Aeroclassics, Aeroflot Ilyushin IL-18A: CCCP-75634

With a growing demand for passenger air service in the 1950's, a Soviet Council of Ministers' directive was to develop an engine capable of meeting those requirements for both Ilyushin and Antonov. 

There are many unique features of this Cold War era quad-engined monoplane. Several of which are on display with this superb little Aeroclassics casting. For more, checkout the link for today's P.O.T.D.

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The Aeroclassics Il-18 mould had been mothballed, even thought to be gone entirely since 2014. But in 2022 Aeroclassics, in partnership with Yu ModeL, quietly released a PLAAF Il-18 (#YU0003). The model, notable for being an example of Maozedong's  private aircraft was a reintroduction to the casting.

Not long after the refurbished mould returned to production, Aeroclassics released this, the first ever production IL-18. It was featured the same month as its stablemate, LOT Polish Airlines' SP-LSF. 

The IL-18 mould received steady use for the remainder of 2022, seeing eight more registrations from various airlines being produced. A few examples are still available in various liveries at major distributers as of this article, published in April 2024. 

Of the ten different registrations offered in 2022. I only added this pair to the collection. Both arrived in good order. They are nice moulds with standard paint and printing. 

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