1/48 I-16 Type 28, 5th IAP KBF

[PetrOs]

Hello

As a part of my 5thIAP KBF /3rd GvIAP KBF (5th fighter regiment, baltic navy, from january 42 becoming 3rd guard fighter regiment baltic navy) I just finished the 4th aircraft belonging to it. This particular one is my greatgranddad's first war mount, an I-16 type 28, which he flew over Baltic countries between 22 june 41 until the late august, when his regiment was reequipped to a mix of new MiG-3, LaGG-3 and Yak-1 aircraft. Senior Lt. Arkady Krilov was a political officer of the first squadron, when the war started. Until april 42 he shot down 1 aircraft individually and 13 in the group, always sharing the kill with his wingman. After he was badly injured in april 42, he returned to the same regiment in early 1943 as a Captain 3rd grade (= Lt.Commander) as a non-flying (due to his injuries) regimental political officer, and finished the war near Koenigsberg as Captain 2nd grade (=Commander), still in the same position.

I-16 type 28 was one of the last models of the I-16, and a rather rare one. It was the last cannon-armed version, equipped with the M-63 engine. Except for the armament (2 nose 7.62 ShKAS MG, 2 ShVAK 20mm cannons) it was identical to the type 24. Baltic fleet aviation had 6 Type 28 aircraft on the 22 june 41.

The kit used is the one from Eduard, Type 24. A great one and fun to build. Except for the usual small problems when joining the wing to the fuselage which required some sanding, it went together in a snap the only aftermarket thing I used were the main wheels from true details, I just had those...

The main "problem" of the kit was that the both cowlings included are incorrect. One has the upper intake and a square bottom intake, and another has no upper intake and a lower T-intake... However it should be upper intake + T-intake .. However a bit of surgery easily solved the problem. The 20mm cannons were in the kit as a "not for use" item. I also replaced the pitot tube with the syringe needle.

The photos were taken using the flash, and I will do the natural sunlight photos when the weather would allow it.

Here they are:

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Would be happy to hear your comments!

[Johnny Red]

Nice job petrOs , I really like the weathering, I haven't seen I-16 for along while

[HOUSTON]

BRILLIANT.... And its nice to read a bit of History behind the Model...I am sure

that you are SO PROUD of your Great Grandfather...

Houston.....

[Jon Kunac-Tabinor]

PetrOs - thats a lovely model you have made there - I like I-16s ( a childhood of building the revell 1/72 ones seems to be the cause!!) so I'm biased

I thinks its even better that this one represents your great grandfathers machine too - nothing like a personal bit of history to increase the interest.

A couple of questions if I may ask?

I wasn't aware that soviet aircraft carried red stars on the tops of the wings that often - am i just imagining this?

Also - more intriguingly for me - I wasn't aware that political officers were also pilots! I thought they just dealt with the "Love Stalin or else" aspects of stuff - or am I confusing them with Commissars - or am I getting a bit confused. An explanation would be most welcome!!

Theres one thing I don't doubt - your great grandfathers bravery - anyone that would take an I-16 into combat in 1941 must have had real balls!!

Great build there sir, and respect to you GGF - you honour him with this project.

Cheers

Jonners

[PetrOs]

A couple of questions if I may ask?

I wasn't aware that soviet aircraft carried red stars on the tops of the wings that often - am i just imagining this?

Most soviet aircraft carried the stars in 6 positions, some even in 8 (on the rudder).

Also - more intriguingly for me - I wasn't aware that political officers were also pilots! I thought they just dealt with the "Love Stalin or else" aspects of stuff - or am I confusing them with Commissars - or am I getting a bit confused. An explanation would be most welcome!!

There were both kinds of these. There were guys who only were trained as a political officer, not being capable of more then talking. There were however many officers assuming this position, due to personal motivation, or being "pressed" into it. Such officers flew and were a much more respected kind of. My greatgranddad ceased flying after an injury, as flying after receiving 14 7.92 mm bullets in the body and arms is not really possible...

Thanks for the nice comments to everyone!

Edited June 25, 2008 by PetrOs

[Buzby061]

Thats a really nice build of a subject I've always fancied doing but never got round to.

Hats off to your Great Grandfather.

[Old VG 33]

Hi PetrOs

This is a very nice kit of this little fighter. Nice colors and much emotion.

I have made one type 10 according the memories of a former Republican Spannish pilot. Later I gave him.

A little question though, was the type 28 fuselage made from metal instead of wood in the type 10?

Regards.

Patrick

[PetrOs]

Hi PetrOs

This is a very nice kit of this little fighter. Nice colors and much emotion.

I have made one type 10 according the memories of a former Republican Spannish pilot. Later I gave him.

A little question though, was the type 28 fuselage made from metal instead of wood in the type 10?

Regards.

Patrick

Nope, they were still wooden. However, the primer was silver, and in fact many aircraft started the war in the silver color. As long as I know, the primer was sticking to the wood much better then the main paint layer to the primer..

[Old VG 33]

Nope, they were still wooden. However, the primer was silver, and in fact many aircraft started the war in the silver color. As long as I know, the primer was sticking to the wood much better then the main paint layer to the primer..

Thank you very much PetrOs for this piece of information.

Patrick

[Cornish]

Great model, very intresting subject and thanks for sharing the historical connections.

[Hurrinut]

I do like I-16s great model or should that be Great Patriotic model?

[Guest snipersmudge]

super model and super history well done sir

[Mike]

Very nice... must be great to be able to model something that your family has a connection with. The only one I could do is a Vickers machine gun, if one existed, which my Grandad on my Dad's side operated during WWI. Won a medal too for knocking out some German artillery or machine gun posts (I forget which) singlehandedly, which I'm rather proud of

[Guest snipersmudge]

mike i think the firing line makes, or did make a vikers machine gun in 1/16th scale

[PetrOs]

mike i think the firing line makes, or did make a vikers machine gun in 1/16th scale

Thanks for the nice comments guys!

I have quite a bit of family history in the WWII.

This greatgranddad (dad of my granny on my mother's side) ended up as a Hero of Soviet Union, receiving it just after the war for his war actions.

Another one (father of my granddad on my dad's side) also was a HSU, receiving it also in the naval aviation. He started the war as a TB-3 tail gunner and later become a pilot. He flew a Pe-2 dive bomber and was a wingman of one of the most famous soviet bomber aces, Rakov in the raid when the Niobe AA ship was sunk. He was credited with a hit in that attack. He also survived the war.

Yet another one (dad of my granny, dad's side) fell in 1941 together with his son, the brother of my granny, and received a HSU posthumously... He, his son, and 1 other guy covered a withdrawal of their bataillion and held off a german mechanized column on a road for about a day... a crate of molotovs, crate of grenades, SMGs and 2 MGs. Only that third guy survived heavily wounded.

Uncle of my granddad father's side was a PT boat commander, and his brother served on an soviet escort destroyer in the pacific, covering the soviet landings on the curiles and shooting the first japanese aircraft shot down by the navy AA guns.

[seanrgb]

Great work