[mdivino]

I do not one any IXO planes as my collection consists of Corgi, HM, Dragon, CW and a couple of MRC Easy Models. I have been debating whether or not to buy a couple of the Russian planes such as the YAKs, MIGS, and ILs. My understanding is that IXO is not known for their quality. There are around 16 other models on my wish list from the aforementioned companies that I want to eventually get. I wonder if I should not mess with IXO and continue on my wish list since I don't have an unlimited amount of funds or space for that matter. Are these planes made for magazine sales? I thought I read that somewhere. Any thoughts on the Russian birds?

[djjeffhall]

mdivino

If you are looking for quality and detail, and really need to limit outgoing money and conserve space, avoid IXO. Unfortunately, IXO is abouit the only place to get these birds in scale. If you are not too picky, IXO birds work fine. If any faults are going to stand up and scream at you, skip it.

[ac4313]

I have all of the IXO Russian planes, IMHO their La-7 is a pretty decent model. The Yaks are more or less OK, the I-16 is pretty good but suffers from a very over-sized windscreen. The Mig-3 is so-so, some obvious errors but not a total loss. The IL-2 and 10 are just OK. I love Russian WWII aircraft so I like these models, but if another manufacturer was to release these planes all of the IXO's (with the exception of the La-7) would go straight to the closet.

IXO's......minimal surface detail, sometimes poor finishing of the plastic bits, and the famous mystery oil slick. Still, I have managed to accumulate a good number of them and have an odd affinity for them........go figure.

[Folgore]

DJ JH is right.

IXO's Russian birds have this going for them: They're the only ones available in diecast. If you absolutely, positively have to have diecast Russian warbirds now -- and you're not a rivet-counter -- then they may be for you.

Otherwise, if you're not averse to MRC, buy the Russian planes they put out and wait for diecast versions from someone else... say... Hobby Master?

[Epapazian]

I have them all---except for the IL-2 and a few U.S. and UK birds-------and have done a number of successful repaints on the Yak-3, Yak-9 and LA-7. If you are in to accuracy and quality and are not willing to repaint your models or "correct" obvious mistakes born of hasty assembly and low budget manufacture, avoid IXO's like The Plague. MRC's Easy Model line of ready made kits has put out a decent series of Yak-3s and Mig-3s, and the menu for 2008-09 includes the LA-7, as well as many other interesting planes. If you're in doubt about IXO, I'd consider the MRC models as a better stop gap until Hobby Master, Corgi, etc. get around to doing more Soviet warbirds. I suspect that an IL-2 and LA5FN are under consideration by HM.

[mdivino]

Thanks for the quick and detailed responses. I think I may just hold off and use my money on the upcoming HM releases as well as some older stuff I haven't yet purchased from other companies. Also, I may go the Easy Model route for some of the Russian planes as they are pretty cost effective and not bad for the money. I plan on getting their F-84 anyhow.

[ChairmanMilo]

I only got mine because they were they are only available from IXO. The Il-2m3 is a bit disappointing, while I do like the La-7 and Yak-9. I didn't get the MiG-3 because I already have two by Easy Model that look all right. The I-16 was my first Russian warbird by Altaya and like most collectors will say, its canopy is a bit wonky. I can overlook that though. I don't think Hobby Master will ever make one of them in 1:72 (maybe one in 1:48 someday - the plane is too tiny for 1:72).

If you want to add more Russian warbirds, I recommend the HM P-39N (HA1701), the Corgi Spitfire VB (AA31927), and the Easy Model Hurricane II, P-40E, Yak-3 and MiG-3.

Here's my Red Air Force before they got put away...

[Epapazian]

On reflection, the IXO I-16 isn't all that bad if you trim down the windscreen and add a pilot figure--top half, of course. Also worth noting is the Model Power I-16, which, as luck would have it, came out in 1:75th scale and doesn't have the portly windscreen problem of IXO's model. While MP's I-16 comes only in a wheels-up configuration and its stand is ridiculously tiny, it doesn't feature those awful, dark panel lines, either. And you can't beat MP's price. MP also puts out an IL-2, but this is not up to snuff, so I won't comment on it.

The next page contains a picture of my "corrected" IXO I-16, with pilot added and windscreen cut down, more or less, to scale----unfortunately, leaving holes on the sides of the cockpit where the larger screen was mounted. Following this, is a picture of three of my MP I-16s. The Spanish Republican and the Soviet black & green schemes are repaints, with a pilot figure installed on the Spanish I-16. The all- green I-16 is MP's original representation, except for some red tail markings I added. And, yes, I know that one of the MP I-16s is sitting on an F4F stand.

[Epapazian]

[ZS-VAN]

Very nice Epapazian. Maybe one day I'll be beating a path to your door for some repaints.