Petlyakov-Myasishchev PeM-2 Troika.
The Petlyakov Pe-2 had been developed from the PB-100 fighter prototype very rapidly under extreme pressure from the Soviet high command. That the resulting aircraft had proved a good tactical bomber is surprising under those circumstances. Once the Pe-2 got into production as 1940 turned to 1941, the design team began work on successive developments. The Pe-3 was the long-range heavy fighter version of the design, and there were also reconnaissance and other specialized versions. The most radical development however came when the Petlyakov team received the order to develop a medium bomber development, using a maximum number of Pe-2 components. Work began in December 1941, but the team design bureau leader, Vladimir Mikhailovich Petlyakov died in the crash of a Pe-2 only a month later. His chief lieutenant, Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev took over development of the new medium bomber (along with continued oversight of the Pe-2 program).
The medium bomber was initially known internally as DSB, from Dal'niy sredniy bombardirovshchik (long-range medium bomber), but by the time the prototype flew in June, 1942 it had officially been designated the PeM-2 (honoring Petlyakov and Myasishchev). It also received the inevitable appellation, Troika, after the three-horse-drawn sledge or carriage of that name which was well-known in the Soviet Union.
Compared to the Pe-2, the PeM-2 used the same basic fuselage and wing structure, but employed a third, central engine, which required greater vertical stabilizer area, and so a third, central fin was also installed. The nose engine installation required the deletion of the nose bomb-aiming station which was relocated into a ventral tub behind the bomb bay. In order to achieve maximum range and payload, the wings were extended by adding wooden wingtips giving 2.8 feet of additional span per side (for a total of 5.6 feet additional span). Defensive armament was also decreased dramatically to maximize payload and range; the sole remaining defensive weapon being the dorsal turret mounted Berezin UB. This feature was roundly disliked by crews, and contributed to a high loss rate for the type in combat.
Production of the PeM-2 was cut short as lend-lease supplies of B-25 Mitchells proved to be better at the mission the Troika was designed for. Factories formerly intended to PeM-2 production were shifted to Pe-2 or La-5 production after only 223 PeM-2 Troikas were complete.
This began as the 1/72 scale HobbyBoss Easy Assembly Petlyakov Pe-2. The third engine came from a second Pe-2 kit. The wingtips are scatchbuilt, and the ventral tub is the pilot’s canopy from the Williams Brothers B-10. Decals are a mix of HobbyBoss Pe-2 kit decals and spares drawer.
PeM-2-8 by
cacree, on Flickr
PeM-2-8 by
cacree, on Flickr
PeM-2-8 by
cacree, on Flickr