1/48 Gavia Polikarpov Po-2

by Tamer Ozkan

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  Turkey Republic Day 2005

 

The  Polikarpov  U-2 or Po-2 served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukruznik .

The reliable, uncomplex and forgiving aircraft, powered by a 99 hp Shvetsov air-cooled radial engine, first flew in January 1928. Initially the Po-2 (it did not take this name until 1944) served as a trainer and crop duster.  

Two Polikarpov Po-2 's had been given as a gift to the celebrations of the 10th year of Turkish Republic at 1933 by the USSR government with ANT-9 and Polikarpov R-5's.
These Po-2's used at the parachute trainings at the THK (Turkish Air League), "Turkkusu" ( Turkish Bird) branch.

Although entirely outclassed by contemporary aircraft, the Kukuruznik served extensively on the Eastern Front in WWII as a light ground attack and general supply aircraft. German Wehrmact  troops nicknamed the craft the Nähmaschine (sewing machine) for its rattling sound. Its low cost and easy maintenance led to a production run of over 30,000, and manufacturing of the model continued into the 1950s.

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The kit is the Gavia and I mostly built out of the box, except the exhaust detail on the engine which was inaccurate. I rebuilt it by using some brass rods. I used fishing line for the rigging.  The star and crescent decals were PM decals.

Tamer

Photos and text © by Tamer