Red Star Volume 3 By Yefim Gordon and Keith Dexter Midland Publishing, 2002 ISBN 1-85780-131-8 128 Pages, Softbound $27.95
This latest title in the growing Red Star series from Midland Publishing takes a step back in time from their earlier titles, this time focusing on the stubby I-16 fighter. There is a growing interest in Soviet aircraft, likely brought on by the excellent models by such companies as ICM and Roden, and this book is a welcome reference for historians and modelers alike. Not only does this title cover the I-16 family, but it also covers the early beginnings with the IL-400 and IL-400b as well as the final successors of the lineage, the I-180 and I-185.
The text is well written and very clear, with the added benefit of having pronunciation guides for the Russian words. I’d always wondered how to pronounce some of these words, and now I know. In addition to the good text there are lots and lots of photos (over 150, all in black and white). Many of these I haven’t seen published before and they cover the plane from its early beginnings in the skies over Spain all the way through the Second World War. If color is your thing, there are also several pages of color profiles, again covering the complete lineage of this famous fighter. Finally, rounding out the book is a set of drawings showing side views of all the major types, a very useful addition to modelers trying to figure out just what plane they’re building.
If you’re looking for a decent reference on the I-16 and possibly some new and interesting schemes for your latest model, you’ll want to check this title out.
Available from Specialty Press either from their website or by calling 800-895-4585.
800-895-4585 .