Product Details

The Polikarpov I-16 was a Soviet fighter aircraft designed by Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov and was considered revolutionary for its time. Taking its first flight at the end of December 1933, it was the world's first low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear to attain operational status. It was also small, light and easy to build. It was produced between 1934 and 1942, during which time over 8600 were made, although it continued in use until the 1950s with the Spanish Air Force.

Our 1:72 scale aircraft is modelled on the I-16 Type 10, which was fitted with four ShKAS machine guns and featured a windscreen instead of the sliding canopy of previous types, all faithfully reproduced on our model. For winter operations, the Type 10 could also be fitted with skis when necessary, although not a part of our replica. With an overall olive drab colour scheme, the cockpit interior is green with the fine detail of a brown headrest! The four machine guns are highlighted in black, while the exhausts are given a rusty brown finish.