In Bag Review of Alpha (Amodel brand) 1/72nd Scale Yak-4(BB-22)
Kit no. Unknown
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Kit was produced in the 90's.
Amodel brand has this kit for sale re boxed by them from Mega Hobby on the net for $21.96 and kit no. 7235. They also make a Yak-2 as kit no. 7241. I have included the box arts for both these kits in this review.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Kit was produced in the 90's.
Amodel brand has this kit for sale re boxed by them from Mega Hobby on the net for $21.96 and kit no. 7235. They also make a Yak-2 as kit no. 7241. I have included the box arts for both these kits in this review.
HISTORY:
Intended originally as a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft, the Yakovlev Ya-22 prototype was powered by two M-103 engines and made its maiden flight on 22 February 1939. A two-seat low-wing monoplane with wooden wings and a fuselage of mixed construction, the Ya-22 had retractable tailwheel landing gear and a tail unit incorporating a twin fin-and-rudder assembly.
Yakovlev was then instructed to modify the design to serve as a bomber, the aircraft being redesignated BB-22 (blizhnii bombardirovshchik or short-range bomber). This resulted in major revisions of accommodation, armament and fuel storage, plus the provision of an internal bomb bay.
The first series BB-22 was completed on 31 December 1939 and flown on skis on 20 February 1940 . By that time two factories were in production and experimental variants - the R-12 photographic reconnaissance aircraft and I-29 (or BB-22IS) long-range escort fighter - were being prepared for test flights.
The BB-22 was redesignated Yak-2 at the end of 1940, and as powered by two 716kW M-103 Vee engines had a maximum speed of 530km/h at sea level service ceiling of 8800m and range of 800km.
In 1940 the basic design was further refined to improve the crew positions, field of view and armour protection; the M-105 engine was introduced with better protection for the fuel system, and provisions were made for external bomb racks.
Then redesignated Yak-4, the aircraft entered production in the autumn of 1940 and about 600 of both versions were built, the majority of them Yak-4s . They were not particularly successful in service, many of them being lost in the early days of the German invasion.
SPECIFICATIONS:
CREW: 2
ENGINES: 2 x M-105R, 810kW
TAKE-OFF WEIGHT: 5245 kg 11563 lb
WINGSPAN: 14.0 m
LENGTH: 46 ft 11 in 10.2 m
PERFORMANCE
MAX SPEED: 530 km/h 329 mph
CEILING: 9500 m 31150 ft
RANGE W/MAX FUEL: 1600 km 994 miles
RANGE W/MAX PAYLOAD: 800 km 497 miles
ARMAMENT: 1 x 7.62mm machine-guns, 400kg of bombs
THE KIT:
Alpha is was a model company based in Russia. I think they went out of business. I got my kit from a modeling friend in Krakow, Poland in a trade with him.
He sent me the kit in a large clear cello bag with no instructions or box.
Intended originally as a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft, the Yakovlev Ya-22 prototype was powered by two M-103 engines and made its maiden flight on 22 February 1939. A two-seat low-wing monoplane with wooden wings and a fuselage of mixed construction, the Ya-22 had retractable tailwheel landing gear and a tail unit incorporating a twin fin-and-rudder assembly.
Yakovlev was then instructed to modify the design to serve as a bomber, the aircraft being redesignated BB-22 (blizhnii bombardirovshchik or short-range bomber). This resulted in major revisions of accommodation, armament and fuel storage, plus the provision of an internal bomb bay.
The first series BB-22 was completed on 31 December 1939 and flown on skis on 20 February 1940 . By that time two factories were in production and experimental variants - the R-12 photographic reconnaissance aircraft and I-29 (or BB-22IS) long-range escort fighter - were being prepared for test flights.
The BB-22 was redesignated Yak-2 at the end of 1940, and as powered by two 716kW M-103 Vee engines had a maximum speed of 530km/h at sea level service ceiling of 8800m and range of 800km.
In 1940 the basic design was further refined to improve the crew positions, field of view and armour protection; the M-105 engine was introduced with better protection for the fuel system, and provisions were made for external bomb racks.
Then redesignated Yak-4, the aircraft entered production in the autumn of 1940 and about 600 of both versions were built, the majority of them Yak-4s . They were not particularly successful in service, many of them being lost in the early days of the German invasion.
SPECIFICATIONS:
CREW: 2
ENGINES: 2 x M-105R, 810kW
TAKE-OFF WEIGHT: 5245 kg 11563 lb
WINGSPAN: 14.0 m
LENGTH: 46 ft 11 in 10.2 m
PERFORMANCE
MAX SPEED: 530 km/h 329 mph
CEILING: 9500 m 31150 ft
RANGE W/MAX FUEL: 1600 km 994 miles
RANGE W/MAX PAYLOAD: 800 km 497 miles
ARMAMENT: 1 x 7.62mm machine-guns, 400kg of bombs
THE KIT:
Alpha is was a model company based in Russia. I think they went out of business. I got my kit from a modeling friend in Krakow, Poland in a trade with him.
He sent me the kit in a large clear cello bag with no instructions or box.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG:
The bag contained 9 medium-blue trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet. No instructions.
The first medium-blue tree holds: flaps, gear legs, main wheels, tail wheel etc. (19 parts) These are for the BB-22 (Yak-2) version.
The bag contained 9 medium-blue trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet. No instructions.
The first medium-blue tree holds: flaps, gear legs, main wheels, tail wheel etc. (19 parts) These are for the BB-22 (Yak-2) version.
There are 2 identical ones of the second medium-blue tree holds: a propeller, elevator and rudder (3 parts)
The third medium-blue tree holds: more main wheels, more gear legs, another tail wheel, machine gun etc. (17 parts) These are for the Yak-4 version.
The fourth medium-blue tree holds the upper wing halves (2 parts) For either version.
The fifth medium-blue tree holds the lower wing halves and center section (3 parts) For either version.
The sixth medium-blue tree holds the fuselage halves for the Yak-4 version (2 parts)
The seventh medium-blue tree holds the fuselage halves for the BB-22 (Yak-2) version (2 parts)
The eighth medium-blue tree holds cowling halves (4 parts)
The clear tree holds the canopies and fuselage side windows for both versions (4 parts)
The clear tree holds the canopies and fuselage side windows for both versions (4 parts)
The decal sheet has 8 red stars and a white 3's on it.
My friend in Krakow added 3 pages of line drawing blueprints of both versions of this aircraft. Text on those drawings is all in Russian...sigh.
This kit will make up nicely into either of the versions you choose to do. It is not state of the art for today and the cockpit is naked. No panel lines anywhere.
Recommended to even the novice modeler.
This kit will make up nicely into either of the versions you choose to do. It is not state of the art for today and the cockpit is naked. No panel lines anywhere.
Recommended to even the novice modeler.