For what it's worth, the recent history as I understand it goes as follows: Petr Muzikant at AZ said they were going to produce a Yak-1b in 1/72, but then decided to hand this project off to Fly after I made a public fool of myself over what a great idea this was ("Thompson likes it? FAIL!!!"). AZ are probably too busy making kits of
important types, like the Fairchild F.24 or another obscure Spitfire variant.
The "Head Fly Guy", Jiri Valek, is apparently very busy and probably has a real job as well as a
life (What? You mean manufacturing limited-run model kits has never made anyone a millionaire?), so who knows when, or even if, the Yak-1b will ever happen.
Personally, I'd be very happy with a 1/72 Yak-1b from Fly, even though I've never actually seen a Fly kit myself - I don't buy non-VVS kits any more. Ample Yak-1b references are available, either in paper or on-line, to allow someone who wants to do it to do a good job. It could easily be much better than what exists, which is only the old and crude ZTS/Mikro72/Mastercraft thing. There is still some hope that Armory will eventually release one in resin, I suppose. There is also still some hope that ICM will release an I-153 - there's always
hope, but seldom any actual product on the shelves.
That concludes today's blast of bitter sarcasm...
John