MODELSVIT Yakovlev Yak-1 "Winter Version" 1/48 scale (Cat. number 4802)
As Hitler invaded Russia on 22nd June 1941, the Soviet Air Forces scrambled to get as many aircraft on the front line as possible. The Yakovlev Yak-1 had been designed as an escort fighter for the low-flying Il-2 Shturmovik and was ideally suited for low-altitude combat.
The prototype Yak-1 first flew on 13th January 1940, less than four months before invasion and of course the production variant was immediately introduced in combat operations. More than 425 airframes had been completed (or were ready for final assembly) when hostilities began, but only 92 machines were operational in the western Russia and most of them were destroyed by Luftwaffe Blitzkrieg ground attacks.
While the first groups of Yak-1s were destroyed by the Luftwaffe in the turmoil of early combat, the type was found to be superior to the Messerschmitt Bf 109E, but not the Bf109F.
MODELSVIT is an Ukranian manufacturer of plastic model kits, in 1/72 & 1/48th scale, with an extensive range of lesser-known or hard to find subjects, like this Yak-1 fighter in 1/48 scale.
So far Yak-1 was available in 1/48 scale only by Accurate Miniatures (and by Eduard as a limited re-release). Both kits are hard to find now and in any case the Modelsvit kit is far more detailed and even more accurate in shape and external/internal detail.
The kit comes in a very sturdy box, extremely safe for mail-order! It is molded in light gray styrene on eight parts trees (sprues), plus one sprue of clear parts (canopy & lights) and one set of vinyl tires: 144 parts in total. According to the instructions, the kit is designed as a limited run tooling. Despite its “limited edition” label on the box cover, it is clear from the instructions that the tooling, as well as the illustrations in the instructions, came from 3D/CAD technology. So there is a new contender on the hobby market that bears watching as attention to detail is in every part but maintaining an easy build process.
The 8 pages instructions manual is well printed and precise. External detail is finely engraved and correct for the scale.
This model captures lots of details that are mounted or embedded in the top-center section of the lower wing half, that doubles as the cockpit floor. The upper wing comes in two parts (left and right). Wing halves feature very thin leading and trailing edges. Flight control surfaces, ailerons, landing flaps, rudder and horizontal stabilizers are not separate items (all molded in neutral) but these are extremely thin and should be an easy task to cut them with a knife (and a flexible metal rule) and cement in any position as you wish/
A small curved clear part is provided for the cover of the landing light in the leading edge of the left (port) wing. Smaller clear parts fit in the wingtips and tail (as navigational lights) and two more clear discs serve as wing fuel gauges -a Yak fighters peculiarity- as there were no fuel metering instruments in the cockpit and the pilot had to look on the wings top surface to check his fuel capacity!
The cockpit is extremely detailed with many sub-assemblies and delicate parts. We get two parts for the instrument panel, separate nose machine guns recharge handles (left and right – protruding on the panel), pilot seat in four parts (including its framing and back panel), side consoles with throttle and other smaller levers, oxygen bottles, control column with realistic handle, rudder pedals with foot restraints and gun sight with its frame.
The fuselage halves have interesting raised tubular frame structure and additional separate frame tubing in both sides of the cockpit area.
The landing gear features realistic struts and thin retraction arms, all nicely done, including thin doors and separately molded wheel hubs with nice detail, in which you can use a choice of hard plastic or vinyl (rubber) tires. Wheel wells are deep enough and show raised detail inside. Besides the normal plastic wheels for the landing gear there is a choice of two different types of skis, one set with larger area winter skis and another smaller set (wheel/ski combination), in which the main wheels are retained and partly covered with longer and narrower skis. A relevant choice of ski or wheel is also provided for the tail strut.
Canopy comes in three parts and can be cemented in close or open position.
Two different shapes are provided for the propeller nose cone/spinner, one blunt and another pointed.
External weapon load comprises of a choice between two bombs or six underwing rockets.
A separate sheet of instructions (in glossy paper and color printed) contains four color profiles with painting guide, giving all necessary Humbrol code numbers & color names, which are also used throughout the previous 21 assembly stages in order to paint correctly the smaller parts also. The decal sheet has all the necessary items for these four paint schemes (all four shown with skis fitted) plus some stencils.
All in all a very attractive and well detailed kit which will turn out a realistic model of a very interesting and historic subject of Soviet aircraft design. As it is a Limited Edition, if you like Russian WW2 aircraft subjects do not miss this one!
Official distributor of MODELSVIT model kits in Greece is FASMA Models, at 52 Ippokratous & Valtetsiou str., Athens, who kindly provided kits for review. You can visit the shop, see all the Modelsvit range, have a free catalog, ask details for suitable colors or browse and buy on-line using the following link. Prices are utterly affordable & attractive for the quality & detail provided.
Interesting info about Yak-1 family:
http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/Research/Yakovlev/FuelGauges/
http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/13716-yak-1-series-69-skins/
