Colour and markings of this I-16 are very similar to Zavod 51 I-16s on photos above. Is it possible that Tsokolaev's plane had been overhauled in Moscow?
How widespread was this nonstandard silver (or gray) scheme in 1942?
Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
You may answer in Russian, I can understand Russian and read cyrillic.
>Can anybody confirm that these photos were taken at Zavod 51 in Moscow in winter 1941/42?
А Вам мало того, что оригиналы фотографий были так подписаны? Только не зима 41-42, а зима 42-43...
>Does anybody have any information regarding the colour of these I-16s? Any opinion - were they silver, gray or white?
Самолеты были окрашены алюминиевой краской (так называемой "серебрянкой"), поверх которой наносился слой аэролака. Который со временем (weathtring) терял прозрачность, и на черно-белых снимках самолеты становились похожими на окрашенные в серый цвет.
>Following two photos are showing I-16 Type 24 of the 4th GIAP at Leningrad Front in early 1942. Pilot of this plane was G. Tsokolaev.
>Colour and markings of this I-16 are very similar to Zavod 51 I-16s on photos above. Is it possible that Tsokolaev's plane had been overhauled in Moscow?
Вряд ли И-16 авиации Балтийского флота ремонтировались в Москве. Серебрянкой самолеты красились на серийном заводе №21
>Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Спрашивайте - ответим! )
Thank you very much for detailed answers. Interesting information.
Thanks also for posting your collection on yandex.ru. Great collection! I posted link to your collection on a couple of English language aviation forums. I have stressed there that it’s a preview and that you are selling high resolution scans of individual photos or the whole collection. The word is out and hopefully you will get some orders.
>А Вам мало того, что оригиналы фотографий были так подписаны? Только не зима 41-42, а зима 42-43...
Silver camouflage would be quite unusual for winter 1942-43. An option is that planes were only primed with AII aluminum paint.
>Самолеты были окрашены алюминиевой краской (так называемой "серебрянкой"), поверх которой наносился слой аэролака.
Was that a clear (transparent) coat?
>Серебрянкой самолеты красились на серийном заводе №21
Only I-16 type 5 made in late 1937 were painted in silver in factory. All other were camouflaged with green upper surfaces. Tsokolaev’s I-16 is Type 24 and its one of those overhauled machines painted in silver. Some other paints like light gray are also possible. If it wasn’t overhauled in Moscow this nonstandard silver scheme was more widespread.
Maybe its заводские номера 2421321 may help to decipher its history. When was Tsokolaev's photo taken? Early 1942 or later?
>Самолеты были окрашены алюминиевой краской (так называемой "серебрянкой"), поверх которой наносился слой аэролака. Который со временем (weathtring) терял прозрачность, и на черно-белых снимках самолеты становились похожими на окрашенные в серый цвет.