Category: Finnish military planes

Planes related to Finnish military history, including VL, Valmet, Patria aviation, …

VL Viima II peanut short kit

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New kit has been released ot VL Viima II. This is an 1935’s biplane, used for Finnish airforce training. Structure’s are simple, but the small scale and number of parts makes it rather complicated to build. Design is based on original factory plans so this is rather good Peanut scale adaptation of original. For further info of original plane see this
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/VL_Viima
(photo by Ilmailuliitto / Suomen Ilmailumuseo, used with permission)

This is short kit, meaning it includes laser cut balsa wood parts. No hardware or strip wood included. Model can be purchased from excellent
https://www.hobbycenter.fi/tuotehaku?s=peanut

IVL K.1 Kurki – peanut plan

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If you check my last post (see here) you might notice that I sound overly enthusiastic of this ugly duckling. You are pretty right.. This is truly one of ugliest planes I have seen and it is also of finnish origin.

It was designed in 1927 by Asser Järvinen. He was employed by Finnish state aviation factory (IVL = Ilmavoimien Lentokonetehdas, directly translated airforce airplane factory..). Originally this plane was his pet project which he designed without permission. But the need for planes was so great that initial design got accepted as an official project.

Good intentions do great things, but not in this case. When plane was completed it turned out to be overweight and challenging to fly. For many reasons. There is an good wiki page for it. Strangely enough this is categorized as an military, transport & training plane.

After extensive testing, some 55 test flights it was concluded that it is of ‘no practical use’. Project was scrapped and only existing plane was stored for prosperity. That is museum. It ended up in Vesivehmaa museum where it was stored in sad condition. Check my previous visit there.

After while good people of Finnish Aviation museum decided to restore it and the end result is much nicer. But still it is ugly plane.

Well, that does one do when one encounters something so extraordinary? Obviously one must make model aeroplane out of it. I did some initial design drafts couple years ago. Then after new Kurki exhibition opened in decemeber 2018 at museum I decided to complete design. For several reasons I decided to make an peanut scale version of it.

So here it is for your viewing and building pleasure. Enjoy.

Click here to download plan.

I strongly propose that you visit Aviation Museum (Ilmailumuseo) to see this plane in it’s 1:1 glory. It is sight to see, and the  IVL Kurki special exhibition is open to end of january 2019. Nice place to visit in so many ways!

This plan has been released for free download. If you manage to make something out of it pls send me pics of that. I would love to hear whether it flies….

IVL K.1 Kurki revisited

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You might remember back in 2015 when I visited Vesivehmaa aviation museum? I did get great pictures of many interesting planes. One which was in appaling condition was so ugly that I got interested into it and when I heard that Ilmailumuseo finished restoring it I immediately decided to visit it.

Here it is… This is truly an sight only mother of the plane would love. But still, it is in much better condition than last time I saw it. Took some pics for your viewing pleasure.

See also previous photo gallery. That was bad then. It really is in much better state. But still this plane is ugly.

VL Tuisku @ Ilmailumuseo

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Here is an classic Finnish biplane. It is an  Finnish trainer aircraft designed and built in 1930’s.  Approx 31 was built and this example is nicely preserved in Ilmailumuseo at Vantaa.  For more planes at Ilmailumuseo check corresponding tags on right pane (–>). Walk-around pics of original, for model aeroplane plan see below.

For extremely rare vintage plan of this plane see here (51mb file). Preview below.

Bonus!

I went through old pics in my archives and stumbled on pics of separate Tuisku wing which was hanging on Ilmailumuseo wall. It is partially covered so you can see internals of wing.

Pics of full size VL Myrsky II -project

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Visited Finnish Airforce Museum (Suomen Ilmavoimamuseo / Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo @Tikkakoski near Jyväskylä…) to see interim display of Aviation Museum Association (my own translation, I do not know the official translation) restoration / replication / rebuild-project of VL Myrsky II. Rebuild-project has been continuing for some time now and current state was up for display for summer break. For finnish language announcement of event see here.

Breathtaking project with craftsmanship out of this world.

I really know that this is so pic heavy post that it pushes everything else from first page, but… it is worth of it. See below. And visit museum!

Finnish Aviation Museum

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I visited Finnish Aviation museum to take photos of their collection of VL planes, ie. planes which have been manufactured by Finnish state aviation factory. I really like this museum and I strongly advise everyone to go there and check their collections. Well worth visit. And nowadays it is really easy to get there due new railway line. It is approx 2 mins from Helsinki-Vantaa airport via taxi or railway. approx 30mins from Helsinki.

I will be posting walkarounds of planes with tag Finnish Aviation Museum. See right pane.

Päijät-Häme Aviation museum

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Visited Päijät-Häme Aviation Museum to get some pics of some IVL planes (IVL K.1 Kurki, IVL Kotka and IVL Haukka). They are are planes which are manufactured by Finnish state aircraft works (nowadays Patria aviation). This museum has really interesting atmosphere and charm. Most of planes are in decent shape, but some older examples (like ones I wanted to photograph) were in rather sad state. But they are preserved and that’s most important.

I will be posting several sets of pictures in coming days so stay tuned. Now is good time to subscribe to updates of this blog, see to right (subscribe-form). Also, pls. visit museum, it is really nice place and you support aviation history preservation.

Pics will appear with tag ‘Päijät-Häme Aviation museum‘ (see right tag pane). Meanwhile some pics. One plane which is really extremely rare is Blackburn Ripon II F which, I believe is the only original example in existence. It is rather maginificent plane and the pics do not make justice to it. The size of plane is something to be seen.

 

Awesome model : Junkers Ju-88 @ Jämi Scale Open 25.7.2015

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Second awesome model which I saw at Jämi Scale Open is extremely nice model by Ilkka Klemetti. It is an scale model of Junkers Ju 88 A-4 JK-267 which has detail to make you sigh.

Note that there is an buildlog of this plane, see here.

Flying

Details

Awesome model : Gloster Gamecock GA-45 @ Jämi Scale Open 24.7.2015

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Once in a while you get to see something which makes your jaw drop. This time it is model of Gloster Gamecock GA-45 by Finnish Scale Legend mr. Jukka Pikkusaari. I think that there is no need for any words. Just check out pics.

ps : It must be stressed that Jukka claims that this model has not yet been completed. Yeah, sure.

Flying

Details

VL Pyörremyrsky photo gallery

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This is really an gem. VL Pyörremyrsky is rather unique plane from late WWII when everything was in short supply here in Finland. So to keep our Air Forces up and running it was decided to design an cost effective fighter  to similar flight characteristics as Messerschmitt Bf 109G. Using wood materials. Using Bf 109G motor & propeller.

War ended and only one example of this plane was built. Second prototype was also proposed but that was cancelled before production. Only existing plane has been preserved at Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo (Aviation Museum of Central Finland) in excellent condition. VL comes from Valtion lentokonetehdas (= State Aircraft Factory) and Pyörremyrsky is Hurricane.

These pictures were taken by anonymous, great many thanks to allowing us to publish them here.

I am currently designing an 1:6 model of this plane.

More info : Wiki-pages.