It is very
interesting to consider how history is written. Look at this fighter from the
20's: mostly all metal, monoplane, and provided with a (then) powerful engine. I
didn't hear from this one very much, neither from the four-engine, WW1 Illya
Mourometz, although for sure they represented advanced technology and design for
its time. Like many remarkable planes from several countries, they seemed to be
somewhat ignored by the ones who decide how things should be seen.
Having built the company's TB-3, and compared to it, this little
Russian fighter is like an olive lying on the vast surface of a pizza. The
exterior detail is superb, there are few parts and the fit is mostly good. It
has a mild interior representation and one version is catered for.
I wonder about ICM's
insistence in multiplying the count of parts, specially where it is not
necessary. In this case the wing has a -welcome- "spar" that goes
through the fuselage, four "skin" panels on each side and separated
trailing edges. These include the ailerons, but the other, inner sections,
should be the seamless continuation of the wing. Out with the putty and the
patience. Oh, those tiny corrugations!
Click on
images below to see larger images
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A few
parts (wing tip skids and side handles) are to be provided by the modeler.
Nothing scary, though. White spray-can plastic primer, black spray-can plastic
paint and ready for the -thanks heaven- just two-tone metal exterior. The
external radiators -good detail here- were added later, as were the tail skid,
wheels, propeller and spinner. Don't glue the front lower fuselage radiator
until after you deal with the propeller and its retainer, with all painting
done. Then add the radiator part, closing the fuselage.
A quickie to enjoy.
Gabriel
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