Lynx has shot me down countless times, and I've been lucky enough to catch him at the top of a climb once or twice. As a real pilot, I can attest to his skill, I've seen it (drifting down in my parachute after he's sheared my wing or tail off). He knows how to use energy and ACM to his advantage.
Scaling - never tried, definitely will...
IL-2s...I worked at the NASM several years ago, at the Garber Facility. We had a pristine IL-2 in the collection, and I can tell you...this aircraft is built like a tank. The leading edges of the wing, the engine and cockpit areas, are steel - not aluminum. When you tap the side of the fuselage, you don't get that hollow, tin-can noise. You get a solid 'thunk', like you're rapping your fist against a piece of construction equipment.
<S>,
J