I.A.R. 81C “Great Air Battles of 1944” 1/72 IBG
The Romanian IAR-81 fighter aircraft was developed during the Second World War as a derivative of the IAR-80, a fighter designed by Industria Aeronautică Română in Brașov. Its development was driven by the Romanian Air Force’s need for a versatile combat aircraft capable of carrying out ground-attack missions in addition to fighter duties. Compared with the original IAR-80, the IAR-81 was modified to carry bombs and perform dive-bombing attacks, while retaining its air-combat capabilities. The first aircraft entered service in 1941 and were soon deployed on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. Several improved variants followed, featuring increasingly powerful armament, including 20 mm cannons. From 1943 onwards, the IAR-81 also took part in the defence of Romanian territory, particularly the strategically important oil facilities around Ploiești, which became targets of Allied air raids. Following Romania’s change of sides in August 1944, these aircraft were employed against their former German allies. Although their performance gradually fell behind that of the most advanced contemporary fighters, they remained an important part of the Romanian Air Force until the end of the war. Approximately 450 aircraft of the IAR-80/81 family were built, and the last examples were withdrawn from service in the late 1940s.
I first came across a model of this interesting aircraft sometime in the 1990s, released under the MPM brand. For its time, it was a fairly nice short-run kit. The next one was from A-Model, which even attempted to cover several different versions, but it was once again a short-run kit.
Few years back IBG entered the scene with plans to cover the entire I.A.R. 80/81 family, paying particular attention to the differences between individual variants. I first saw the kit at the Moson Model Show, where IBG presented the first test shots. I was immediately impressed by the level of detail, but it took me a while to finally give in and buy a box, specifically the I.A.R. 81C Great Air Battles of 1944 boxing. I have to admit that the box art was what really caught my attention, so the manufacturer clearly succeeded in achieving exactly what it had intended. 😊
The box sells the kit, but in this case, the contents did not disappoint either. I also purchased the resin wheels and masks, both from IBG, and started building the model as soon as I managed to clear some space on my workbench.
The build was trouble-free, and I recommend following the instructions. The kit features a detailed interior, so you can leave the canopy open. I was particularly pleased with the complete rivet detailing, although this time it was difficult to find the right riveting tool for making corrections. Comparing the rivets on the Fw 190D, the I.A.R. and the latest Spitfire kit, all from the same manufacturer, I get the impression that IBG is still experimenting with the best approach to rivet detailing.
In any case, the kit fits together really well. The only part that gave me some trouble was attaching the antenna mast to the windscreen frame, and, more importantly, making sure I didn’t break it off again!
The paints used were a combination of Gunze H and AK Real Colors 3rd Generation acrylics. The excellent decals deserve nothing but praise, although they also make me sigh when I think about the quality offered by some other manufacturers. The clear coats were from Microscale, while the wash and weathering products were from AK.
As is customary for IBG, the company is about to offer the complete I.A.R. 80/81 family. There are currently four boxings on the market, with more on the way, so fans of Romanian aviation have plenty of reasons to celebrate. 😊
For those building a collection of WWII aircraft, this is a great opportunity to add an interesting-looking machine to their display. It is definitely an aircraft worth having in your collection.
