Polikarpov i-16 typ 5 conversion in 1/144 -zvezda kit

[yak face]

Following on from the i-16 I did a while back in captured romanian markings heres one I wanted to do off the comprehensive aftermarket decal sheet . Its a typ 5 version of the i-16 , which was the first real production type . The type saw action in the spanish civil war and early ww2 . The Zvezda 1/144 i-16 kit im using represents a much later type , probably typ 12 onwards . The main differences of the typ 5 were - fully enclosed , forward sliding canopy ( including hole for tube gunsight ) , full width ailerons , only wing machine guns , none in nose and subsequently no bulges on cowling . First off I sanded off the bulges for the nose guns and filled and rescribed the ailerons to full width ( including sanding in a couple of scallops to match the rest of the ailerons fabric effect ). After the body and wings were joined i fixed the cowling front and sanded off the nose guns at the top and carb intake at the bottom .
One of the trickiest jobs for this conversion is the canopy . The kit supplies a single small screen for the later versions but a fully enclosed one is required . I started by sticking two stirring sticks together and sanding and shaping these to make a former. Then i crash moulded loads of canopies until i got one i was happy with , which was trimmed and will be fitted later . The sides of the cockpit were built up slightly and the two canopy slide rails made from very fine plastic strip. The airframe has now been primed black . Next up paint then the job of painting the canopy frame !:anguished::anguished:

[papa 695]

Fantastic work so far Tony, that is really TINY.

[Jim R]

Hi Tony
Just building this would tax the eyes but doing a conversion is just crazy. It looks as if you are well on with this. Making a new canopy is clever.
Jim

[Tim Marlow]

Excellent work. Love the way it came together under primer. These tiny aircraft are very appealing, especially when made so well.

[Neil Merryweather]

1-87? Pah! THIS is braille scale.
Stunning stuff Tony!

[Mini Me]

Wait a minute..........I resemble that scale ........1-87 is "sub braille" scale and 1-144 is "micro braille" scale.
Anything else is BIG!! LOL:thumb2: Excellent work on this Tony always like to see micro surgery being performed at this level. Rick H.:nerd:

[JR]

Tony,
I built one of these in my rare venturing into things of flight, thought mine was small enough at 1/72 , this is off the scale ! Great to see it turning out so well.

[yak face]

Masked up and got the green on ( a 11) . I had to attach it to a stirring stick so it wouldnt blow away when i was spraying it :smiling5: .Next up is the red band and red wing tips .

[Mini Me]

Heck Tony, it's an airplane.........it's supposed to fly! :tongue-out3: :tongue-out2::tongue-out:......nice color.....should look the "Dogs" when you get the red on it. Rick H.

[JR]

With a nice light blue underside ?

[yak face]

With a nice light blue underside ?

oops , yes john forgot to put the pic up of the underside , that was done first before the green

[papa 695]

Great painting Tony

[yak face]

Masked up for the red and while i was at it masked up another one ive started - this second ones going to be in Finnish markings with scratchbuilt skis . Both were given a base coat of white first then a blast of the colours . Theyve both now been demasked and the spanish ones had a coat of klear , ready for the decals .

[papa 695]

Both looking good Tony.

[yak face]

Decals on now and a few TINY paint jobs done - exhausts , guns , undercarriage and the pilot . The undercarriage is now fitted and ive added the distinctive steel ring round the cowling from aluminium tape cut into a thin strip . Next is a flat coat then its the hard job - the canopy