Hobby Boss Aircraft 1/72 MI-2URP Antitank Kit

The Mi-2 (NATO Codename: Hoplite) was Mil OKB's follow-on to their initial helicopter design, the Mi-1 (NATO Codename: Hare). In the Mi-2, Mil replaced the heavier piston engine of the Mi-1 with a pair of much lighter turbine engines which decreased the empty weight of the aircraft and nearly doubled its payload. The engines were relocated over the main cabin and the airframe was redesigned to make use of the increased payload capacity. Despite the capabilities of the Mi-2, the aircraft was never put into full production in the USSR as Mil had its sights on even larger and more capable rotary-winged designees. Production of this aircraft was allocated to PZL-Swidnik in Poland with nearly 5,500 aircraft built.

With a good combination of small size and good payload, PZL-Swidnik produced a wide range of variants ranging from simple utility helicopters to mine laying, from air ambulance to attack helicopter. In the attack configuration, the Mi-2 could be armed with a combination of 23mm cannon, machine guns, two 57mm rocket pods, four anti-tank guided missiles, or four Strella 2 (SA-7) anti-aircraft missiles.