**** DONE: GB-53 1/48 Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 - Eastern Front

[FLYBOYJ]

The MyHeritage expanded pilots face. looking close now it appears that he is wearing glasses? Very hansom devil!
View attachment 660248

Looks like hair under his eye

 

[Wurger]

I had to try the MyHeritage site and their photo colorizer. Actually produced a much better rendition. A bit surprised that the reds did not appear? Maybe the star on the spinner was actually white? Although the fusalage star show grayish as well. The pilots face color is very good. When expanded (on the MyHeritage site) one can see (possibly) what appears to be a banged up right eye?
View attachment 660247

Nice...

Ralph Haus ... regarding the star on the spinner ... if you compare the shade of the star to the one on the fin you may find the tone of the colour almost the same. Well ... IMHO the star there was of the red. The star on the spinner wasn't the standard VVS marking and was applied in the regiment by the maintenance crew using any red paint they had.

Secondly, although these pics I have posted above show the same I-16 kite, the pilots in the cockpit are two different guys.
The source of the all pictures here : фотоархив . Частный архив военно-исторической фотографии

The top images presents Alexander Vasilievich Zakrevsky. Here his face and the orginal shot with the correct caption.

The bottom picture shows Vladimir Mikhailovich Gaidov. Here his face and the orginal shot labeled correctly.

And here is the orginal copy of the image with Vladimir Mikhailovich Gaidov in the cockpit .. as you may notice there is nothing on his face at the eye area. Also I can't see any glasses.

To compare here his enlarged face from all of the images here. IMHO the thing on his face was a kind of a dust while scanning retouched as the part of pilot's hat or hair.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Looks like hair under his eye

Or is that a she? Female pilots were not uncommon I suppose?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Or is that a she? Female pilots were not uncommon I suppose?

It's possible!

 

[SaparotRob]

I saw something on YT about Russian fighters. Paper Skies, I think. Could the spinner be red and the star gold?

 

[Wurger]

The gold star was given posthumously.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Yet another rendition. I thought this interesting that someone would decide to spend the time to create a drawing/painting of the yellow 27 scene.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Now to attach the small bits and color detail them. Not a very detailed model ( a bit disappointing) but is finishing out well for what it is.
A side comment. If the Vallejo colors are anywhere close to the actual factory painted colors, then these aircraft would have appeared as a virtual neon signs in the sky. Wow they a vivid!

 

[Jamoliva]

Very nice. Colors look good to me. These VVS colors were prone to fading in the field in a short time.

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Looking good Ralph. Very tidy

 

[Ralph Haus]

Waiting for the gloss coat to dry properly. Then decals, wheels and bombs. Then I wait until someone claims **FINISHED** first, then I submit

 

[fubar57]

I'm still waiting to claim finished on my GB-52 project

 

[SaparotRob]

Waiting for the gloss coat to dry properly. Then decals, wheels and bombs. Then I wait until someone claims **FINISHED** first, then I submit

View attachment 661225
View attachment 661223

Looking good!

 

[Wayne Little]

Neat little build.

 

[Wurger]

 

[le_steph40]

Very nice

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!

 

[Crimea_River]

Liking that.

 

[T Bolt]

That was quick! Looking real nice Ralph