Username: Vic Balshaw
First name: Vic
Category: Judge – Non competing
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Eduard – Polikarpov I-16 Type 29
Model Type: Rumanian Air Force, 1941
Extras: Truly OOB, honest..........well maybe an addition replacement exhaust manifolds and it does have a lot of etched detail in the kit!!!!
This is my only entry into GB 12 and unfortunately apart from the information given in the instructions, I've been unable to find any other details.
When I saw Karl (rochie) playing with one of these a couple of builds ago, I just had to do one myself. This is an early I-16 type 29 with a bottom side single oil cooler air intake and was captured by advancing Rumanian forces in Moldavia in the summer of 1941. 19th Observation Escadrille operated the aircraft in the observation training role for IAR-29 crews. Later in 1941, about August-September it was used for trial flights with the IAR-80 fighter.
It is not certain if the aircraft wears the original VVS colours of dark green-light blue, or if it was over painted. It is however believed that Rumanian national markings were applied along with the Eastern Front identification marks of fuselage band, wing tip and in yellow.
Needless to say, if anybody has additional information on this machine and it's colouring, please by all means, just holler.