In Box Review of Accurate Miniatures 1/48th Scale
Yakovlev Yak-1
Ski equipped Soviet Air Force Fighter
Highly Detailed kit
Kit no. 3423
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1998
Out of production.
I paid $24.75 when the kit was marked down from $27.49 at the Toy Fair store that was at the local mall back in the 90’s and went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1998
Out of production.
I paid $24.75 when the kit was marked down from $27.49 at the Toy Fair store that was at the local mall back in the 90’s and went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Yakovlev Yak-1 (Russian: Яковлев Як-1) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. The Yak-1 was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings; production began in early 1940.
The Yak-1 was a maneuverable, fast and competitive fighter aircraft. The composite-wooden structure made it easy to maintain and the engine proved to be reliable. It formed the basis for subsequent developments from the Yakovlev bureau.
The Yak fighter series is a tribute to the brilliant design capabilities of Alexander Yakovlev. First flown in November of 1940, fewer than 3,000 Yaks had been produced at the time of the German invasion in June, 1941.
Early losses were overwhelming , but before the final flights were made in May, 1945, Soviet factories had produced more than 36,000 aircraft, making it the most produced series of fighters in history.
The Yak was constructed almost entirely of non-strategic materials (steel tubing, plywood and fabric), It was a small airplane even by contemporary standards and was considered by pilots to be an extremely maneuverable aircraft. In the hands of a competently trained pilot it was more than a match for the best German fighters.
The Yakovlev Yak-1 (Russian: Яковлев Як-1) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. The Yak-1 was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings; production began in early 1940.
The Yak-1 was a maneuverable, fast and competitive fighter aircraft. The composite-wooden structure made it easy to maintain and the engine proved to be reliable. It formed the basis for subsequent developments from the Yakovlev bureau.
The Yak fighter series is a tribute to the brilliant design capabilities of Alexander Yakovlev. First flown in November of 1940, fewer than 3,000 Yaks had been produced at the time of the German invasion in June, 1941.
Early losses were overwhelming , but before the final flights were made in May, 1945, Soviet factories had produced more than 36,000 aircraft, making it the most produced series of fighters in history.
The Yak was constructed almost entirely of non-strategic materials (steel tubing, plywood and fabric), It was a small airplane even by contemporary standards and was considered by pilots to be an extremely maneuverable aircraft. In the hands of a competently trained pilot it was more than a match for the best German fighters.
These changes reflected the increasing shortage of plexiglass in the early stages of the war. Photographic evidence show only small window aircraft using the skis; however, it is probable that early versions also flew in this configuration. Most ski-equipped Yaks flew with the Northern Fleet Air Force, Naval Aviation and were used as patrol aircraft.
It was the founder of a family of aircraft, with some 43,000 being built, as a reward, designer Alexander Yakovlev was awarded the Order of Lenin (Russian Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina) (the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union), a 100,000 ruble prize, and a ZIS motor car.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: Yakovlev OKB
First flight: 13 January 1940
Introduction to service: 1940
Retired: 1950
Length: 28 feet 4.5 inches
Span: 32 feet 9.75 inches
Powerplant: Klimov liquid-cooled V-12 of 1100 hp
Performance: 352 mph top speed
Armament: 1 x 20mm ShVAK cannon, 2 x 7.62mm Shvaks machine-guns
Ordinance: 6 x rs-82 rockets
Primary user: Soviet Air Force
Produced: 1940–1944
Number built: 8,700
Variants: Yakovlev Yak-3, Yak-7, Yak-9, Yak-11, Yak-15
It was the founder of a family of aircraft, with some 43,000 being built, as a reward, designer Alexander Yakovlev was awarded the Order of Lenin (Russian Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina) (the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union), a 100,000 ruble prize, and a ZIS motor car.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: Yakovlev OKB
First flight: 13 January 1940
Introduction to service: 1940
Retired: 1950
Length: 28 feet 4.5 inches
Span: 32 feet 9.75 inches
Powerplant: Klimov liquid-cooled V-12 of 1100 hp
Performance: 352 mph top speed
Armament: 1 x 20mm ShVAK cannon, 2 x 7.62mm Shvaks machine-guns
Ordinance: 6 x rs-82 rockets
Primary user: Soviet Air Force
Produced: 1940–1944
Number built: 8,700
Variants: Yakovlev Yak-3, Yak-7, Yak-9, Yak-11, Yak-15
ABOUT THE KIT:
Accurate Miniatures is an old prolific model company based in Charlotte, NC.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit represents a ski-equipped Yak-1 in the winter of 1941-1942. Skis were added to a limited run of aircraft to allow the fighter to more easily operate from unprepared forward airfields, which became a necessity to accommodate the fuel limitations of the plane.
Parts are included to allow the builder to construct a Series 1, early to late Yak. These aircraft are easily defined by the style of canopy behind the pilot. Early planes had a large wrap-around transparency area, while later versions had small windows on the sides.
Parts are included to allow the builder to construct a Series 1, early to late Yak. These aircraft are easily defined by the style of canopy behind the pilot. Early planes had a large wrap-around transparency area, while later versions had small windows on the sides.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box and the cover art shows a color illustration of a Yak-1 sitting on a snow-covered airfield, with ground-crewmen in the distance and 2 under the nose of the Yak-1. They are dressed in dark uniforms and are kneeling and working on some equipment.
The Yak-1 on skis is overall white, with red Soviet Air Force stars on the fuselage and rudder sides and under the wings. It has rockets mounted under its wings.
There is a second Yak-1 flying low above it that is in the same scheme.
The Yak-1 on skis is overall white, with red Soviet Air Force stars on the fuselage and rudder sides and under the wings. It has rockets mounted under its wings.
There is a second Yak-1 flying low above it that is in the same scheme.
One side-panel of the box lists the kits features: Recessed panel lines. Over 90 parts. Screen-printed decal sheet. Detailed explanatory instruction sheet. Detailed painting instructions. Aircraft history. Dedicated ski under-carriage. Full detailed interior and wheel wells. Optional drop tanks.
CONTENTS:
One unassembled plastic model kit containing many small parts. Suitable for ages 10 and above. Some building- experience helpful. Cement and paint not included.
One unassembled plastic model kit containing many small parts. Suitable for ages 10 and above. Some building- experience helpful. Cement and paint not included.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Basic modeling tools: hobby knife, cement, tape etc.
Basic modeling tools: hobby knife, cement, tape etc.
PAINTS:
Interior gray-green, dark-green, black, underside blue and basic modeling colors: aluminum, burnt metal and flat white. Detailed painting instructions included in the kit.
This is all said in English and French and followed by Accurate Miniature’s street address in Charlotte, NC, the kit’s 1998 copyright date and International Hobby Craft LTD’s address in England.
The other side-panel of the box has five 1-paragraph histories of the Yak-1, in English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language
Interior gray-green, dark-green, black, underside blue and basic modeling colors: aluminum, burnt metal and flat white. Detailed painting instructions included in the kit.
This is all said in English and French and followed by Accurate Miniature’s street address in Charlotte, NC, the kit’s 1998 copyright date and International Hobby Craft LTD’s address in England.
The other side-panel of the box has five 1-paragraph histories of the Yak-1, in English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 5 medium-gray parts trees, 2 clear trees and the decal sheet in 5 clear sealed cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 6 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 has a side-view line drawing of a Yak-1 that is on skis. It is overall white with Soviet red stars on the sides of the fuselage and rudder and under the wings. The stars on the fuselage and rudder sides have white no. 9 on them.
The kit holds 5 medium-gray parts trees, 2 clear trees and the decal sheet in 5 clear sealed cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 6 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 has a side-view line drawing of a Yak-1 that is on skis. It is overall white with Soviet red stars on the sides of the fuselage and rudder and under the wings. The stars on the fuselage and rudder sides have white no. 9 on them.
Page 2 gives the history of the Yak-1 and some kit features.
Page 3 has another line-drawing of the previous scheme shown as seen from above, next to a suggested paint color listing of Model Master, Humbrol, Gunze Sangyo, Aero Master and Floquil brands of hobby paints.
At the bottom of the page is some advice about the kit.
Page 4 through to page 12 gives a grand total of 7 assembly steps. The 7th step is a painting and marking guide that shows a 4-view of a Yak-1 on skis that is in a wave-pattern camouflage of two shades of green, with a blue under-carriage. It has red stars on the fuselage sides, rudder and under the wings. They all have white no. 9 on them. It is carrying 6 rockets under the wings.
The decal sheet includes some blue numbers, seat belts and stencil marks.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-gray letter A tree holds the wings (2 parts)
Page 3 has another line-drawing of the previous scheme shown as seen from above, next to a suggested paint color listing of Model Master, Humbrol, Gunze Sangyo, Aero Master and Floquil brands of hobby paints.
At the bottom of the page is some advice about the kit.
Page 4 through to page 12 gives a grand total of 7 assembly steps. The 7th step is a painting and marking guide that shows a 4-view of a Yak-1 on skis that is in a wave-pattern camouflage of two shades of green, with a blue under-carriage. It has red stars on the fuselage sides, rudder and under the wings. They all have white no. 9 on them. It is carrying 6 rockets under the wings.
The decal sheet includes some blue numbers, seat belts and stencil marks.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-gray letter A tree holds the wings (2 parts)
Medium-gray letter B tree holds: the fuselage halves, spinner, exhaust pipes etc. (18 parts)
Medium-gray letter C tree holds: the fuselage's spine, propeller, elevators, wing flaps etc. (6 parts)
Medium-gray letter D tree holds: wheels, cockpit floor and side bracings, bulkhead, drop tanks, seat, tail wheel, landing gear legs, rocket mounts etc. (57 parts)
Lettering jumps to the medium-gray letter G tree. It holds the skis. (11 parts)
The 2 clear tree are lettered E & F.
Letter E holds: the dashboard, canopy and wing tip light lenses (6 parts)
Letter F holds: more light lenses and a center cockpit section.
There is no pilot figure included.
Letter E holds: the dashboard, canopy and wing tip light lenses (6 parts)
Letter F holds: more light lenses and a center cockpit section.
There is no pilot figure included.
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
Detail, inside and out is excellent.
Highly recommended.