Polykarpov I-16

[inkworm]

I was chatting to one of the Osprey editors a while ago and they were telling me that one of their artists (can't remember who) still uses airbrush for his profiles and creates a new bit of artwork for each profile, I suppose once templates are made, like with photo/illy it is easier with subsequent illustrations, but considering how clients can change their mind on a scheme on a whim layers do make life much much easier.

I saw a Il-16 last summer at Duxford, despite all the spitfires it had to be the highlight of the day for me, lovely little machine.

[Supah]

Heh walked past that very machine at Duxford that airshow I believe

[inkworm]

As long as it wasn't you getting in the way when I was taking the shot

I can't remember which day I went though, think it was the Sunday.

[pkassak]

Hmm, I skipped last Duxford...when I was there, Highlight were Lancaster and Yaks I guess

[Supah]

I was in Cambridge on Saturday, airshow on sunday and flew back via biggin hill (I think) and Ostende to Eelde

[gamary]

I saw it in La Ferté-Alais last year. I loved the shape and especially the sound. Sounds different from all the other warbirds. The Fw 190 was also really nice.

[x4btr]

Why not? It had two different engines AFAIK, but wing and the fuselage was all the series the same as well as wing and tail. Am I right? or totally wrong ?

Ermm... that would be 'wrong', then! (lol) Well, no offence of course-- I reckon most persons are not au fait with the technicalities of VVS aircraft. Not by a long stretch. I believe that was the reason for the Profile & Scale series, in fact....

But, I digress. There were a host of changes through the life of the I-16. The cowling changed with each version; sometimes in detail, sometimes quite dramatically. The engines started with the M-22 in the Type 4, then various M-25s (M-25A, M-25V), then the M-62 in the Type 18, and lastly the M-63 in the last models (Types 24, 28, 29). The Type 29 was highly re-designed, even the gear were a different length and the lower cowling bears little resemblance to any previous I-16.

Then there was the armament! And under wing stores and racks. And sundry details... It goes on. It is true that the fuselage from the firewall back was fundamentally similar in all versions, but again there were a host of items and details constantly changing on it, as well.

Any road, as I say, to profile this aircraft correctly one will need updated and accurate technical data. I suppose we can say that about all aircraft, indeed, and very much so about Soviet ones, given that most are not readily familiar with them.

[JMSmith]

then lets see some,

i will save me going through all my russian books on it

[pkassak]

later engine variant, later spinner hub variant...do not look at guns yet
very much a WIP

[x4btr]

Yes, well, this is the danger I was suggesting.... The spinner is that suitable for M-63 engined Types, such as the Type 24, 28, and 29. The cowling is most like that of the Type 10, but is missing some bits (intake, gun fairings, blast tubes, etc). The shape and length of the forward fuselage is quite strange, and will need some considerable revision.

I am afraid that the average profile artsit really will need to examine some better reference material on this aircraft to sort out the different versions.