I-153 Chinese Guomindang AF World War II fighter 1:48 ICM 48099

Plastic model airplane kit: I-153 Chinese fighter Guomindang AF from World War II 1:48 ICM 48099

The plastic model kit I-153 Chinese fighter Guomindang AF from World War II in 1:48 scale, offered by ICM, is an excellent proposal for model-making enthusiasts and aviation history lovers. This detailed set allows for the recreation of one of the most famous fighter aircraft from World War II, which played a significant role in various armed conflicts of that period.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:48
• Manufacturer: ICM
• Catalog number: 48099
• Option to choose markings for four different aircraft from the Chinese Guomindang air force from 1940-1941

History and design of the I-153 aircraft: The I-153, also known as I-15ter, is a single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft designed at the design bureau of N. N. Polikarpov in the USSR. Its first flight took place in August 1938, and by 1941, a total of 3,437 units were produced. This aircraft was an evolution of the earlier I-15bis model, with significant changes introduced, such as a gull wing, manually retractable landing gear, and a more powerful engine.

The design of the I-153 included a metal fuselage with a steel tube truss, covered with duralumin sheets and fabric. The wings were wooden, with a two-spar structure, covered with birch plywood and fabric. Characteristic of this model was the bend of the upper wing at the fuselage, giving it a unique appearance. The aircraft was powered by a nine-cylinder engine in a single star configuration, with the possibility of using various engine versions such as M-25M, M-62, or M-63.

Combat use: The I-153 made its combat debut during the border incident with Japan in 1939, known as the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. These aircraft demonstrated excellent maneuverability, although their speed was lower compared to Japanese machines. In August 1940, 93 I-153 units were transferred to the Chinese Guomindang air force, where they served until 1943. These aircraft also participated in the Winter War with Finland and in the early stages of the German invasion of the USSR in 1941. Although from 1943 they were transferred to training units, they remained in combat use in the Far North and Far East until 1945.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. To assemble, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.