1:48 I-16 Test Stands (3D Print)

Stands for the model of the I-16 fighter, 1:48 scale

An accessory set for the model of the Soviet Polikarpov I-16 fighter. The name gives the designation Test Stands and the detail that it is made by 3D printing. It is not an aircraft model but equipment for the area around it. It belongs to the group of accessories that are not conspicuous in themselves, but without which the surroundings of a finished machine look empty.

The real subject

The I-16 was a single-engine low-wing aircraft with a short stocky fuselage and retractable landing gear, introduced into service in the mid-1930s. It was among the first production fighters of this layout and it was used in Spain, in China and in the first months of the fighting on the Eastern Front. Thanks to its barrel-like fuselage it is unmistakable at first glance.

Working with printed parts

• Cut the remains of the print supports off with a sharp knife, never break them off.
• Hold the thin legs of the stand while sanding, as they bend easily.
• Glue the joints with cyanoacrylate glue; cement for plastic will not help here.
• Apply a thin primer before painting so that the shade behaves evenly.
• Protect your airways while sanding and work in a ventilated space.

Who the set suits

Builders of aviation hardware in 1:48 who want to place a model in the setting of a field station, and builders of dioramas looking for equipment to go around a machine. With further items of a station a believable background arises. The number of pieces, the dimensions and the exact purpose of the individual parts cannot be read from the name and are not stated here.