Sunday, January 7, 2018

'Flight' from ValeryN - Soviet Aircraft

In the game system «Flames of War», to which I am now mainly playing, aviation is not an independent unit, but only provides support to troops on the battlefield. But with successful rolls of dice, it can solve a lot in the game (unless, of course, it is not destroyed by enemy anti-aircraft guns).

Therefore, I could not leave my Soviet army without aviation support.

All aviation in FoW is represented only by "battlefield planes" - dive bombers, ground-attack aircrafts and fighters, who tried to perform such functions.

In the USSR in the first year of the war there were not enough assault aircraft of special construction, so their role was played by obsolete fighters. I-16 was often used in this role.






Number 6 on this model is not just written. My grandfather joined his first fight on an I-16 with number 6. This happened on June 23, 1941 - on the second day of the war on the Eastern Front.

Lieutenant of the 162-Reserve Aviation Regiment Yakov Kirakosyan. 

He fought from June to September 1941 and shot down two German aircraft. During the Smolensk battle, he was seriously injured by a fragment of an anti-aircraft shell. After that, health was no longer allowed to fly on a fighter, but until the end of the war, he served as an instructor in the aviation school and trained young pilots.

However, not old fighters were destined to become the basis of Soviet ground-attack aviation. Since the fall of 1941, a large number of the IL-2 appeared on the Eastern Front of the Second World War.
This is the most massive military aircraft of all time. They were produced more than 36 000.




I tried to paint this model most similar to the plane of the famous Soviet ace Vasily Emelianenko. 




Soviet units of assault aviation carried terrible losses. Very few pilots survived the war from beginning to end. And Emelianenko is one of them.

I do not know how many points this work is. 


On the one hand, this is a vehicle for which according to the conditions of the challenge 6 points are required. On the other hand, in FoW, aviation is represented on a slightly smaller scale - 1/144. Therefore, I leave this to Curt.

18 comments:

  1. Very nice work, especially the small free hand work to recreate the real life markings.

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  2. Fantastic details on these, very well done!

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  3. Very characterful planes, and an interesting history as well.

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  4. I really enjoyed the personal story that goes with this model. A thank you to you grandfather for his service.

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  5. The models are terrific, but it's the personal history that is the real star here. It's interesting, as that errant anti-aircraft shrapnel in 1941 that probably saved your grandfather's life as he most likely would not have survived front line service from 1941-45. Amazing stuff.

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    1. Yes, both my grandfathers were seriously wounded during the war and, probably, because of this, remained alive.

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  6. Beautiful models indeed and the personal link really caps them off.

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  7. Great models, and what a cool story! Thanks for sharing this with us!!

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  8. Lovely work mate, and the personal touches are a nice tribute to two brave men.

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  9. This is splendid work Valery, and the personal connection makes this a very special entry indeed. Thanks for sharing your family history with us!

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  10. Respect to your grandfathe(to both of them actualy) and your wonderful paint job. A fine tribute to his service. I never get tired of hearing personal stories form World War II Vets.

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  11. Thanks to all for the positive feedback

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  12. Really fantastic entry, Valery!! I love the modelling, but the real life stories elevate this submission to be a really fantastic stand out in the contest. Really terrific!!

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  13. I always believed that in this kind of work on the event should be told a story. Unfortunately, many people have long just painted a miniature, which formally approaches the contest and says: "hey, give me extra points." But in front of me is history. And I am grateful to Valery.

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  14. Between the excellent pain work and the poignant story, this is just wonderful start to finish.

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  15. Great brushwork and an inspiring story. I thought the same thing as Curt- that the wound probably saved him from worse - I'm glad he made it through The Great Patriotic War.

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  16. Sharp aircraft, Valery! Very well painted and the detail to make the aircraft your grandfather's own is very well done!

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  17. Great post, nice planes and interesting personal history.
    Best Iain

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