Zvezda 4805 1/48 Soviet Light Bomber Sukhoi Su-2

This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required.

The Sukhoi Su-2 was the first airplane designed by the talented Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi, who trained under Andrei Tupolev, and would become a pioneer in Soviet jet aircraft.

The Su-2 was created in 1936, under the name ANT-51, and was intended as a multi-purpose low-altitude ground support plane. The initial design proved itself during test runs in 1937, and went into production under the name Blizhniy Bombardirovschik BB-1 as a short ranged light bomber. It was renamed the Su-2 in 1940 when it received an upgrade to a more reliable and powerful engine that gave the aircraft a top speed of about 485 km/h.

The body of the Su-2 was manufactured out of wood fitted with steel and aluminum wings. It held a two-man crew (pilot and rear gunner) who sat in an armoured cockpit. The plane measured more than 10 meters in length, and had a wingspan of 14 meters. I was armed with six 7.62mm machine guns and could carry a bomb load of 400 kg or 10 rockets.

Unfortunately for the Su-2, its design was already obsolete by the time the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. Production of the aircraft was discontinued in 1942, after the Soviets suffered heavy Su-2 losses in the opening weeks of the conflict. Only 910 Su-2s were built.

This kit includes one unpainted plastic model of a World War II Soviet bomber and decal sheet. The assembled model measures 21.8 cm in length and includes 157 pieces.