Polikarpov Fighters 1/72 Scale Models

Soviet I-5 - This is a model of a biplane fighter that flew against Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. Most I-5s were relegated to training duties by this time, but a few were still in frontline service as ground support aircraft. The I-5 entered service in 1933, the same year the Soviets finally established diplomatic and commercial relations with the United States. This gave them access to American airplane engine technology, which resulted in the development of the subsequent Polikarpov I-15.

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Soviet I-15 "Chato" - This is a model of a biplane fighter that flew against the 1941 Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. By this time, most I-15s were relegated to training duties, but a few saw combat as fighters. The I-15 was developed from the I-5, and entered service in 1934. It was the first Polikarpov fighter to see combat when Stalin provided it to the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The Spanish Republican air force, the Fuerza Aereas Republicanas (FARE), nicknamed it the "Chato." The Republicans liked the plane so much they built more than 200 under a license from the Soviets before they surrendered in 1939. The I-15 was succeeded by the I-152, also called the I-15bis.

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Soviet I-16 Type 18 "Ishak" - This is a model of a fighter that flew against the 1941 Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. The I-16 was the most numerous Soviet fighter when Hitler launched his surprise attack in June. When it entered service in 1935, the I-16 was the first monoplane fighter in the world with retractable landing gear. It was continually developed and there were many versions. Its production continued until 1943, when more modern fighters finally became readily available. It first saw combat in Spain in 1936 when Stalin began providing them to the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Republicans called it the "Mosca" and their Nationalist opponents called it the "Rata." Beginning in 1937 it saw action in China after Stalin sent Soviet pilots and planes there to help the Chinese fight the invading Japanese. The I-16 was the last Polikarpov fighter because its successors, the I-180 and I-185, were not put into production.

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Soviet I-152 - This is a model of a biplane fighter that flew against the 1941 Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. The I-152 was used mostly for ground support during this campaign. It was designed in response to pilot complaints about poor visibility caused by the gull-shaped upper wing of the I-15. The I-152 entered service in 1937, even though the monoplane I-16 was already in use, because there was a strong faction in the Soviet air in favor of continued biplane development. The I-152 first saw combat when Stalin sent Soviet planes and pilots to help the Chinese fight the invading Japanese in 1937. Some I-152s were also sent to the Republicans toward the end of the Spanish Civil War. The I-152 was succeeded by the I-153 in 1939.

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Soviet I-153 "Chaika" - This is a model of a biplane fighter that flew against the 1941 Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. It saw widespread use in the ground support role during this campaign. The I-153 was the last Soviet biplane fighter and had retractable landing gear. Its development was the result of the problems its monoplane predecessor, the I-16, had dealing the the highly maneuverable Fiat C.R. 32 fighters encountered during the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately for the Soviets, the success of the C.R. 32 in Spain created a strong faction in the Soviet air force with the mistaken belief that the biplane was still an effective modern weapon. The I-153 entered service in 1939 against the Japanese along the Mongolian/Manchurian border at Khalkin-Gol. The Japanese were the opponents again when Stalin supplied I-153s to the Chinese in 1940. The Finns flew captured I-153s against the Soviets starting in 1941. Production of the I-153 ended in late 1940.

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Aircraft of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, Gerald Howson

Black Cross/Red Star: The Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume 1, Operation Barbarossa, Christer Bergstrom

Black Cross/Red Star; The Air War Over the Eastern Front: Resurgence, January - June 1942, Christer Bergstrom

Finnish Air Force 1939-1945, Kalevi Keskinen

Polikarpov's Biplane Fighters, Yefim Gordon

Polikarpov Fighters in Action, Part 1 Hans-Heiri Stapfer

Polikarpov Fighters in Action, Part 2 Hans-Heiri Stapfer

Polikarpov's I-16 Fighter, Yefim Gordon

Russian Fighter Aircraft 1920-1941, Heinz Nowarra

Soviet Aces of WWII, Hugh Morgan

Soviet Combat Aircraft of WWII: Fighters, Yefim Gordon

Spanish Civil War Air Forces, Christopher Shores

Stopped at Stalingrad; The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, 1942-1943, Joel Hayward