INTRODUCTION

A look inside ACADEMY's reissue of the 1/48 POLIKARPOV I-16 Type 24 SPECIAL EDITION with limited availability in preparation for a future build review.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Polikarpov I-16 was a Soviet fighter aircraft of revolutionary design for which a little over 7000 were produced. It was the world's first low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear to attain operational status and as such "introduced a new in vogue fighter design." The I-16 was introduced in the mid-1930's and formed the backbone of the Soviet Air Force at the beginning of World War II. The diminutive fighter, nicknamed "Ishak" or "Ishachok" ("Donkey" or "Burro") by Soviet pilots, figured prominently in the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battle of Khalkhin Gol and the Spanish Civil War where it was called "Rata" or "Rat" by the Nationalists and "Mosca" meaning "Fly" by the Republicans. The Finnish nickname was "Siipiorava" which translates into "Flying Squirrel". ~wikipedia~

The POLIKARPOV I-16 TYPE 24 replaced the back landing skid with a tail-wheel and featured the much more powerful 670 kW (900 hp) Shvetsov M-63 engine. It could also be fitted to carry six RS-82 unguided rockets.

THE KIT

ACADEMY have reissued their 1/48 scale POLIKARPOV I-16 TYPE 24 in a SPECIAL EDITION with limited availability. What you'll find inside to garner such a title are the incredible decals printed by Cartograf. The four supplied Russian Military markings are bright and distinctive with one that does not have the well known Soviet green paint schemes. This Russian light grey and sky blue look of the Black Sea Fleet is the one I've chosen for an upcoming build. The four are as follows.

• Lt. I.K. Bratushka, 286th IAP, Leningrad Front, July 1942
  
• Lt. Krichevskiy, 254th IAP, Leningrad Front, 1942
  
• 69th IAP, Odessa, Soviet Union, Summer 1941
  
• Capt. G. Tsokolajew, 4th GIAP, Black Sea Fleet, Apr. 1942

ACADEMY have designated this kit as a level 4 out of 5 skill needed. Yet one look at the 52 parts will explain why I feel this will be an easy and fun build. They even include a nice instruction page on how to snip parts and apply the decals which is perfect for beginners or parent child buddy builds.
The plastic is reasonably detailed to depict recessed panel lines and fabric ribs with a smooth surface having no rivet marks. The wind screen/canopy, however, is thick and marred with distortion thus will have to be dipped in a clear coat or polished. I'll discover that in the build. Several items definitely missing are the detail in the cable to retract the landing gear, the wing length flaps, and cockpit detailing. ACADEMY do supply a decal for the instrument panel, but one look at where it's placed and you'll be hard pressed to ever see it. Although, this does open the door to some scratch building and available aftermarket options.

SUMMARY

This is an interesting subject from a historic viewpoint and equally on a visual scale and the price is excellent for the fun factor to had by both beginner and experienced modelers.
A HUGE shout-out of thanks to MRC and ACADEMY for supplying KitMaker and AeroScale this wonderful kit.