John Thompson
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« on: October 25, 2006, 10:22:40 PM » |
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Here?s a look at the Hobby Boss Yak-3 and P-40B/C kits. The P-40 is easier, so here it is first; the VVS used a few of these in the GPW, and there are decals available, although not included with this kit.
The P-40 is very good. Compared to the drawings in the MBI P-40 monograph, complaints are:
-Wing machine guns are too far out from the fuselage by about 2 mm. This would be easy to correct, except that there are some related panel lines which also would have to be relocated. Probably better just to leave it alone. -Rib detail on all control surfaces is much too deep, but could be improved with a few coats of liquid filler, such as Mister Surfacer. -Two canopies are provided ? one open, one closed. Both have the same odd error ? the windscreen is a rounded shape with no framing visible. The windscreen should consist of three separate flat panels with frames.
Otherwise, I like this kit. The panel lines look quite good, and all the outline shapes generally agree with the MBI drawings.
The Yak-3, unfortunately, is a whole different matter. Here I used the drawings from Skrzydla 15, by Zbigniew Luranc, published in 1997, as a basis for judging accuracy:
Fuselage: -Accurate in side view outline, except leading edge of fin is too vertical. -In plan view, the fuselage shape behind the cockpit is much too narrow. -The rib detail on the rudder shows the ribs angled upwards, as if intended to parallel the ground line on a parked aircraft, not parallel to the thrust line, as they should be. Very odd. -The cowling lower panel is a separate part. While its outline shape matches the drawings, the joint line to the fuselage is not even close to where the panel line would be on the real aircraft. -The cannon bulges on the upper cowling are very wrongly shaped. -The cannon troughs on the upper cowling are too short, too narrow, and too shallow. -The rear underside of the fuselage (molded as part of the wings) is much too sharply squared off ? while the fuselage underside was indeed flat, the corners had a noticeable radius to them on the real aircraft. -The radiator housing bottom surface is too flat in profile view.
Prop: -Blades too narrow, too pointed. -Spinner is slightly too pointed, but better than existing kits.
Wings: -Tips are too pointed. -Aileron chord width too wide on top ? same width as underside. Should be narrower on top. -Panel lines should all be eliminated, top and bottom, except for large panels immediately behind wheel wells on underside. -Air intake faces on leading edge of wing roots are flat, not tapered or rounded, and lack a slight ?sweepback angle? shown in the drawings. -The pitot tube is on the wrong wing, and is very large, like some kind of a spear. Perhaps for ?taran? attacks? -The wheel wells are satisfactorily deep, but lack any detail.
Landing Gear: -The main gear legs look acceptable, but the retraction mechanisms (molded in one piece with each leg) are much too big, and are flat in cross-section shape, not tubular like a real Yak. -Main gear doors ? the internal structure detail looks too deep, but better too deep than too shallow, I guess. -Outer doors ? too small, remind me of fingernail clippings.
Horizontal Tailplanes: -Good!
Canopy: -Good shape, but only one option (closed) ? no open canopy option like P-40 and MiG-3.
So, there you have it. Is it better than existing 1/72 Yak-3 kits? Overall, no. A few parts (the spinner, the canopy, and maybe the prop ? at least it?s no worse than existing ones) could be used to improve the VES Yak-3, which seems to be the best of the previously-existing kits by a small margin. But the Hobby Boss Yak-3 is NOT the ultimate 1/72 Yak-3 which we have been waiting for.
I hope I can be forgiven for cross-posting this to Matt and Erik?s forum as well ? my apologies in advance if anyone is offended!
John Thompson
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