Czech Master Resin CMR 157 Ikarus Ik-2 1/72

The Ikarus IK-2 was a high-wing, all-metal, single seat, monoplane fighter aircraft designed as a private venture by Kosta Sivčev and Ljubomir Ilić. The prototype, designated the IK-L1, of the design was ordered from Ikarus A.D. in 1934, and was delivered for test in 1935. Captain Leonid Bajdak, a biplane advocate, tested the IK-1 in flight. The prototype first flew on April 22nd, 1935. During a full range of tests on the third flight the aircraft failed to pull out of a power dive and crashed. Bajdak bailed out and survived but claimed the IK-1 was not suitable as a fighter. Investigation of the wreckage disclosed that the failure was due to negligence in sewing a seam on one of the fabric-covered wings, and therefore a decision was made to proceed with the second prototype, designated IK-2. The second prototype had metal-skinned wings and a shallower cooling radiator. The IK-2 was ready for test in June 1936. A new test pilot, Dobnikar, performed the preliminary flight tests, including a mock battle against a Hawker Fury, a biplane, flown by Captain Bajdak. The IK-2 outperformed the biplane in all respects, thereby confirming the hopes of the young designers. Royal Yugoslav Air Force ordered a production batch of 12 IK-2 fighters, which were all delivered in 1937. When German forces invaded Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941, Ikarus IK-2 fighters took part in aerial battles over Yugoslavia. For the rest of the short conflict IK-2s were used for strafing advancing German columns and on several occasions they scrambled in pursuit of German reconnaissance aircraft, but to no effect. At the end of the brief campaign the four surviving IK-2s were overhauled at the Ikarus aircraft plant in Zemun before being transferred by the Germans to the newly formed Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia.

Manufacturer Ikarus AD
Class fighter
Armament 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 fixed forward-firing cannon with 60 rounds in a moteur-cannon installation, two 7.9 mm (0.312 in) Darne fixed forward-firing machine guns in the upper sides of the forward fuselage with synchronization equipment to fire through the propeller disc
Crew Pilot in an enclosed cockpit
Engine One Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs Vee piston engine rated at 860hp (641 kW) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft)
Speed Maximum: 435 km/h (279 mph; 234 kt) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft)
360 km/h (224 mph; 194.5 kt) at sea level
Cruising: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kt) at optimum altitude
Range 700 km (435 miles; 378 nm); endurance 3 hours 15 minutes
Ceiling 10500 meters (34,450 ft)
Climb 5000 meters (16,405 ft) in 5 minutes 24 seconds
Length 7.88 meters (25 ft 10.25 in)
Height 3.84 meters (12 ft 7.125 in)
Dimensions
Wing Span: 11.40 meters (37 ft 0.875 in)
aspect ratio 7.22
area 18.00 m2 (193.76 sq ft)
Weight empty: 1502 kg (3,311 lb)
normal take-off: 1857 kg (4,094 lb)
maximum take-off: 1930 kg (4,255 lb)
CMR 157 Kit IK-2.

CMR models IK-2 kit, comes well packed in one plastic bag but all the parts are packed for it self in a separate bag so no damage to crispy Resin could happen. CMR Resin is one of the best I have seen so far and the tooling must be Outstanding since all the details on this kit are wonderfully reproduced. CMR provides a small photo-etched fret with crucial parts on it for detailing this beautiful model, this parts are really great quality and improve the overall look of the finished model. Photo-etched parts are provided for instrument panel and seatbelts inside the cockpit. Cockpit sidewalls are well detailed on fuselage halves. Both wing types are provided in the kit so you can choose weather you want to build second prototype or the production batch model. For sure some cleaning as always when you deal with resin must be done, but that part on CMR IK-2 is minimal. Clear parts are although vac-formed crystal clear and excellent quality and just in case, CMR provided two in case your cutter slips… Instruction sheet and painting guide are provided on nine pages, they are very clear nice drawn and precise.

Decals are great quality very thin and precise; I believe it would be a true pleasure to work with them. Decals are provided for four Yugoslav Kingdom samples and four Independent State of Croatia samples.

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CMR produced an excellent kit, they obviously have high quality standards in producing kits and after seeing this IK-2 kit I can’t resist it and I will certainly get at least one more. Resin kits require for some experience when working with it so as usual rule Resin kits are not recommended for beginners, but if you have build a few plastic models so far and you want to build your first Resin model then this is a choice for you. CMR are a real Masters of Resin.

This product is highly recommended!

Darko Mladenovic

Sample product provided by Petr Buchar from Czech Master Resin