SCALE MODEL NEWS

REVELL BRINGS US THE MONOPLANE Polikarpov I-16 fighter to 1:32 scale.  SMN report: This 1:32 scale Revell kit models the fast and furious Soviet fighter aircraft, the Polikarpov I-16, popularly known as the Rata (Rat). A mid-1930s design, the I-16 was the only Soviet fighter in large numbers that flew against Operation Barbarossa, the Axis invasion that began in June, 1941. Revell has probably been wise to model this small aircraft to 1:32 scale. Even then, the fuselage is barely as long as your hand, though this does help emphasise the diminutive size of the real thing. It's a worthwhile build, with no real drawbacks or problems during assembly. However, Revell does say that the model is 'very ambitious' though we can't see any problem for a model maker with even modest experience. According to Revell, the kit includes:    Detailed cockpit Separate ailerons Radial engine Rotating propeller Detailed landing gear Decals for two versions There are 115 components, all of ...

This video shows the first public display of a rebuilt Polikarpov I-16, as flown at the Wanaka Air Show, New Zealand, in 1998. The pilot was Mark Hanna, who sadly died the following year from injuries sustained in a landing accident near Barcelona, Spain, in a Hispano Buchon, a licence-built version of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. About the real thing The Polikarpov I-16 was a revolutionary design: the world's first operational low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear. The I-16 was introduced in the mid-1930s and formed the backbone of the Soviet Air Force at the beginning of World War II. The I-16, nicknamed ‘Ishak’ (Donkey) by its pilots, saw plenty of service before World War II. It flew in the Second Sino-Japanese War, at the Battle of Khalkhin-Gol, and also in the Spanish Civil War. In that conflict the plane was named Rata (Rat) by the Nationalists, and Mosca (Fly) by the Republicans. Yet another nickname came from pilots in the Finnish Air Force, who ...

Ark Models of Moscow features in today's online brochure. It's full of interesting Russian and Soviet machines, plus a sprinkling of what look like remarketed ex-Frog/Novo kits. The Polikarpov I-16 single-seat fighter features strongly at Ark, and it's an interesting subject. We haven't had a chance to build a kit yet, but will report when we do. The 1:48 scale ones shown here should make valuable additions to any collection to this scale. The red-and-white one (header pic) has especially interesting markings. We'll be adding a video of a preserved I-16 at an air show very soon, so watch out for that. Click here to visit Ark Models.  Not unreasonably, Ark's website is in Russian, so fire up Google translator if you want to know what they are saying over there. Then again, to do it the easy way, click the UK flag at top right.