Sukhoi I-14bis

Small Stuff, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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The Company

Small Stuff is a new company to me. I will take the unusual step of stating straight away that, going on a first look basis, their I-14 kit is possibly the most realistic, best-detailed and best quality all-resin kit that I have ever seen; and at US$55, it is good value too. Do I have your attention? Good, because the same can be said of a variety of 1/72 & 1/144 scale detail and conversion sets that I shall be reviewing as well.

So make sure you take the time to check out Small Stuff’s website, as this company deserves to go from strength to strength in my opinion.

The Aircraft

I have copied the background to the I-14 directly from Small Stuff’s website:

The I-14 (ANT-31), a Soviet single-seat fighter was developed at Tupolev's design bureau by Pavel Sukhoi's team. It was the first all-metal monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear in the world. The first prototype powered by Bristol Mercury IVS-2 radial engine took off on May 27 in 1933. The second prototype, called ANT-31bis (I-14bis) was considerably redesigned, including a more powerful Wright Cyclone R-1820 F-2 engine, a smooth wing skinning instead of corrugated on ANT-31, different, outward-retracting landing gear and an open cockpit. ANT-31bis was armed with two synchronized PV-1 machine guns and two Kurchevsky APK-11 recoilless cannons in the wing. The aircraft successfully passed the state acceptance trials in 1934, and serial production was started at the new No 125 factory in Irkutsk. Production I-14 had an increased wheel track, R-1820 F-3 engine and was armed with machine guns only. State acceptance trials of the first production aircraft held in 1936 uncovered a serious problem - difficult spin recovery. The military refused to accept I-14, and the design bureau had to introduce several modifications, including a new tail-plane with an increased area, which finally allowed to solve the spin problem. However, by that time I-14's rival, a much cheaper and easier to produce Polikarpov I-16 was already in mass production. It was decided to terminate the I-14 production and scrap the unfinished aircraft at No 125 factory. Of 55 aircraft ordered only 18 were completed and entered service.

The parts, instructions and decals come in a small plastic bag with a card header, so small in fact, that it is hard to believe that a compete 1/72-scale fighter kit is enclosed within. The instructions use very clearly drawn diagrams and are printed in three colours. They are very easy to follow, and include one image of the real aircraft.

The parts a beautifully cast on easily removed pour stubs. They are amongst the best resin casting that I can recall seeing, and include some very small and incredibly fine pieces. A nice touch is that all parts are clearly numbered on their pour stubs, akin to mainstream injected kit sprue numbering.

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Thumbnail panels:

The kit breakdown is slightly unusual in that the fuselage behind the engine cowling is divided into front and rear halves, with the two wings providing the belly. The forward half includes integrally moulded cockpit detail, although this is expanded greatly by some very fine separate detail parts. The instrument panel is cast in clear resin, enabling the clear dial faces to be represented, although some careful masking of these will be called for, or a steady hand to paint around them. A decal provides the dial faces. The tiny cockpit is highly detailed, and in order to see more the boarding flap can be cut open. Somewhat surprisingly, the rounded handgrip of the control column must be scratch-built from wire; although a resin former is provided to ensure the correct size and shape is fashioned by the builder. Perhaps this approach is due to a tooling issue.

The airframe features some stunning surface detail. The stressed monocoque skin has a rippled effect along rivet the lines, and the fuselage also has various lapped and slightly raised panels. All much nicer than the almost de rigueur recessed panel lines found on mist kits. Very delicate rivet lines are also represented. The control surfaces feature very delicate corrugations. A clear resin canopy and navigation lights are also provided. Check out this article in Russian on mastering the kit, and the numerous photo images accompanying it – Modelling at it finest! 

The engine is a gem in itself, and accounts for much of the parts count, and is topped off with a very refined propeller.

The modeller will need to furnish the push-rods from plastic-rod or wire according to preference. The cowling is delicate and convincing and the propeller is very nicely executed too.

The undercarriage legs and their braces consist of fine metal rods within clear resin to provide strength with scale finesse. I assume that clear resin has been used to make the reinforcement visible to the modeller, and so reassure them that the parts have the necessary strength before they are painted.

The partially enclosed canopy clear and blemish free, although I would be inclined to give it a gentle polish with a suitable polishing paste and a coat of Future. Two clear navigation lights are included for the wing tips.

I have used Small Stuff’s website images, as my photography cannot better them. Included are a few images of the assembled and unpainted, but many more can be viewed by clicking here and scrolling down the linked page.

Colours & Markings

The kit has decals for one eye-catching colour scheme that will call for some careful masking.

The instructions advise that the upper surface colours are interpreted as being most likely red and light grey, or red and beige; or possibly blue in place of the red.

A small decal sheet of six red stars and a few small markings is provided, but aside from the instrument dials, only one small stencil appears to apply to the I-14 bis.

I think that the bulk of the sheet is for Small Stuff's I-14 Kit, #72001.

This is stunningly good little kit, with superb surface and interior detail, incredibly fine small parts, excellent scale finesse, and top quality casting.

Production quality is superb, and I think very good value too.

It is the best all-resin kit that I have encountered.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Small Stuff Models for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Mark Davies
Images from Small Stuff's website
Page Created 10 May, 2013
Last updated 10 May, 2013

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