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Soviet Aircraft and Missiles in Detail

Soviet aircraft are less often on display in Western museums, so good walkaround material can be hard to find. These Soviet aircraft reference photos cover fighters, a biplane, a ground-effect vehicle and the missiles of the Cold War. Several were photographed in Moscow and Vladivostok. Start with the Polikarpov Po-2 (55 photos), the Soviet naval missiles pack (86 photos) or the free A-90 Orlyonok ekranoplan.

12 products

Propellers: from biplane to Shturmovik

  • Polikarpov U-2 / Po-2: 55 photos. More than 30,000 were built between 1928 and 1952. In WWII the type flew with the all-female 46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment, the "Night Witches". A fabric-covered biplane is a good subject for practicing rigging and doped-fabric finishes.
  • Polikarpov I-16 Type 24: 30 photos of a 1940-built aircraft. It shows the barrel-shaped fuselage and the radial cowling with adjustable cooling shutters.
  • Ilyushin Il-2M3: 38 photos of a 2-seat Shturmovik. With 36,183 built, the Il-2 is the most produced military aircraft design in history.

All three were shot at 6240 × 4160 and cost between $2.99 and $4.99. These preserved aircraft have been restored, so treat their paint as a restorer's choice. For more WWII types from other nations, see WW2 aircraft reference.

Early jets

The MiG-15 pack has 101 photos of an aircraft in Chinese air force markings. The MiG-17F pack has 31 photos of a North Korean example photographed in South Korea, with close-ups of the VK-1F engine. Both are compared with their Western opponents on the jet fighter reference page.

Missiles and launchers

Missiles are a natural add-on for Cold War armor and ship models:

  • Soviet Missile System R-11M: 62 photos of the missile known in NATO as the SS-1b "Scud-A". It sits on its 8U218 tracked launcher, which is built on an ISU-152K chassis. Armor modelers will recognize the running gear.
  • Soviet Cruise Missiles: 86 photos of 4 Soviet naval missiles, anti-ship and anti-aircraft, shot in Vladivostok. It covers the M-1 Volna (19 photos), the M-11 Shtorm (19), the P-35 (18) and the P-500 Bazalt (30), with the trailers they rest on.
  • Soviet Rocketry: 335 photos from the Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow. It includes rocket engines, the Soviet lunar rover and its control board, 10 spacesuits and layouts of the Buran shuttle and the Luna-1 station.

Ekranoplans and hovercraft

Soviet designers built machines that fly just above the water. The A-90 Orlyonok ground-effect vehicle pack is free: 21 photos, shot in Moscow. The Skat hovercraft pack has 121 photos of a military hovercraft designed in 1969 to carry up to 40 troops. It was photographed in winter, so some upper surfaces have snow on them.

Frequently asked questions

Were these aircraft photographed in Russia?

Some were. The missiles, rocketry, ekranoplan and hovercraft packs were shot in Moscow and Vladivostok. The Po-2, I-16, Il-2, R-11M and MiG-15 were photographed in the United States, and the MiG-17F in South Korea. Each product page names the location.

Is there a free Soviet pack I can try first?

Yes. The A-90 Orlyonok ekranoplan pack costs nothing. More free packs from other categories are listed on our free reference photo packs page.

Do you have Soviet armor to go with the aircraft?

Yes. T-54, T-62 and T-72 tanks, BMP and BTR vehicles and Soviet artillery are on the Soviet armor page.

Can I sell a model or a painting I make from these photos?

Yes. The model or artwork you create is your own work. The license is royalty free and has no expiry. You may not resell the photos or the packs.