Russian Pe-3 Bis, Russia's first use of radar for a night fighter

[Night Fighter Nut]

Ok guys, my attempt to build what would be a Russian night fighter.
A Pe-3 with Gneis 2 radar.
1/48 scale made by Special hobby.

[Night Fighter Nut]

According to the write up in the directions, Moscow Aircraft Plant No. 39 and it's chief designer were ordered to to develop a fighter version of the Pe-2 aircraft. The Pe-3 was one of the first Soviet airplanes to carry radar. The first Soviet radars (Gneis 2) were so heavy that it could only be carried by a plane of the Pe-2/-3 category. Pe-3 equipped with the radar served in air defense units of Moscow district. They were in action with both Soviet naval and air defense units and a total of 360 of all varients were used in combat right up to the last days of the war.

[Jayl]

Interesting plane, I look forward to following your build of it.

[jjp_nl]

That's an interesting subject! Never knew the Ruskis were on to this Radar stuff too at this time. One of these forgotten episodes of the war.

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool choice.

[Wurger]

Yep... good luck!!!

[Airframes]

Should be a good one, looking forward to the build.

[Matt308]

And I've always liked that airframe.

[Night Fighter Nut]

Thanks all, I'm still doing research on this plane. Internal view is a mystery but I figure given the originality of Soviet Russia, it should look a whole lot like a Pe-2 interior. Either way I could use some help in this area. I don't like to take for granted that the model company got it right. I'm also working on the color scheme. I've been able to identify the colors somewhat. They are suppose to be these.

[Lucky13]

I'll be folowing this one, got this myself.....

[Night Fighter Nut]

Ok, here are a couple of pix from the instructions to give an idea what this will look like. The first difference I noticed what the flat nose. Still trying to find other pictures of these plane or even some example of seat belts for the VVS planes. I'm scratch building mine.
Did get a start on the plane. The pilot's seat and rear of the office.

[Wayne Little]

Not bad at all!

[Airframes]

Certainly look good.

[vikingBerserker]

I might actually have some info on this, I'll check tonight when I get home.

[Wurger]

The P-3Bis with the radar was similar to the P-2 with the same device.

Here you are a couple of shots. Believing in captions these two fist are for P-2 and the last one for P-3 with the Gneis radar.