Polikarpov I-153 Chaika
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Kit Review
This is the ICM kit (#72074) reissued in a Revell box with new decals. The end-opening box contains all the parts in resealable bags, with the clear sprue separate from the grey-coloured ones. The single sprue shown in the instructions has been cut in half, so you actually get two grey sprues instead. Surface detail is a mix of engraved lines and rivets with raised ribs for the fabric areas. These latter ribs are more pronounced on the fuselage than the wings, giving a subtle look to the latter, which is more in keeping with the real thing. For such a small aircraft there are quite a few parts in the kit, with the distinctive style seat of the Polikarpov fighters being well depicted. The floor, rudder pedals, control column and instrument panel are all separate, with the latter also having a decal. The engine is one-piece, but is nicely moulded and has the pushrods separate. The front cowl ring with shutter is nicely moulded as well, but don't forget ATOL Hobby do an excellent photo-etched one that we reviewed here. None of the control surfaces are separate, but the undercarriage is nicely moulded and has positive locating holes. The propeller depicts the one without the spinner, and the counter-weights on it are separate. The kit also includes RS rockets and two sizes of FAB bomb.
Colour Options
The kit just offers a single decal option, as follows
• 'White 24' , flown by Capt. K.V. Soloviyev, 71st Fighter Regiment of the Baltic Fleet Air Force, Lavansaari, Summer 1941.
The colours are once again only given by Revell's own paint range, with no authentic colour codes or names, so a little research may be in order to find the correct shade in your preferred paint range.
The tiny decal sheet is printed in Italy and the images are matt, so you will have to contend with visible areas of carrier film around the 'White 24' decals.
Conclusion
Once again this kit is better than the ICM original for price, quality of decals and availability and is therefore recommended with slight reservations to all of you building VVS aircraft in this scale. Don't forget that Quickboost do some excellent updates for this kit, just check out our accessory reviews here for more details.
Our thanks to Revell GmbH (UK Branch) for the review samples. For more details on this and all other Revell products visit their website (www.revell.de/en)
This is the ICM kit (#72074) reissued in a Revell box with new decals. The end-opening box contains all the parts in resealable bags, with the clear sprue separate from the grey-coloured ones. The single sprue shown in the instructions has been cut in half, so you actually get two grey sprues instead. Surface detail is a mix of engraved lines and rivets with raised ribs for the fabric areas. These latter ribs are more pronounced on the fuselage than the wings, giving a subtle look to the latter, which is more in keeping with the real thing. For such a small aircraft there are quite a few parts in the kit, with the distinctive style seat of the Polikarpov fighters being well depicted. The floor, rudder pedals, control column and instrument panel are all separate, with the latter also having a decal. The engine is one-piece, but is nicely moulded and has the pushrods separate. The front cowl ring with shutter is nicely moulded as well, but don't forget ATOL Hobby do an excellent photo-etched one that we reviewed here. None of the control surfaces are separate, but the undercarriage is nicely moulded and has positive locating holes. The propeller depicts the one without the spinner, and the counter-weights on it are separate. The kit also includes RS rockets and two sizes of FAB bomb.
Colour Options
The kit just offers a single decal option, as follows
• 'White 24' , flown by Capt. K.V. Soloviyev, 71st Fighter Regiment of the Baltic Fleet Air Force, Lavansaari, Summer 1941.
The colours are once again only given by Revell's own paint range, with no authentic colour codes or names, so a little research may be in order to find the correct shade in your preferred paint range.
The tiny decal sheet is printed in Italy and the images are matt, so you will have to contend with visible areas of carrier film around the 'White 24' decals.
Conclusion
Once again this kit is better than the ICM original for price, quality of decals and availability and is therefore recommended with slight reservations to all of you building VVS aircraft in this scale. Don't forget that Quickboost do some excellent updates for this kit, just check out our accessory reviews here for more details.
Our thanks to Revell GmbH (UK Branch) for the review samples. For more details on this and all other Revell products visit their website (www.revell.de/en)
