R-1 – the Soviet bomber - reconnaissance plane

In history this plane is known as the army reconnaissance plane R-1, copied by Russian engineers from the English De Havilland D.H. 9. It is considered, that the production of this plane was a kind of prelude to really valuable combat machines. In Soviet times this opinion was not discussed, there was no special need to stoke the already dying embers of this event. There was such an airplane R-1 and that's it, they produced it due to lack of funds and experience. These scouts did not participate in major wars, did not make a significant contribution to any events. At the beginning of 1923 in connection with the development plans of the aviation industry, in the State Aviation Factory No. 1. the Designer’s Office was organized and Polikarpov was appointed to lead it. His first task was to make production drawings of the D.H. 9A airplane with the "Liberty" engine. Having already accumulated experience in the production of D.H. 4 and ready parts for 13 units of D.H. 9 with “Puma” engines and 100 with “FIAT” engine, it was first necessary to organize order in drawings and prepare for large series production. In the original design, the R-1 was intended as a modified and simplified version of the D.H. 9A, the designers assumed, that these changes would allow with the same “Liberty” engine to achieve better flight and technical characteristics, compared to the English prototype. The prototype was built on July 30, 1924, but flight tests were constantly delayed. And only in August, after the flight tests, it was declared, that the plane is already outdated and it is necessary to create a more advanced reconnaissance plane. Later, while this plane was in serial production, there was talk all the time about its obsolescence and the need to change, but this was not reflected in its production. The first batch of 200 aircraft was ordered in 1923.

A complex and well-detailed, well-designed model only for intermediate and experienced modelers - simply nothing in the model can be drastically simplified. It is possible to make one of two painting options. Where necessary, the details are double-sided printing.