Ilyushin IL-18 LOT Polish Airlines Late SP-LSG (1:500)

Ilyushin IL-18 LOT Polish Airlines Late SP-LSG (1:500)

This Herpa 538794 Ilyushin Il-18 model is a finely crafted 1:500 scale die-cast replica, finished in the LOT Polish Airlines late-colors livery introduced in 1977. It represents aircraft registration SP-LSG, one of LOT’s long-serving turboprops that operated for several decades across multiple continents.

The model features accurate fuselage proportions, detailed engine representation, and crisp airline branding, including the enlarged crane logo on the tail and the distinctive deep blue cheatline used by LOT during this era. With a wingspan of 72 mm, it delivers a compact but historically rich display piece for collectors of classic Eastern and European aviation.

Constructed from high-quality metal, it reflects Herpa’s attention to historical authenticity within its Wings series.

It is an ideal companion piece to early jet and turboprop collections, bridging the gap between propeller-era aviation and the modern jet age.

Features

• Aircraft Type: Ilyushin Il-18
• Operator/Livery: LOT Polish Airlines (late 1977 colors)
• Registration: SP-LSG
• Material: Die-cast metal
• Wingspan: 72 mm
• Colour Scheme: White and blue
• Release: News II (March/April 2026)

Historical Background

The Ilyushin Il-18 was one of the most successful Soviet turboprop airliners, first entering service in the late 1950s and becoming widely used across Eastern Bloc airlines for medium- and long-haul routes.

For LOT Polish Airlines, the Il-18 was a cornerstone of its fleet for nearly three decades, beginning in the early 1960s and continuing until the aircraft’s gradual retirement around the year 2000.

The aircraft represented by this model, SP-LSG, entered service with LOT in 1965. It later went on to serve with Balkan Bulgarian Airlines after 1991, and subsequently operated with several African carriers before being withdrawn from service in the mid-2000s.

The 1977 livery depicted on this model marked a visual refresh for LOT, introducing a cleaner design language, a darker blue fuselage stripe, and a more prominent crane logo on the tail, symbolising a modernised national carrier identity during the late jet age transition period.