Polikarpov I-16 Sprinter - Finished Pics Pg 4

zenrat · October 30, 2018, 11:50:21 PM

Gee Beeski?
Almost the smallest 1/72 aircraft in my stash, this will be getting racing upgrades.

I-16 31-10-18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

perttime · October 30, 2018, 11:57:43 PM

Different cockpit canopy, remove some bumps, racing colors?

zenrat · October 31, 2018, 12:24:04 AM

Red with blue racing stripes - Russian team colours for the Aerolympics.

Dizzyfugu · October 31, 2018, 04:23:57 AM

Neat. I have also thought about an I-16 as a (great patriotic) racer - looking forward to this one.

Tophe · October 31, 2018, 07:23:05 AM

Somehow, a racing I-16 would be like an updated Gee-Bee, no?

NARSES2 · October 31, 2018, 07:38:06 AM

Quote from: Tophe on October 31, 2018, 07:23:05 AM
Somehow, a racing I-16 would be like an updated Gee-Bee, no?

I had similar thoughts Tophe

zenrat · November 02, 2018, 01:17:21 AM

I've started.
Joystick and floor/armoured seat back glued to wing centre section.
Props and Engines box rummaged in but no decision made yet.

This thing really is tiny. Perfect for a race plane.
It looks very well engineered and i'm looking forward to putting it together.

Tophe · November 02, 2018, 01:41:17 AM

Quote from: zenrat on November 02, 2018, 01:17:21 AM
This thing really is tiny. Perfect for a race plane.

Yes, this is the GeeBee principle: minimum aircraft/drag&weight after a big engine!

zenrat · November 11, 2018, 12:44:49 AM

Some progress on the GeeBeeski.

GeeBeeski WIP 11-11-18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Bare metal interior and formed plywood seat back to save weight.
Nose guns removed.
Paint pot for scale.

Tophe · November 11, 2018, 01:01:28 AM

Good! I love this GeeBeeski start!

Rick Lowe · November 11, 2018, 03:36:26 PM

Do you have a spare Corsair or Beaufighter engine/cowling? Or are they too small diameter? How about A-26?

zenrat · November 12, 2018, 01:50:56 AM

I have a particular engine in mind. I have yet to offer it up to the fuselage.

zenrat · November 13, 2018, 02:38:42 AM

Hardly any modelling time today (working 0600 to 0900 and then 1200 until 1700) but I did manage to get the engine mounting bulkhead attached.
This means I can start playing with engines.

Tophe · November 13, 2018, 02:51:48 AM

Yes play and we will enjoy

zenrat · November 14, 2018, 02:58:24 AM

Lots of progress today.
First of all, an engine has been selected.

GeeBeeski WIP 14-11-18 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
I'll come up with a Russian name when I write the back story but it's an Airfix Bristol Hercules from the new Beaufighter tool.

And then I glued the wings on, had lunch and then dealt with the joints. The outer wings are one piece items with a complicated stepped join. This needed filler and there was a step. There was also a step at the rear of the centre section underneath. It might have been possible to avoid the step on the outer wing joins by shimming the underneath part but then the step at the back would have been even worse.
On the plus side all the fuselage seams and interior fits up to this point were perfect.

GeeBeeski WIP 14-11-18 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Now the tricky bit. Blending in cowlings.