Begemot 1/32 Polikarpov I-16 Family Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Begemot Decals is an interesting decal company from Rostov-on-Don, Russia that offers a nice array of markings for Soviet-built aircraft. In this release, Begemot produces a Polikarpov superset for the MPM/Special Hobby series of 1/32 I-16 kits. In this set, there are 47 different aircraft portrayed and it takes four sheets of decals to accomplish this feat. Let's take a look at the subjects covered:

1. I-16 Type 10, 70 IAP, 3, Soviet AF, Tamsag-Bulak, 1939
2. I-16 Type 10, 70 IAP, 5, Soviet AF, Tamsag-Bulak, 1937
3. I-16 Type 10, 60 IAP, Soviet AF, Dzemgi, 1940
4. I-16 Type 10, Research Aircraft, Moscow, 1939
5. I-16 Type 10, 122 IAP, 15, Soviet AF, 1937
6. I-16 Type 10, unk IAP, 5/7, Soviet AF, Khalhin Gol conflict, 1939
7. I-16 Type 10, unk IAP, captured by German Army
8. I-16 Type 10, 145 IAP, 23, Soviet AF, Shonguy, 1941
9. I-16 Type 10, 1 Sqn/70 IAP, 2, Soviet AF, Tamsag-Bulak, 1939
10. I-16 Type 10, 728 IAP, 91, Soviet AF, 1941
11. I-16 Type 17, 5 IAP, 6, Soviet Baltic Fleet Aviation, 1939
12. I-16 Type 17, 22 IAP, 51, Soviet AF, Khalhin Gol conflict, 1939
13. I-16 Type 17, 191 IAP, 8, Soviet AF, Leningrad, 1941
14. I-16 Type 17, 191 IAP, 43, Soviet AF, Leningrad, 1941
15. I-16 Type 18, 13 AP, 5, Soviet Baltic Fleet Aviation, 1941
16. I-16 Type 17, 4 GIAP, 28, Soviet Baltic Fleet Aviation, Novaya Lagoda, 1942
17. I-16 Type 18, Plant 51 Overhaul, 1941
18. I-16 Type 24, 13 OEh, Soviet Baltic Fleet Aviation, 1940
19. I-16 Type 24, 32 IAP, Soviet Black Sea Fleet Aviation, 1941
20. I-16 Type 24, 72 SAP, 13, Soviet North Fleet Aviation, Murmansk, 1941
21. I-16 Type 24, 72 SAP, 10, Soviet North Fleet Aviation, Murmansk
22. I-16 Type 24, 67 IAP, 72, Soviet AF, South Front, 1941
23. I-16 Type 24, 4 GIAP, 34, Soviet Baltic Fleet Aviation, Vystav, 1942
24. I-16 Type 24, 286 IAP, 30, Sovet AF, Leningrad Front, 1942
25. I-16 Type 24, 4 GIAP, 21, Soviet Baltic Fleet Aviation, Ladoga, 1942
26. I-16 Type 24, 27 IAP, 52, Soviet North Fleet Aviation, 1943
27. I-16 Type 24, 72 SAP, 11, Soviet North Fleet Aviation, Murmansk, 1941
28. I-16 Type 24, 254 IAP, 27, Soviet AF, Leningrad Front, 1943
29. I-16 Type 24, 43 IAP, Soviet AF, Kharkov Operation, 1942
30. I-16 Type 27, 975 IAP, 16, Soviet AF, Kuban Region, 1943
31. I-16 Type 28, 69 IAP, 01, Soviet AF, Odessa, 1941
32. I-16 Type 28, unk IAP, 4, Soviet AF, South Front, 1941
33. I-16 Type 28, 79 SAP, 51, Soviet North Fleet Aviation, 1941
34. I-16 Type 10, CM-158, 1 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1939
35. I-16 Type 10, CM-170, 4 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1937
36. I-16 Type 10, CM-174, 4 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1937
37. I-16 Type 10, CM-193, 3 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1937
38. I-16 Type 10, CM-222, 4 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1937
39. I-16 Type 10, CM-249, 21 AG, Spanish Republican AF, 1937
40. I-16 Type 10, CM-215, 5 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1938
41. I-16 Type 10, CM-253, 6 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1938
42. I-16 Type 10, CM-260, 4 AS, Spanish Republican AF, 1938
43. I-16 Type 10, 26 AG, Spanish AF, 1944
44. I-16 Type 10, 2409, 24 Sqn, Chinese AF, 1940
45. I-16 Type 10, 71, unk Sqn, Chinese AF, 1939
46. I-16 Type 10, 94, unk Sqn, Chinese AF, 1940
47. I-16 Type 10, 26 Sqn, Chinese AF, 1937

As you can see, this decal set provides a wide variety of national Air Forces as well as some interesting markings for the MPM/Special Hobby kits. If you've been considering some unique I-16 projects, this is the one-stop decal set to offer you (and your entire club) a nice selection of Polikarpovs.

For more information about this set and the other releases from Begemot Decals, visit their website at http://www.begemotdecals.ru.

My sincere thanks to Begemot Decals for this review sample!