In Bag Review of Apha 1/72nd Scale Yak-6
Kit no. Unknown
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Amodel brand makes a kit of the Yak-6 as kit no. 72181. I have included their box art in this review.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Amodel brand makes a kit of the Yak-6 as kit no. 72181. I have included their box art in this review.
HISTORY:
The Yakovlev Yak-6 was a Soviet twin-engined utility aircraft, developed and built during World War II. It was used as a short-range light night bomber and a light transport.
In April 1942, the Yakovlev design bureau was instructed to design a twin-engined utility transport aircraft to supplement smaller single-engined aircraft such as the Polikarpov U-2. The design was required to be simple to build and operate. Design and construction work proceeded extremely quickly, with the first prototype Yak-6 flying in June 1942. It passed its state acceptance tests in September that year and was quickly cleared for production.
The Yak-6 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-wood construction with fabric covering. It had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, with the main wheels retracting rearwards into the engine nacelles.
The horizontal tail was braced. It was powered by two 140 hp Shvetsov M-11F radial engines driving two-bladed wooden propellers, with the engine installation based on Yakovlev's UT-2 primary training aircraft. In order to minimise the use of scarce resources, the aircraft's fuel tanks were made of chemical-impregnated plywood rather than metal or rubber. Many Yak-6s were fitted with fixed landing gear.
The aircraft appeared in two versions, one as a transport and utility aircraft for the supply of partisans, transport of the wounded, and for liaison and courier services. It could accommodate two crew side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit with capacity to carry four passengers or 500 kg (1,100 lb) or cargo.
The second version was a light night bomber (designated NBB - nochnoy blizhniy bombardirovshchik - Short Range Night Bomber), capable of carrying up to 500 kg of bombs on racks under the wing centre sections and with a defensive armament of a single ShKAS machine gun in a dorsal mounting. A total of 381 examples were built with production ending in 1943.
A few examples of an improved version of the Yak-6 with swept outer wings were flown, with the modified version sometimes known as the Yak-6M. The Yak-6M led to the larger Yak-8 which flew in early 1944.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Utility
Manufacturer: Yakovlev
First flight: 1942
Introduction to service: 1942
Retired: 1950
Status: Retired
Primary user: Soviet Air Force
Number built: 381
HISTORY:
The Yakovlev Yak-6 was a Soviet twin-engined utility aircraft, developed and built during World War II. It was used as a short-range light night bomber and a light transport.
In April 1942, the Yakovlev design bureau was instructed to design a twin-engined utility transport aircraft to supplement smaller single-engined aircraft such as the Polikarpov U-2. The design was required to be simple to build and operate. Design and construction work proceeded extremely quickly, with the first prototype Yak-6 flying in June 1942. It passed its state acceptance tests in September that year and was quickly cleared for production.
The Yak-6 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-wood construction with fabric covering. It had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, with the main wheels retracting rearwards into the engine nacelles.
The horizontal tail was braced. It was powered by two 140 hp Shvetsov M-11F radial engines driving two-bladed wooden propellers, with the engine installation based on Yakovlev's UT-2 primary training aircraft. In order to minimise the use of scarce resources, the aircraft's fuel tanks were made of chemical-impregnated plywood rather than metal or rubber. Many Yak-6s were fitted with fixed landing gear.
The aircraft appeared in two versions, one as a transport and utility aircraft for the supply of partisans, transport of the wounded, and for liaison and courier services. It could accommodate two crew side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit with capacity to carry four passengers or 500 kg (1,100 lb) or cargo.
The second version was a light night bomber (designated NBB - nochnoy blizhniy bombardirovshchik - Short Range Night Bomber), capable of carrying up to 500 kg of bombs on racks under the wing centre sections and with a defensive armament of a single ShKAS machine gun in a dorsal mounting. A total of 381 examples were built with production ending in 1943.
A few examples of an improved version of the Yak-6 with swept outer wings were flown, with the modified version sometimes known as the Yak-6M. The Yak-6M led to the larger Yak-8 which flew in early 1944.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Utility
Manufacturer: Yakovlev
First flight: 1942
Introduction to service: 1942
Retired: 1950
Status: Retired
Primary user: Soviet Air Force
Number built: 381
THE KIT:
I think that Alpha was once based in Russia, but I'm not sure. I cannot find them on the net, but I did find this kit shown on Scalemates where I got the box art image.
I got this kit in trade with a modeler in Krakow, Poland. He sent it to me in a large cello bag, minus the instructions and decals.
THE KIT:
I think that Alpha was once based in Russia, but I'm not sure. I cannot find them on the net, but I did find this kit shown on Scalemates where I got the box art image.
I got this kit in trade with a modeler in Krakow, Poland. He sent it to me in a large cello bag, minus the instructions and decals.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG:
In the bag there was 5 dark green trees and a clear tree. Along with a card that the guy in Krakow wrote that the kit was Alpha brand and it is a Yak-6.
The first dark green tree holds the fuselage halves (2 parts)
WHAT'S IN THE BAG:
In the bag there was 5 dark green trees and a clear tree. Along with a card that the guy in Krakow wrote that the kit was Alpha brand and it is a Yak-6.
The first dark green tree holds the fuselage halves (2 parts)
The second dark green tree holds: the propellers, rudder, elevator and wing flaps etc. (13 parts)
The third dark green tree holds: engines, lower wing halves and lower center section (5 parts)
The fourth dark green tree holds the wings upper halves (2 parts)
The fifth dark green tree holds: main wheels, tail wheel, gear legs, machine gun etc. (17 parts)
The clear tree holds the canopy and fuselage window parts (3 parts)
My friend who owns Roberts Models aftermarket accessories company sent me some of his light tan parts. I put them in the bag with this kit. Rather or not I will use them is another story. These are early attempts by Jeff Roberts and crude for the time period they are from.
This kit is nice. Not really state of the art for today but should make up decent and easy to build.
I'm willing to sell this kit for a decent offer + postage.
I'm willing to sell this kit for a decent offer + postage.
