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Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: Playing with Polikarpovs
« Last post by Kerick on June 22, 2026, 07:35:43 PM »These are looking great. Any more versions?
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32
Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: MaK Combo-Constructor
« Last post by Kerick on June 22, 2026, 07:33:04 PM »Any more progress here? I’d like to see this one completed. It will look cool.
33
Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: Mustang drone hunter
« Last post by Kerick on June 22, 2026, 07:27:55 PM »I printed out some Ukrainian roundels last night. I estimated the size by measuring some I have in 1/72nd and calcing what it should be in 1:48th. I’m going to put them right over some regular stars and bars to make it look like a rush job. The challenge of yellow and blue invasion stripes is holding me back.
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Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: Chinese Ilushin Il-10 with turboprop
« Last post by Kerick on June 22, 2026, 07:21:46 PM »Very nice and so plausible. Well done!
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Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: Chinese Ilushin Il-10 with turboprop
« Last post by MAT on June 22, 2026, 04:36:04 PM »Finished !
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Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: Completed Entries - Physical Creations
« Last post by MAT on June 22, 2026, 04:18:24 PM »Ilyushin Il-10 Turboprop
2. Skuadrilja, 5646 Aviacion Regjiment,
Lezhë-Zadrima AB, Albania
The Ilyushin Il-10 entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1944, and became the standard ground attack plane for the Warsaw Pact. Communist China received 254 Il-10s, which served in the Assault Aviation Divisions of PLAAF.
But by the late 1960s these plane were becoming increasingly obsolete. So to extend the life of the Il-10, the PLAAF decided in 1969 to put an turboprop engine in the old airframe. Two testplanes were build.
Efter the development of the jet powered Nanchang Q-5 Fantan had ran into troubles, the turbo-prop Il-10s were put into service in 1971. In all 180 conversions were made and they served in the assault divisions of PLAAF until the much delayed Q-5 begin leaving the assembly lines in 1974.
But after leaving active service in China the now very old Il-10 airframes found a new place to live out their last years: Albania.
At that time People's Republic of Albania under the leadership of Enver Hoxha was one of the most isolated countries. After leaving the Warsaw Pact in 1968 the mountainous nation on the Adriatic Coast had only one friend – China – which provide all the planes for Albanias air force. Happy to get rid of these World War 2 relics, the Turbo Il-10s were given as a kind of foreign aid to Mao Zedongs good allied.
In 1975 130 of the now more than 30 years old airframes were unloaded in the harbour of Durrës. Half of them enterede service at 2. Skuadrilja, 5646 Aviacion Regjiment, Lezhë-Zadrima AB. The other half were used for training and as a source for spare parts. The last mentioned use became ever more essential efter the break with China in 1978.
The Turbo Il-10s served in ever diminishing numbers, until the last was grounded in the late 1980's.
2. Skuadrilja, 5646 Aviacion Regjiment,
Lezhë-Zadrima AB, Albania
The Ilyushin Il-10 entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1944, and became the standard ground attack plane for the Warsaw Pact. Communist China received 254 Il-10s, which served in the Assault Aviation Divisions of PLAAF.
But by the late 1960s these plane were becoming increasingly obsolete. So to extend the life of the Il-10, the PLAAF decided in 1969 to put an turboprop engine in the old airframe. Two testplanes were build.
Efter the development of the jet powered Nanchang Q-5 Fantan had ran into troubles, the turbo-prop Il-10s were put into service in 1971. In all 180 conversions were made and they served in the assault divisions of PLAAF until the much delayed Q-5 begin leaving the assembly lines in 1974.
But after leaving active service in China the now very old Il-10 airframes found a new place to live out their last years: Albania.
At that time People's Republic of Albania under the leadership of Enver Hoxha was one of the most isolated countries. After leaving the Warsaw Pact in 1968 the mountainous nation on the Adriatic Coast had only one friend – China – which provide all the planes for Albanias air force. Happy to get rid of these World War 2 relics, the Turbo Il-10s were given as a kind of foreign aid to Mao Zedongs good allied.
In 1975 130 of the now more than 30 years old airframes were unloaded in the harbour of Durrës. Half of them enterede service at 2. Skuadrilja, 5646 Aviacion Regjiment, Lezhë-Zadrima AB. The other half were used for training and as a source for spare parts. The last mentioned use became ever more essential efter the break with China in 1978.
The Turbo Il-10s served in ever diminishing numbers, until the last was grounded in the late 1980's.
37
Aero-space / Re: Westland Wessex HU.5 - 771 Naval Air Squadron (Royal Navy) - Italeri 1:48
« Last post by Old Wombat on June 22, 2026, 10:08:25 AM »Having served in the RAN FAA, back when we had Wessexes (Wessexi? 
), I got the feeling that the interior of a Wessex looked worn even before it left the factory.
), I got the feeling that the interior of a Wessex looked worn even before it left the factory.38
Scifi and Fantasy / Re: MaxxPro MRAP After the Apocalypse
« Last post by Kerick on June 22, 2026, 08:29:36 AM »You’ll need a few stacked as spares inside the truck or tied to the sides.
39
Scifi and Fantasy / Re: Zakurello (Gundam Mobile armor. Sort of.)
« Last post by Kerick on June 22, 2026, 08:25:44 AM »I admire all your work. Adding the wings was a great idea!
I’ll admit I just don’t get 99% of the whole gundam, fighting robot thing. That said I think you did a great job!
I don’t want to sound negative but that’s the strangest thing I think I’ve ever seen. 2001 A Space Oddessy meets Lost in Space on LSD. Very interesting piece of art!
I’ll admit I just don’t get 99% of the whole gundam, fighting robot thing. That said I think you did a great job!
I don’t want to sound negative but that’s the strangest thing I think I’ve ever seen. 2001 A Space Oddessy meets Lost in Space on LSD. Very interesting piece of art!
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Upgrades and Life Extensions GB / Re: Playing with Polikarpovs
« Last post by raafif on June 22, 2026, 06:39:40 AM »Love the Polikarpovs - there was 2-seater but what about a stretched twin-fuselage one - tailess !
Cheers raafif. But now I have a twin-fuselaged UTI Polikarpov stuck in my head!
Good !!
