-suvorov.jpg)
Better screenshots

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/suvorov2.jpg)

Four screenshots of the takeoff of an Il-2M flown by Vasilin Ivan, the regimental commander of 617th ShAP. The plane is entitled to Suvorov, the great Russian strategist of the 19th century. The plane is clearly a straight-winger with short radio mast and the post-August camouflage and markings. The images are probably of the late summer/fall of 1943.

On the background, we see a later model with the higher radio mast (800 mm instead of 350) introduced into production around September or October 1943.

The fingernail shape of the fairing of the tail wheel is noteworty; after the summer 1943, it became characteristic of the planes built in Zavod 1. The most part of the planes visible in a video of this unit look of Z.1 also because of the very large stars.

The colors of the cap on the tail and of the spinner are reported by veterans:

orange tail cap (and, probably, rear part of the spinner) as standard for 617th ShAP;
1st Squadron - red spinner tip
2nd squadron- ???
3rd Squadron - yellow spinner tip.
Note the light brown repainting at the base of the stabilizer, common to many planes of the unit; they could be due to the deletion of a previous marking.

Lacking of bort numbers, it is likely that the inscription was painted on both sides to make the commander's plane more recognizable.

Regards
Massimo

Massimo, that's a very interesting profile, especially with the orange markings. And yes, I would like a copy of any new Il-2 profiles you've done. Thank you!

Regards,

Jason

Hi Massimo,
very attractive camouflage, especially that orange color. What it was?
Or. (oranzhevyi) Nitrocellulosic lacquer from 1940 (Marking and livery colors) or MV-3, MV-4 for inscriptions on engines (Interior colors) or custom mix of A-6 gloss yellow oil enamel for fuel tanks and pipes and A-13 gloss red oil enamel for inert gas and fire extinguishers (both also Interior colors)?

    66misos

Hi Jason,
I'll keep you updated soon.
Hi Misos,
I can make your same hypothesis, but I can't know. I am more for a mix.

Many planes of the same unit appear on some videos; I've made some screeenshots.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/suvorov617shap.jpg)

Another plane of the same unit (I enclose the profile only, the 3 view drawing is linked)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-617shap2-p.jpg)
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-617shap2.jpg (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-617shap2.jpg)

I'm thinking to make still one or two profiles from this unit.

Regards
Massimo

Hi, here is another one.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/61.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-61.jpg)
Il-2M White 61 of 568 ShAP presumably in fall 1943 or spring 1944.

The plane looks to have some characteristics of the planes built in Zavod 30 in the first half of 1943, as the black green camouflage, the 20 mm ShVAK guns at the wings and the tunnel canopy, aside other characteristics introduced in late summer or fall 1943: white-red outlined stars (very large) and tall radio mast, probably due to some repair.
There are traces of repainting on the nose, rear fuselage and tail, perhaps with the use of light brown paint too. The unit is said to have worn a white band on the rear fuselage for some time, and this could justify the repainting.
An interesting characteristic is the outline along the fin's edge; according to a veteran, it should be red, shining on the photo; the observation of other photos of planes of the same unit seems to suggest a lighter shade than the star, but it's uncertain.
Other planes of the unit show the later type camouflage and spinners with a lighter front, possibly red.
Image via Vitaliy Timoshenko.

Regards
Massimo

Hi Massimo,
what happens with the veterans ? you had at the same time color descriptions by three different veterans (the orange tail, the blue light
tactical number, ant this one)

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il2-1942/il2-sp-fl-al-3view-avenge.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-61.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-617shap2-p.jpg)

. Did you find a veterans interview website? or did Timoshenko gives you those testimony ?

As I tolf you in the other topic (il-2 of 1942), I don't say they are not true but too of them are quite inusual so we have to take care with them and try to study all the possibility...

for the red tail one , in the picture, it look very shiny, and without the testimony I would have say silver...

Xan

Hi Xan,
Tora is very interested to Il-2 (only this, seems) and has collected lots of photos and interviews from many sources. Unfortunately some of the photo are not his own or are unpublished, so he aked me not to show. About the informations, he told that are from veterans. He doesn't write English fluently so the informations are in telegraphic form. I can try to ask more . If you want, you can try to contact him via Scalemodels.ru.
I think that these informations are reliable.
I would have say white, but he showed some photos of other planes of this unit and a brief video. The video is certainly of public domain, I can send it. For the other photos, I can ask.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
Vitaliy has rectified the identification of this unit. It is 801 ShAP. All the considerations about red are vain: the color is unknown. It looks silver, and I've redrawn it this way.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
further modification. According to Vitaliy, the regimental color on the tail is probably yellow, while the front of the spinner changes according to the squadron;
1st: red
2nd: blue (dark, a9?)
3rd: white or yellow (discordances between what said by different veterans).
The profile was modified with a dark blue nose.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/aleksenko07a.jpg)
The plane of Vladimir Abramovich Aleksenko, squadron commander, and later regiment commander, of 15 Gv.ShAP, Leningrad/Baltic area. The photo is thought to be of fall 1943 or summer/spring 1944.

http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=252 (http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=252)

 The photo shows a lion painted in white on the left side of the fin, and a thin white band around the fuselage, probably with thin red outlines. Something white, possibly the bort numbers, is vaguely visible between the men.
According to a Russian reconstruction, the plane was numbered white 07 and had a silver painted spinner.
Unfortunately it's not known from which factory the plane came from. I've supposed it is Z.18, but it could also be Z.30.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/aleksenko07b.jpg)

Here is the pilot with the lion painted in colors on the right side of the fin. Seems that the lion is attacking a prey, that appears as an ill-defined blotch (or perhaps it's only a repair).
Thanks to Vitaliy Timoshenko for the informations.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-am-3-lion07.jpg)

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/09deryabin.jpg)

Plane 09 of pilot Deryabin of 15 Gv.ShAP. This is thought to be similar to the one of Aleksenko.
No lions here, but both the white band and the number 09 on the fuselage look to have a thin red outline.
Note the impressive damage to the elevators.

Regards
Massimo

 

Hi all,
here is a new profile. One of the last Il-2s from me I think before passing to some other subject.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/21tailband.jpg)
Interesting image of plane 'red (?) 21". The size and style of the stars identify it as a plane built in Z.30 in late 1943. The wing can be recognized as a damaged and deformed straight wooden wing.

The divided ammo hatches have created the doubt that this could be an Il2-37, but it seems to see the rear of the rocket rails through the break in front of the aileron, and this characteristic was missing on Il2-37.

The red (?) 21 was contoured, probably in silver paint; the outline of the fuselage star seems too dark to be white, the outline could be silver or even yellow.

The regimental marking on the tail, an interrupted white line with a thin red (?) contour, is particularly interesting, even it the unit and place remain unknown.
On the background, we see the appaently similar 'red 14'.
Image from http://forums-su.com/viewtopic.php?f=194&t=583322 (http://forums-su.com/viewtopic.php?f=194&t=583322)
Thanks to Vitaliy Timoshenko for the link and to Aleksandr Ruckovsky for his suggestions.
Here is the artwork. Click on the small profile to see a 3 views drawing.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-am-3view-late-21tailband-p.jpg) (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-am-3view-late-21tailband.jpg)

Regards
Massimo

Very nice.

Yes, very nice indeed, Massimo!

Regards,

Jason

Hi,
thank you for your appreciation.
There is a modify due to new informations from Vitaliy:

According to a research based on the memoirs of veterans, planes numbered from 01 to 12 had red numbers and spinners, planes from 14 to 26 had blue ones, and planes from 27 to 38 had yellow ones.

According to the same source, the regimental mark was completed by a white undersurface of the left wing only, from the aileron start to the tip; a thin red longitudinal line divided the white part of the undersurface from the light blue one.

Regards
Massimo

Hi, another one:


(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-white5lopatin-p.jpg) (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-early--fl-al-3view-white5lopatin.jpg)

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/5lopatin.jpg)

white 5 of capt. Boris Lopatin of 667 ShAP was shot down by the German flak on May 25, 1943, during an attack to an airport. The pilot survived and joined the partisans for a while.

http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=10470

The plane has wooden wings, and was supposed built in Z.30 as the apparently similar plane white 7.

The short gun barrels suggest that this plane was armed with ShVAK 20 mm guns instead of the usual VYa-23.

Thanks to Vitaliy Timoshenko.

Regards
Massimo

Another lovely profile, Massimo! I agree that those are ShVAK cannons in the 23-mm type fairings.

Regards,

Jason

Hi, one more:
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/IL-2-2-SeatersinBlack-GreenFactoryFinish.jpg)
The only available images of an operative transition Il-2 as those of the photo above are these, representing white 5 of an unknown unit captured by Germans, probably in fall 1943.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/5z1transition.jpg)
We recognize the rare combination of the 'roof' type rear canopy and black/green camouflage, produced in July 1943, immediately before the change to 3 shades camouflage. The rocket rails, probably absent due to the damages to the plane, were probably of the early type instead of the later flushed one. Note the absence of the stabilizators and elevators.

The red stars have unusually thin white outlines, probably painted after the delivery of the plane. It is unclear if there is the outer red outline too.
Other interesting characteristics of the plane include the oblique font of the bort number, the white tail cap and the (probably) red front of the spinner (recognizable for its glossy finish).
Thanks to Vitaliy Timoshenko for the scans.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-fl-al-3view-5zavod1transition-p.jpg) (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-fl-al-3view-5zavod1transition.jpg)

Hi Jason,
I suppose that these drawings are too late for your book. If it is not so, please let me know and I'll send an higher resolution version.

Regards
Massimo

Unfortunately they are too late for the book, which is being formatted now. Still, very nice work!

Regards,

Jason

Another one.
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/103shap/10trukhov2.jpg)
(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/103shap/10trukhov1.jpg)
Plane White 10 was flown by A.I. Trukhov, commander of 103 ShAP.

On 22 March 1945, he guided a group of 6 planes into an attack in Danzig, but his plane was badly hit by an AA shell in the fuselage, wounding the crew. Trukhov managed to return to his airport and the wounded gunner left the plane with a parachute, then the fuselage broke completely during the landing.

The first photo seem to show a sharp white area under the fuselage, probably a recognition mark for the commander's plane that supplemented the white band brought on the rear fuselage (sides and below only) by all planes of 103 ShAP, as shown in the small photos below.
The photos allow to see that plane 10 was a straight-wing Il-2M with metal wing consoles, as typical of the production of Z.18 in late 1943.
The camouflage pattern was reconstructed on the base of these photos and of other Il-2s built by the same factory.
Images and informations via Vitaliy Timoshenko.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/103shap/il2m-bp-fl-am-10of103shap-p.jpg) (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/103shap/il2m-bp-fl-am-10of103shap.jpg)

Regards
Massimo

Very nice one, Massimo! By the way, the publication date for the book has been pushed back to May.

Best Regards,

Jason

Hi Jason,
I see. Are you making any modifications?
Regards
Massimo

Hi all,
another one:

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/100tereekov.jpg)
This plane 'White 100' was probably flown by Colonel Nikolai Pavlovich Terekhov, commander of 136 ShAD from July 1944 up to May 1945; Terekhov appears close to this plane on another photo.

From what we can see, the plane looks built by Zavod 1 because of the tail wheel fairing and the painting of the tail. The plane is a straight-wing one, probably with tall mast, and without the gunner's canopy.

Both the number 100 and the stars on the fuselage appear to have an intermediate angulation between the plane's axis and the ground. The spinner looks white, but there could be a cover on it. Seems that there was some repainting of the camouflage between the '100' and the red star on the fuselage.

Thanks to Vitaliy Timoshenko for the informations.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-al-3view-terekov100.jpg)

Regards
Massimo

Very nice, Massimo! I love that puzzle-type camouflage of Zavod 1 on the starboard wing. I need to try that on a model sometime.

Regards,

Jason

Hi Jason,
I'm glad you like it. I'll draw still some Il-2s, then I'll start with a new subject.
Regards
Massimo

Hi,
here is a new one, particularly nice.

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/il-2/il2-camo/il-2m/il2m-bp-fl-al-3view-prof-100of210shap.jpg)

Plane White 100  of Ivan Panin of 210 ShAP in early 1944.

http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=15299 (http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=15299)

The profile is based on a photo that I can't publish for copyright reasons, from V. Timoshenko.

The plane, probably made in Zavod 1, shows a fantasious winter camouflage made with thin irregularly sprayed curved lines (often shaped as S, O, C, 3 etc) probably on a brown/green/grey base camouflage. The white 100 has a black outline and black 'moustaches' above and below the 'eyes'.

Other markings, if any, are unknown, because the photo shows only the part between the canopy and the star on the fuselage.

Regards
Massimo

I like that one.

Greebo did this skin for the video game I play it turned out great.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,372259.0.html

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/IL-2%20STUFF/210_ShAP_Il-2_SC1_zps7bqhksuc.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/IL-2%20STUFF/210_ShAP_Il-2_SC1_zps7bqhksuc.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/IL-2%20STUFF/210_ShAP_Il-2_SC2_zpstbtntstp.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/IL-2%20STUFF/210_ShAP_Il-2_SC2_zpstbtntstp.jpg.html)

Great images.
But I think that the camo blotches on the spinner should be blurried for the moving.  I suggest to make the whole spinner in uniform color for a better effect.
Regards
Massimo.

Those are nice (both the game version and Massimo's original). I've never seen a photograph of an Il-2 done up in the German-type "squiggle" camouflage like that.

Regards,

Jason

The non spinning spinner is a quirk within the game when you take screen shots.
At all other times it is spinning.