WGS Eastern Front - 1/200 AIM Soviet Polikarpov I-16 'Rata' Typ24's

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Hello all,

Another two 1/200 AIM models are ready for combat, this time a fighting pair of Polikarpov I-16 'Ratas' completed as Soviet Typ 24's. They are patterned after 'White 3' flown out of Odessa on the Black Sea in the summer of 1941 by 69th IAP CO Lev Shestakov. His wingman is 'White 8'. Shestakov was the highest scoring Soviet pilot who saw action during the Spanish Civil War credited with 8 personal and 31 group kills. During WW2 he flew 200 sorties and was credited with another 26 victories. In 1944 Shestakov was shot down and killed, legend has it by the rear gunner of Stuka Expert Hans Ulrich Rudel.











I wasn't too crazy about the AIM red star decals - the red colour was quite washed out and they have a white border which was not introduced until later in the war. The underside all red decals weren't too bad.



So two more Soviet fighters to join the rest of my Red Air Force ready to resist the Fascist invaders during those hard early months of the Great Patriotic War!

[Lloydthegamer]

Oh boy, two more targets....er fighters. Great job on them despite the decals, they look sharp. Lloyd

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Oh boy, two more targets....er fighters. Great job on them despite the decals, they look sharp. Lloyd

Thanks Lloyd. If I can find some better decals down the track I may apply them over the original insignia.

[somaliavet]

Great job! The I-16 is one of my favorites!

[Biggles downunder]

Carl, great little planes - I remember building the Revell 1/72 model when I was a kid.

BTW how do you create the data markings on the base?

[Doug]

Nice models Carl, it is a pity there is a lack of Russian decals out there.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Carl, great little planes - I remember building the Revell 1/72 model when I was a kid.

BTW how do you create the data markings on the base?

Hi Wayne,

I made images using MS paint and print them out on clear decal paper which I apply to the Litko bases. The design matches the old Wings of War version as I first made them in 2009.

Here are some examples for WGF and WGS, both blank and aircraft specific:











Finished product:

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Nice models Carl, it is a pity there is a lack of Russian decals out there.

Thanks Doug.

I'm sure there are good ones out there, I just have to find them and buy them. The other German, Japanese and Allied AIM decals I have used so far have been quite OK, I'm hoping these were just a bad batch.

[Biggles downunder]

Thanks For the images Carl. Do you coat them with any sort of clear coat to protect them?

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks For the images Carl. Do you coat them with any sort of clear coat to protect them?

I just added a finished product image to the post. Yes, you can spray them with Testors sealant.

[Biggles downunder]

Wow - replies in real time! They look very professional Carl. A high standard for me to aspire to!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Wow - replies in real time! They look very professional Carl. A high standard for me to aspire to!

The joy of (almost) the same timezone! I would have loved to be in SA today, at the Oval to be precise, to watch a great game of cricket.