P-61 Black Widow...

This huge night fighter has an extensive and successful operational life in the last stages of the Pacific Theater.

It's not really the subject I'll should choose in a first look, but its size and menacing aspect catch the attention of anyone who see at the showcase...

Academy kit in 1/72th scale is a very good rendition to this monster.
 

   

KOR-1 or Be-2...not good enough for production

This ugly aircraft was one of the first soviet hydroplane indigenous design. Was the idea of the novel Beriev, who will become the most important hydroplane designer of the URSS and of the world maybe.

the A-model kit in 1/72 is a good rendition to this little known plane.

 

Iliushin Il-4...the Red workhorse

Il-4 was the most important multi purpose soviet aircraft in the ww2...not so versatile like the German Ju-88 but equally ubiquitous in all the eastern front.
This is the decent Zvezda kit (repacked by Revell) in 1/72 scale. Exceedingly soft white plastic, easy to over sanding, but should become a good enough model. The most difficult to job is the glassed nose; the fit is not good, the transparent plastic is bristle and opaque and the final result is... hum...some areas are very good designed like the engine grids...

Clearly this aircraft deserves an up-to-date kit by the main manufacturers.

The kit offer various kind of armaments...I'd decide to use a very unknown aerial sea mine: the AMG-1 used by the soviet navy. The kit instruction don't get any mention of it.
 

 

I-1 and I-5...Polikarpov early designs

This great soviet designer leaded the first soviet fighter design teamwork...the first product of this office was the I-1 (I for Istrebitel = Fighter) followed by I-4 in the early twenties.

The models was made with the superb 1/72th ICM kits. The I-1 kit needs some work due to the tricky wings engineering design. I-4 molds are magnificent.

Both projects are a good opportunity to natural metal finish training...