Polikarpov I-16

The ubiquitous Polikarpov I-16 was usually seen in green livery, but some were painted in AEh-9 light gray with black AEh-11 cowlings during the pre-war period. The spinners were usually painted white, although there were cases of spinners being painted black as well. A scratch-built camera has been added to the underside of the starboard wing, and such fast reconnaissance versions of the I-16 type 10, 18, 24 and 28 were used during the early phases of the war on the Eastern Front. Such aircraft did retain their armament of four ShKAS 7.62mm machine guns, and the latter types may have retained their cannon armament.

The kit is the Hasegawa I-16 type 18, which is an easy build. The figures, decals and oil drum is from the spares box, and since this is supposed to be a reconnaissance aircraft assigned to a higher headquarters, it is mounted on a concrete tarmac instead of a grass airstrip.