ICM – 72051 – I-1 (IL-400b)

Description:

I-1 (IL-400b)
First Soviet Monoplane Fighter

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a Soviet Polikarpov I-1, as the title of the kit states, the first Soviet designed and build monoplane fighter. The subtitle IL-400b also gives us the information that it’s the second prototype, and base for the production series, redesigned after the first prototype crashed in its maiden flight. Two 7,62mm machine guns were its armament.

Produced in very limited numbers never was accepted into soviet air force service.

The kit consists just of 33 plastic parts, in two sprues and a single small clear part. Detail is crispy and well tooled, there is not flash on parts and everything looks ok, with special mention of the wings textures.

So the kit is well tooled, but it lacks of interior detail, cockpit area is totally flat, though probably the original aircraft was pretty basic too. Decal sheet includes one single marking, and looks ok, is not the best paper we have seen but despite the age of our example of the kit, they still looks good and workable.

Instructions are only 4 steps, considering the low number of parts, 33, it’s a more or less 8 parts per step ratio, so things are quite ordered in the steps and they looks easy to follow.

In summary is a recommendable kit if you have interest in the topic.