Contact Resine 1/32
Polikarpov I-16 Type 10 Dry Transfers

On a recent pass through the Design & Marketing International website, I spotted some interesting dry transfers that I couldn't resist. Under the brand name of Contact Resine are two sets of markings for the Polikarpov I-16, one set for the Type 10, the other for the Type 24. I decided to try out a set of the Type 10 markings as I don't want to build another standard Soviet Air Force I-16.

The I-16 Type 10 set comes on three sheets of dry transfers, printed by HobbyDecal for Contact Resine. It is clear from the profiles that this project was a research labor of love. Nine Type 10s are represented here with a WIDE variety of subjects to choose from:

• I-16 Type 10, Red 4, Training Unit, 1944
• I-16 Type 10, White 94, Chinese Air Force, 1940-41
• I-16 Type 10, White 16, 21st IAP, as flown by Lt Anatoli G. Lomakin
• I-16 Type 10, mottled camo, as captured by the Germans in the Ukraine, 1941
• I-16 Type 10, overall white, captured by Japanese forces in China and test flown, 1939
• I-16 Type 10, White 91, 728 IAP, Kalinin Front, 1942
• I-16 Type 10, White 7, 178 IAP, Moscow PVO, 1941
• I-16 Type 10, 1-W-30, Spanish Air Force
• I-16 Type 10, 1-W-6, Republican AF, Spanish Civil War

Note on the dry transfers the various styles of red stars, some solid, some with black outline, some with white outline, and the standard red/white outline. Some of the stars are symmetrical, others are warped to fit within spaces. These are all nicely replicated to photos.

So why would you want to use these dry transfers instead of decals that are usually half the price? Two reasons - time and precision. When you use waterslide decals, you can only apply so many at a time before you run the risk of damaging or moving some while applying more. All you can do is stop after so many, wait for the 30-60 minutes for them to dry, then press on. With dry transfers, once they're rubbed into place, they're done. You can keep going as long as your attention span holds out.

As for precision, waterslide decals sometimes have a tendency to float if you haven't completely dried out the surrounding fluids. You might find a marking or two that have migrated into a new position or attitude before drying. Worse yet, the more decals you apply, the greater the chances for silvering - a decal that didn't properly adhere to the surface of the model. Against the backdrop of some of the dark colors on the upper surfaces of the aircraft, any silvered decal would telegraph its presence to the casual observer. With dry transfers, there is never an issue with moving markings nor silvering. As with most computer programs you see these days, what you see is what you get.

These markings will give your 1/32 I-16 Type 10 a nice touch with a subject that will look different than the 'out-of-the-box' builders. Don't know about a 1/32 I-16? Check out this one.

These dry transfers are highly recommended!