[MOC] 1/32 Polikarpov's I-15 - personal aircraft of I. U. Pavlov

[Max_Lego]

Alongside with the Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk, I consider the I-15 to be one of the most beautiful biplane fighters of the 30s with an air-cooled engine: streamlined, gull-shaped upper wing, elegant wheel fairing... The I-15, nicknamed 'Chato' in Spain, became famous during the Spanish civil war, being the most iconic aircraft of the Republican air force, flown by Spanish pilots, Soviet volunteers and international mercenaries and outperforming He-51B's and C. R. 32s of the Frankists.

This particular I-15, however, isn't from Spain - it was the personal aircraft of the air defence of Moscow district commander Ivan Ulyanovich Pavlov, who was a WWI veteran and Russian Civil war flying ace. Starting with his I-4, all aircraft flown by Pavlov were painted silver, with red chassis, rudder and wing struts, a red banner with a 'Za V. K. P. (b)!' (for the A. C. (b) P. - All-union Communist (bolshevik) Party) and Pavlov's personal emblem on the rudder - a bent arrow, the former emblem of the 1-st Airplane squad during the Civil war, where G. S. Sapozhnikov also served. The I-15 was his last airplane - he passed away in 1936 from his Civil war wounds.

This biplane MOC is not my best, yet it still looks nice and is accurately at 1/32 scale. Designing the undercarriage was tricky, but relatively quick, yet it took some time to make it sturdy.

The cockpit fits a pilot minifigure and has an instrument panel and a rear-view mirror:

 

Edited September 29, 2024 by Max_Lego

[Feuer Zug]

Nicely done. The engine cowling design is interesting, but from the source material, looks fairly accurate. I like the 1x1 round plate for tyres too. I'd did the same on my GeeBee Model Z. Must be a massive engine if the pilot is level with the top wings.

[Max_Lego]

@Feuer Zug, thanks! Your Gee Bee model Z is very nice. The I-15 aircraft had a licensed copy of the Wright Cyclone R-1820 F-3 engine with a Townend ring

[Max_Lego]

I slightly upgraded my I-15's wings and pilot seat. Here's a picture of it with its monoplane counterpart - the I-16 M-22 (type 4):

 

[Max_Lego]

Thanks for the new wing fairing, the I-15's wings are now much sturdier. I also redesigned them to look better in shape (using tiles to make them smoother is another goal yet to achieve):