Sovietwarplanes

Well this is my second kit for 2015, it has been in the loft for a couple of years but I feel it is time to get it built, I also have the Montex version which hopefully will also be built in 2015, this one will be built in a grey/grey scheme.
This is what you get in the box.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build1_zps5b3e9ff3.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build2_zps06786790.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build4_zps43b52367.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build6_zps6f1a3ce6.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build7_zps1f9ca715.jpg)

To be continued

Cheers

Dennis

More box contents
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build9_zpsd57f5f6e.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build10_zpsa5fe4b94.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build11_zps2332c137.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build12_zps31a326c0.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build13_zps23761245.jpg)

To be continued

And this will be my subject (so far)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build16_zpsb4d46d40.jpg)
The first thing that I do with a resin kit is to give all the parts a thorough wash in warm soapy water using a sieve so that I do not lose any of the small parts, I do this because I once had a problem with paint not sticking on some resin detail parts.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build17_zps787d97cf.jpg)
And laid out to dry
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build18_zps58462a40.jpg)
Disappointingly I could not find any dedicated English language books on the Yak-1b, the nearest I could find was this one
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild46_zps4d8bdd40.jpg)
But with some help from you guys I will carry on.
Initially I followed the kit instructions and painted the cockpit blue but looking at the walk around photographs of the one and only "preserved" airframe, plus some advice from Massimo I went for a grey (A-14) cockpit, for this I used Humbrol 140 which looks to be a fair match for the AKAN A-14.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build25_zpsd74697f2.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

More
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build27_zpsc6ddc5ce.jpg)
The kit cockpit seems to be very small after working on the MiG-3, but then again the subject is a small aircraft.
The kit cockpit comes with lots of small levers with round ends, but mine were not very well formed, my attempts to make rounded ends from white glue and CA were rather pathetic, so in the end I used very fine plastic rod and held it close to a flame, this produced a round mushroom affect that when viewed from above will look fine.
The seat belts were fashioned from an Eduard PE RAF Sutton harness, which looks a bit like the seat belts in the Saratov example. The instrument panel is made of resin and comes with a film to attach onto the back with all the instrument dials printed on it, I painted the back of the film white and did a test fit but was not impressed. So I fitted some plastic sheet on the back of the panel and used some MDC and Airscale decals for the instruments and placards, these were a mix of RAF, Luftwaffe and US dials as there are no 1/32 scale Soviet ones available.
Once this was completed I set about cleaning up, test fitting and painting a lot of the resin parts.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACMiG3build28_zps8f6f5fbb.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild28_zps47e91dfa.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild29_zps0b89d2ad.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

In this way I carried on and soon had all the parts cleaned up and painted ready for assembly.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild30_zps4cbba070.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild31_zps5aef6189.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Time to start assembling all the parts, starting as usual with the cockpit.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2033a_zpsreazsmre.jpg)
And completed
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2033b_zpsmvqyngym.jpg)
And test fitted in the fuselage, the fit was good just needing some minor adjustments.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild32_zps942a07b3.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Next up the radio shelf, cockpit, tail wheel, control panel and the gun sight frame were all test fitted in the fuselage, there were no major fit problems so I decided to glue everything in position in one side of the fuselage.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild34_zpsbdbcbef7.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild35_zps2e7873d6.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild36_zpsa108bfae.jpg)
Once this was done the fuselage halves were glued together, the fuselage halves come with location pins and holes which is unusual for resin kits and they lined up perfectly.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild37_zps786cf2a7.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
looks a beautiful kit.
Is your building really going so fast, or it is an impression only?
The photoetched belts look somewhat rigid. It would be better to press them on the seat.
Regards
Massimo

Thank you Massimo, due to unforseen circumstances I have lots of time on my hands at the moment for modelling, I am a little bit further along with the kit but not too far

Cheers

Dennis

Time to bring this build right up to date, with the fuselage all buttoned up it was time to sand and polish the seams, not my favourite job, it was made more difficult on this one as to get the seam smooth I had to sand away most of the fabric effect on the bottom of the rear fuselage, but eventually it was all done. A few air bubbles became visible during this process and they were drilled out and filled with plastic rod and CA, the smaller surface imperfections will be filled with Mr Surfacer which I will use as an undercoat.
With the fuselage completed the wing centre section was glued to the bottom of the fuselage, this also has locating pins and holes which lined up very well, though there was some gaps especially in the air inlet area these were filled with scrap plastic and sanded smooth.
During all this handling both the gun sight and tail wheel were snapped off but luckily they did not get lost.
The wings were then glued together and the resultant seams sanded and polished
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild39_zps621e6230.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild38_zpsb022cf9e.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild40_zps62c9b4e2.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild33_zps1fe0efc0.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Next up was fitting the wings, again these had locating holes and pins which lined up very well, but the trailing edge of the wing roots were both warped and pointing up, the hot water and bending treated worked on one side but on the other side I had to drill and pin the trailing edge. With the wings attached and the dihedral sorted out I was left with some gaps on the lower wing to fuselage seam, and some gaps on the leading edge wing to fuselage point, these were filled with plastic and CA.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild41_zps0d77235b.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild42_zps6fb3a356.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/ACYak1bbuild43_zpsd051fc22.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

With all the various gaps filled, sanded and polished it was time to fit the tail planes, a test fit showed that these were thicker than the stubs on the tail, so the resultant step was filled with CA and sanded smooth. The nose and under fuselage cooler housings were fitted, the gaps were filled with Mr Surfacer 1200, I spent some time on this and then realised that I had forgotten to fit the nose radiator, but I will remember on the next one. The flaps were also fitted, I like a nice clean airframe so these were fitted in the closed position.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2047_zpscqad9y6h.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2048_zps2cwxecku.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2049_zpsji3pu1if.jpg)
And that brings us up to date, at the moment I am struggling with the clear parts.

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
good work so far. Have you any way to introduce the cooler now?
Regards
Massimo

Hi Massimo, the only way to fit the radiator front would be to remove the scoop which took a fair bit of work to fit and blend in so I don't want to do that, I will save it and use it on the next Yak that I build.

Cheers

Dennis

On to the canopy ready for some paint, however the rear section of the canopy is too wide for the fuselage, to get around this I have glued some plastic strip to the fuselage to give something for the clear part to sit on.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2052_zpssedegvb0.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2053_zpste6jfqjy.jpg)
But I got impatient and removed the plastic strip and tried to glue the part on by squeezing it, this did not work and left me with CA on the fuselage and a gluey fingerprint on the clear part, luckily for me a nail buffer was enough to clean up the clear part and it was duly dipped in Klear again. I usually leave parts that have been dipped in Klear for about 3 days to dry properly so while I was waiting I decided to start on this kit.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%201_zpssfnmhorg.jpg)
And yes it is the same kit, but as is the case with resin kits slightly different, the moulding on the AlleyCat kit is definately smoother that the Montex one, but the lessons I learned from the first kit are applicable to the second one.

Cheers

Dennis

And this is where we are now, as is my usual practice I have painted and detailed most of the parts prior to the start of construction, here are the parts with the AlleyCat build in a rather more advanced condition.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%208_zpszthnezs6.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%206_zpszfloc7v4.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%205_zps17fmdq3e.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

No I have not given up, I have been concentrating on the Montex kit, it is not as well finished as the AlleyCat kit and I have struggled with it, however I am now making good progress and both kits are now at the same level, the Montex kit's decals were missing but the new owner of Alleycat has found a set of decals for me so I will not have to resort to the spare decal file. Here's how we stand now.
The Montex kit is on the Left
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%2013_zpseytxg7b5.jpg)
Montex kit
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%2014_zps9pxwtdho.jpg)
AlleyCat kit
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%2016_zpshod4xwtt.jpg)
Montex kit
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/Montex%20Yak%201b%20Build%2015_zpsatgz2ntq.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Looks very good so far.
Just, the last photo seems to show some asymmetry in the cooler outlet. I don't know if it's a matter of perspective or a distortion due to the photo, but I would check it.
The owner of Alley Cat was very kind to supply the decals. Are there spare sheets for 1/32 Yaks on the aftermarket?
Regards
Massimo

Hi Massimo will check the cooler, it fits with two pins so I will be disappointed if it is not straight, I have never found any 1/32 scale aftermarket Yak markings, my back up plan was to use paint masks.

Cheers

Dennis

Well they did not end up in the bin, the ill fitting clear parts did put me off continuing the build and slowed progress right down but I've been doing the odd bits and pieces to the kits, at the moment it is the slow filling/sanding game.
The rear clear part on the Montex kit fitted better the one on the Alley Cat kit, but after some struggling they are both fitted along with the windscreens, the sliding part on both will not fit over the rear part so it will be a closed canopy on them both. The clear bullet proof glass behind the pilots head fitted great but was too tall to allow the rear part of the canopy to be fitted so I removed the locating parts and drilled and pinned them, I have since learned that the bullet proof glass was angled, hence why it did not fit, I will try to correct this when I have finished the paintwork.
Below is the clear parts fitted to the Alley Cat kit, the masks do not fit the clear parts very well which is strange given what Montex's core business is
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2059_zpsppckuolb.jpg)
After a clean up both airframes were masked and fitted with a wire holder ready for a coat of Mr Surfacer.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2061_zpsdqvlm9p1.jpg)
When the Mr Surfacer was dry it was time to clean up all the minor faults that the paint highlighted, and there were quite a few.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2062_zpsgzcuszrp.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2063_zpsdo6xsgpy.jpg)
Once the filling and sanding was completed another coat of Mr Surfacer was applied and the filling and sanding process was started again.

Cheers

Dennis

And at last it is time to put on some paint, after buying lots of different paints and comparing them to the AKAN AMT-7 (enamel) I decided to paint the undersides with Humbrol H89, below is the Humbrol and AKAN paint chips.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2070_zpsqdyaxtwj.jpg)
And here is the result, I nearly panicked and changed the colour when I saw how dark it was but it does match the AKAN chip so I left it alone, the photos show a dark colour and a light colour but in real life it is somewhere between the two of them.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2068_zpslqfupouk.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Montex%20Yak-1b/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2069_zpswcns7arz.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Fascinating. The angle of the bullet-proof glass solves a puzzle for me, too.

Interesting, Dennis - in that first photograph the AMT-7 does look a bit dark, but in the second one it looks about right, to me at least.

Regards,

Jason

Hi Jason, I have just airbrushed a lightened coat over the original, I usually do this anyway to break up the monotone finish, the result is rather nice and a shade lighter than the original, I used 2 parts H89 to 1 part H30 for the lightened coat.

Cheers

Dennis

Good, Dennis. I look forward to seeing the grey on the topsides.

Regards,

Jason

I'm a bit nervous about that, originally I thought to go down the Humbrol 106 Ocean Grey and the Humbrol 32 Dark Grey route, but painting out a chip using the 106 gives a grey without any blue in it, so I am now looking at another Ocean grey with a bit more blue (Xtracolor)

Cheers

Dennis

AMT-11 is a little tricky because you do want some blue in it. The Soviets even called it Grey-Blue, not even Blue-Grey, so there must have been some blue in it; as far as I know, the Soviets weren't colour-blind. The colour I used on my 1/72nd scale La-5F was MM Medium Gray, which has some blue in it, but I'm not sure how it would look on a 1/32nd scale aircraft. Probably too light and blue, I suspect. Despite the Russian name of Grey-Blue, AMT-11 seems to have been quite greyish.

Regards,

Jason

I'll just do a test on my F-14 tail plane and see what it looks like.

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
When lack of AMT-11 Soviets used 1:1 mix of AMT-7 light blue and black as acceptable substitution. So may be you could try it and check what color is the closest to it.
AMT-12 should be very dark, basicaly bleached black. Soviets found out that pure black does not exists in the nature, especially when viewed from a long distance, so black (from black-green schemes) was changed to dark grey.
Regards,
66misos

Thank you for that 66misos, I did try that but failed completely, so I gave up, but here is my final test card selections for AMT-11 and 12, this is the best that I could photograph them, I rather like the slightly bluer colour rather than the more grey colour for AMT-11, the AMT-12 is the same on both cards. What do you guys think ?

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_0522_zps2blb1opj.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
AMT-11 has to be slightly bluish, so my vote is for the chips on the right.
I wonder if the blue background can influence the sensibility of the camera and the perception of viewers. Isn't it possible to find a neutral grey background, or a multicolor background to shot the photo?
Regards
Massimo

Hi Dennis,
IMHO that one on the right looks better. Anyhow, could you, please, on both your chips above make also chip of light blue AMT-7 going verticaly and touching both greys? Then we will better see their relative hues/shades.
Regards,
  66misos

Yes I will give that a go but it won't be fast as I am going on holiday, the paints by the way are Humbrol 106 Ocean Grey the lighter one on the left, Xtracolor X6 Ocean Grey is the bluer grey and the AMT-12 is Xtracolor X800 RAL7021 Panzer Grey

Cheers

Dennis

I hope you have a good holiday Den, and I vote for the 'AMT-11' on the right also.

Regards,

Jason

P.S. That 'AMT-11' on the left would make a passable A-14 Steel Grey to my tired, old eyes.

Well had a great holiday, New York, Washington, Philadelphia, and Niagara Falls now back to some kit bashing, though at the moment it is all painting, here are my colour cards with the Blue added.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2071_zpsufclzwyk.jpg)
And on to the Yaks, here is the grey/grey one with it's AMT-11 airbrushed, it will look a lot different when it is not so glossy, the paint is Xtracolour X6 Ocean Grey
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2072_zpswesojrlz.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2073_zpsisxy6qcd.jpg)
And here is the green/black one with it's AMT-4 airbrushed, once again my cameras were not very good at the green it came out pretty vivid and I had to correct it, but it is 34151 Interior Green (Model Master)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2074_zpsupx3345i.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2075_zps8tjeycat.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis, both of them look good so far.
Thematic collections in large scale are unusual.
Regards
Massimo

Hi Massimo, I usually build to a theme, one year I built all French subjects, another year I built 3 Spitfires of different marks, and then I had an Italian year, it makes it a lot easier to do the research once for several subjects.

Cheers

Dennis

Now it's time to start bringing them to life, adding the rest of the camouflage and decals, normally I paint on the markings but my normal mask supplier has stopped doing custom masks so for these two kits I will use decals, starting with the AMT 11/12 one. It will look a lot better with some matt varnish to tone down the AMT-11.

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2077_zpsgaaekrxx.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2078_zpswqpqcrf1.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2079_zpsi1aq15pt.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

And here is the other one all ready for decals
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2080_zpsosmhxwxw.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2081_zpsbicqotml.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/AC%20Yak%201b%20build%2082_zpsrirtwtlm.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
looks nice, but... shouldn't the grey one have stars with outlines under the wings too?
Regards
Massimo

I did wonder about that but the kit profile had plain stars, it may be something that I will change, it would be easy enough.

Cheers

Dennis

And change them I did, then with some intensive modelling I finally finished both of them, this involved lots of touch up on the paintwork, some fine tuning to make the clear parts fit, and some very fiddley work to get the main undercarriage together. The wing fuel gauges in the kit are film parts but I do not have a punch and die set to cut them out and I do not have a lot of confidence in my ability to cut them out with a modelling knife so I resorted to some instrument decals, not accurate but similar.
So here they are the AlleyCat kit is the grey one and the Montex kit is the green and black one.

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1587_zpsyozshka6.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1589_zpsjhklfl9q.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1595_zps8xzslkwb.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1600_zpsdhsdel4s.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1603_zpsn0ty91as.jpg)

More soon

Cheers

Dennis

And the rest of the photos
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1606_zpsasloiwye.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1607_zpsgm0qejhz.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1611_zpsounmy0ak.jpg)
And all three 2015 finished models
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/Models/Yak-1b%20Alley%20Cat%20Build/SAM_1615_zpsyz2jvd1c.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,
impressive models indeed. It's the only wide collection of Soviet 1/32 planes I've seen. Some Il-2s would appear well too.
I think to see an issue with the alignment of the outer section of the left aileron on plane n.39. I hope it can still be corrected.
Regards
Massimo

Thanks Massimo, and thank you for the advice, at some time in the future I will build my 1/32 IL-2 and La-7, but for the moment I am going to build something easy, and it was no problem putting the Aileron back in place, it is only pinned with some thin wire.

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Dennis,

good to see nice, large scale models.
The only thing that I would suggest done differently is the camouflage pattern on your green-black Yak-1.  As is, the camouflage pattern is quite unconvincing:  From what I know, there are no photos of this particular 812 iap Yak-1, but this doesn't mean it's camouflage could be a complete speculation.  I know the camouflage is not your fantasy, but whoever made it didn't have a lot f evidence...

at http://air-monger.com/yak-1-nestandartnyij-kamuflyazh.html the scheme is called "non-standard"

(http://air-monger.com/assets/images/yak1.jpg)

IMHO, something like skin below would be more probable:

(http://www.aviaskins.com/images.ashx?screen=543)

Regards,
KL

Yes the second skin looks very good, and similar to the grey/grey one but at the time I only had the kit painting instructions, but I still like it, maybe if they ever bring out an injection moulded kit I'll build another one .

Cheers

Dennis

second skin looks like standard 1941 camouflage scheme

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/colors/1941-43/template-single.jpg)

gray/gray one should be close to 1943 standatd camouflage scheme for fighters

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/colors/1943-45-fighters/tem-fighters1943.jpg)

all this, and much more, can be found at  http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/colors/colors.html

HTH,
KL

Very good builds given some of the parts fit.

Are you planning to add some filtering and color modulation, perhaps some streaking effects?

Thank you both for the kind words and advice, the models are now in the display cabinet, I was just glad to finish them off, I think building 3 at a time was a bit ambitious especially with resin kits, I was heartily sick of them towards the end. Usually I do fade paintwork but did not bother with these kits I was just glad to finish them.

Cheers

Dennis

Oh well, you can always do it later after the bad memories fade.   ;D

Those models look great, Dennis! Three 1/32nd scale Soviet GPW models together - a rare sight indeed! Some day we'll have a good selection of IM 1/32nd scale GPW kits to choose from. Some day. Maybe.

Regards,

Jason

P.S. Not to advocate violence, but when I hear Luftwaffe modellers complain about this or that Bf-109 or Fw-190 1/32nd scale kit being a bit off, and not as good as company X's kit of the same version I rather wish to punch them in the face.

Yes, beggars can't be choosers when it comes to 1/32 scale VVS subjects

Cheers

Dennis