Well, what to do? Can you make an accurate I-153 with the existing 1:72 resources? Let us have a look at that question. And, as well, we'll explore some other I-153 matters in the process....

The Kits
There are essentially two I-153 molds in 1:72 today. Indeed, these have traveled under many names, and have been released under more labels than perhaps we even know. The basic molds are from Heller, which date (I recall) to the 1980s, and from A-Model, which was based on the Heller to some extent, and which dates from the 1990s.

Heller

The original Heller mold has been released by no fewer than 3 companies to date, including SMER, AER (with modifications), etc. Judging by this kit, one sees no evidence that there is in fact an actual I-153 (admittedly, of dubious detail and pedigree, but nonetheless at least partly genuine) in the collection of the Musee de l'Air in Paris. That Heller is a French company is all the more perplexing. How can this be so, and from whence did this kit's outline and details devolve?

The latter question can be answered definitively, at least. The Heller kit is clearly based upon drawings which eventually appeared in Miranda and Mercado's book on aviation in the Spanish Civil War [Aviacion Mundial en Espana Guerra Civil 1936-39 ]. The appearance and detail of the Heller mold is largely a replica of the line drawings offered in this volume. At the time these drawings were completed they must have seemed to be the best available in the Western world. Perhaps they were (though, recall that modeling magazines from Eastern Europe were available at the time, and with better drawings), but this does not at all explain why any set of drawings would have been used in lieu of an examination of an actual specimen. In one's own national air museum, no less.

Furthermore, even the most cursory glance at the Musee's example shows that the drawings are quite inaccurate. Beyond the fact that the drawings in Miranda and Mercado's book (quite intriguingly) show an early manufacture M-62 aircraft of the 1939 period, it is blatantly obvious that the wing/fuselage shape and details are simply not related to the actual I-153's in any manner. It is hard to believe that any master maker for the Heller mold could have missed such a glaring problem. Is it possible that the master maker looked at the Musee example at all? It seems that some examination of the Musee example must have been undertaken, because the model differs in respect to the Aviacion drawings with respect to the over-all dimensions of the aircraft, and this would seem to indicate that at least fundamental measurements were taken of the actual machine. More than that, however, one is not inclined to accept that a thorough examination of the airframe was made.
 

Amodel

It seems to me that Amodel certainly based their I-153 kit on the Heller mold to some extent. The similarity in many regards (the wing and sprue arrangement, especially) to that kit are too strong to explain in any other way. Alas. However, A-Model must have had access to improved I-153 drawings. I would suspect most likely, here, those from the 1982 series (I forget the issue) of MK magazine. Basically, the fuselage detail in those drawings was poor, and the wing detail was ok, but perhaps not great.

This situation is mirrored in the A-Model kit. The fuselage has been reworked slightly from the Heller mold. It is not, unfortunately, any nearer to the realms of accuracy, however. The detail here is partly recessed, and rather nice as a matter of fact. The wings are certainly reworked Heller units. The absurd ribbing detail of the Heller unit's centre-section is gone, and some attempt has been made to improve the detail on the wing surface. However, the shape and planform is largely unchanged, and therefore equally erroneous. The same is true of the stabilizers, and so forth.

Was it the case that A-Model chose not to re-engineer the kit? The attempts to modify several features shows that A-model must have known that there were serious problems. Was it too expensive, perhaps? We will probably never know....

AER

Essentially, this mold seems to be an adaptation of the Heller effort. Alas, many of the kit details have been replicated with very poor raised detail work. This type of "detail" is pretty poor, and in most cases fails to line up on the model.

SMER

Another issue of the Heller mold.

Detailed Parts Analysis

Before deciding how, or whether, to proceed, let's look at the kits' parts in some detail. For reference, we will compare them to drawings based upon Mikhail Maslov's superlative work in his title "I-153" (from Teknika Molodezhi Pubs.) [Ed Note: as well, in a few months modelers will be able to examine the outstanding drawings in my own book for reference]. Once again, the brilliant historian Maslov has provided ground-breaking research and analysis of the Polikarpov OKB's designs, here with regards to the wonderful Chaika.

Fuselage

Heller

A-Model

Further comment is probably not required. I cannot see how this model's fuselage can claim to depict the I-153 fighter. That may sound harsh, but with access to excellent written material, in addition to drawings from not only MK magazine, but also KP, KR, and IA model magazines, as well as from Shavrov's books, how could A-Model fail to get right at least the fundamental measurements? To the degree of one fifth the length of the entire fuselage! I am at a loss....

Wings

Heller/AER

The image here is actually of the AER wing, but it mirrors the shape and size of the Heller unit entirely (see the parts scan above). In addition to being severely distorted and asymmetrical, the Heller mold presents a wing centre-section that defies all logic. This completely ludicrous ribbing detail is certainly from the Aviacion drawings, and indeed the entire central portion of the wing is appalling. The hugely oversized aileron trim tabs are a curiosity, as well. The unit also lacks all form of dihedral, seen from the frontal aspect. In short, the wing is atrocious.

A-Model

In the area of the wings A-Model certainly has done slightly better. There still is an enormous gap between the kit's wing and the actual appearance, but at least the ridiculous ribs are no longer present, and some attempt has been made to clean up the wing surface detail. Again, there is no attempt to provide for proper dihedral, and the span is a bit short, as can be seen.

Lower Wings

Stabilizers

Heller/AER/A-Model

Cowling

It proved too difficult to scan in an image of the cowling that could be used for a scale drawing comparison, alas. This line drawings shows the correct appearance of the M-62 engined unit. Even a cursory glance at all of the I-153 kits shows that none of the cowling units resembles this drawing. The A-Model cowl is perhaps closest, but still rather far from the shape and detail that one would like to see.

Various Parts

The breakdown of the remaining sundry parts on all of these kits is again nearly identical (another A-Model image, here). None of them are particularly noteworthy. The main interplane struts are poor, as are the braces for the stabilizers. The engine is rudimentary, but as this really cannot be seen, it would matter little. The cowling face plate is poor, and does not represent the actual item at all. The cockpit detail is, well, exceedingly basic. And, so on.

Good Heavens, Now What!?

Well, an excellent question. Alas, I cannot offer a suitably outstanding answer. My impression, speaking as a medium ability modeler, is that I cannot personally see how to proceed with any of these kits. A master class modeler might attempt to perform a very serious 'kit-bash'. Using essentially the best bits of the two molds, one might try to graft the rear Heller fuselage onto the A-Model front fuselage, just at the cockpit. The A-Model upper wing would be used, and would have to have the tips suitably lengthened. The lower wing would have to be re-shaped, probably again best using the A-Model unit. The same is true for the stabilizers. The entire model would have to be rescribed, by all means. All sundry details like struts and such would have to be scratch-built. Lastly, the cowling would probably have to be scratch-built, or possibly based upon the A-Model unit with much re-working.

I would say that the opportunity surely exists for a new and correct I-153 kit in 1:72. This is a critical aircraft in regards to VVS modeling, and the beloved Chaika served in various other countries, as well. That there is simply no reasonable way to make a model of this aircraft in 1:72 scale is a disappointment, to say the least....