Sovietwarplanes

I came across this boxart - It says It's a Yak-7, but I dont know... LaGG-3 anyone?  ;D Is the model any good or is it bad like the boxart?
(http://www.afwing.com/images/yak7/yak7a.jpg)

What box art? There's no image! I'm really curious to see this - please try again! :)

John

Okay - NOW I see it! I don't know what happened before. Anyway, I believe this is a reboxing of a very old Yak-7 kit (not a LaGG-3) that's been reissued numerous times in the past under different brand names, or even no name at all. The thing that makes me somewhat unsure is the "Modelist" logo on the right-hand lower corner - several Dakoplast kits (Il-2, Yak-9) were at one time released in different boxes with the Modelist brand name. A few months ago, I was trying hard to obtain one of this Maquette version, just because Maquette kits usually have really good decal sheets, printed by Anne & Co. in St. Petersburg, but I was not successful. If you know where I can get one, please let me know!

(And yes, if I'm right, the kit I'm thinking of is a BAD kit! If you're after a GOOD Yak-7 in 1/72 scale, the Valom Yak-7b is a reworked, upgraded version of the Dako kit, although it's much more expensive. NKR Models in Australia has the Valom Yak-7PVRD on sale on their "Clearance" page at a huge price reduction, by the way.)
http://www.nkrmodels.com.au/

John

I'm also unshure becouse of Modelist logo. I have Modelist Yak-7B with the decals mentioned by John. It is a good Dacoplast kit. I do recommend Valom. It is improved Daco kit with resin parts. BTW Part PE set made for Daco's Yak-9 fits very vell into this kit.

Just released, from the new releases update from Hannants, the Valom Yak-7A:
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=VAL72025

As I hoped, it includes at least one "Komsomol" decal option!

John

Valom Yak-7A, in better detail at Modelimex; seems the Novosibirsk Komsomol markings is the *only* decal option you get:
http://www.modelimex.com/detail/aircraft/1-72/1-72-yak-7a

John

lol, I can actually imagine you stamping with foot and turning into even darker shade of (reddish-)green  ;)

Thanks for that, DGM! For some reason, they've also thrown in a white numeral 9 for the tail. That might or might not be correct; the only good photo I've seen (the "lineup photo", Khabarovsk, 1942; Squadron?Yak Fighters in Action", page 26, among others) has the tail of this aircraft cropped off. All (or most of) the other a/c in this photo have white numbers, so a white 9 is a possibility, but it would be good to see a photo that confirms it. The other image of this a/c (the one with the MiG-3 in the foreground, page 161 of Erik's book), which must have been the source for Erik's profile on page 145 showing a red "03" just behind the fuselage star, might be a later photo taken after the numeral markings were changed from white to red and relocated from the fin to the side of the fuselage, possibly? Or maybe the *red* markings came first? ;)

Anyone who's interested in this subject can go here for some good information:
http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7210

John

LOL !? actually my reaction was not that strong.
more like hanging my head and uttering a sigh
but you are proving to have a very fun sense of humor :D
(what do we expect from a 'puddy tat')

John, since there are only 8 aircraft in this Eskadrilya (two Zvenos) how can there be a 9 ?
(you can just turn it upside-down to make a 6 as only the 4,5,7 and 8 machines seem to have tactical numbers on the fin)


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Good thinking; I was considering the "6" option as a possibility, although without the logic that you have applied to the issue. Or, considering that the same aircraft (or one with the same inscription, at least) shows up in the other photo (and Erik's profile) with the red "03" marking, perhaps a white 3 would have been correct for the occasion of what I keep calling "the lineup photo" (I know - *both* photos are lineups - I mean the one with the a/c in question, "Novosibirskiy Komsomol", in the immediate foreground, with the fin/rudder not visible).

John

Well, I finally tracked down the kit that started this thread (the Maquette 1/72 Yak-7A) at Hannants, and placed an order. I *hope* they'll be able to deliver - it's listed as "Limited Availability". I haven't ordered from Hannants in ages - their 30 Pounds Sterling minimum order limit is kind of discouraging when most other on-line shops are happy just to have your business, big or small. Anyway, I added in enough other VVS odds and ends to drag the total value up to the limit, so I'll post a few comments on the Maquette kit when it arrives. The decals better be *good*, because I'm 99% sure that the kit itself is utter crap!  :P

John

My Hannants order arrived today; in it was the Maquette 1/72 Yak-7A kit which was the original topic of this thread. First of all, the kit itself is the old (pre-Glasnost) Russian kit mentioned elsewhere in this thread, not a reboxing of the Dakoplast Yak-7, so that's what I expected; however, I bought it hoping that the decals would be as good as the ones in some of the other Maquette reissues, and on this I was not disappointed! They are printed in three colours (red, white, and yellow); five options, four being Yak-7B's and only the fifth a Yak-7A, but it's a great one:

- Yak-7B, "White 29", A.A. Matveev, 29 GvIAP, Leningrad Front, spring 1943
- Yak-7B, "Red 65", no pilot, white camouflage, 1943; has extensive Russian slogan on both sides of fuselage (This option was included in the Dakoplast Yak-7B)
- Yak-7B, "White 28", no pilot, 3 GvIAP, 1943 (Could they mean 3 IAK? This aircraft has a nose emblem similar to the 812 IAP "Dragon's/Bird's Wing" emblem)
- Yak-7B, "White 14", A.V. Chirkov, 29 GvIAP, Leningrad Front, May 1943
- Yak-7A, "White 7, Komsomol Kuzbassa", Khabarovsk, spring 1942 (exactly what I was hoping for!!!)

I haven't checked anything to confirm the accuracy of any of these markings, but the decals are of high quality (printed by Anna & Co.), and if you're interested in this aircraft, I strongly recommend you track this kit down while it's still available - toss the kit, but use the decals on a Dako or Valom Yak-7! ;)

John

we can always count on you for good advice !
you know, I just might do that as it is available through Squadron.com for next to nothing.
originally I was not going to buy it as I was also sure it was the "Velem" kit as I call it , but with excellent decals by Anna & Co. it would be worth it because I want to do A.V. Chirkov's plane.
(who do I have to kill to get these in 1/48th scale ?) *****just kidding*****
(I have one of these kits and it has "Velem" written on the box , sometimes it comes in a box with no name on it - that fits it perfectly)

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Heaven knows, I try...? ;)? Are you sure Squadron has it in stock? I tried there a few months ago, and at the time it was listed but not available. It seems to be a rather rare kit, so I didn't expect it to be restocked, especially now that Maquette is apparently out of business. Maybe I'll order a few more...  ;D

John

Great news John :)
Any chance for a sample pic of decals?

btw, I've found it on Aviapress site, about the same price - 9 USD LINK (http://www.aviapress.com/viewonekit.htm?MAQ-3104)
I've never ordered from them, but they did reply few times when I was nagging them? ;D

Slight OT - anybody have any idea whats thier Polikarpov I-185 like?
LINK (http://www.aviapress.com/viewonekit.htm?MAQ-3107)

Cheers!

Hi Renato! I could try e-mailing you a scan of the decals if you want, but it won't show much - most of the numerals are printed in white ink, on a white background!

Good luck with Aviapress - if you're lucky, you *might* get what you want, but be prepared for a very, VERY long wait - I'm sure there's a thread on this subject somewhere!

The I-185 is actually a pretty good kit - it's old, but nicely molded. It was also available many years ago with the brand name "Model Russia". And, it's the only kit of the I-185 available!

John

Thanks John,
If decals would not be visible, then maybe coloring scheme? Just to take a look :)

And thanks for tip onboth I-185 and Aviapress. I did not have intention to order from Aviapress - significant part of their prices are 50-100% higher then elsewhere, especially books.
There is elways e-bay? ;D

Regarding I-185, what about Eastern Express? Repack?

Cheers and thanks for infos on this kit!

Hi, :)
I built the I-185 many years ago. I thought that it was an unknown plane, but I found (later) that excellent documents are available.
I can't say that it's a good kit, but it's the only one of this beautiful plane.
It is a mix between four different prototypes that were much different each other.
If lengthened, it can resemble the I-185M82. To make the most interesting one, the etalon, one has to replace the engine cowling with one of greater diameter, and with a bit lowered axis.
Apart for this, the model is difficult to build: the opening for the engine has to be cut, the wings require a lot of filler and file work, the division between tail surfaces and elevators has to be engraved...
I suppose that all the kits are reboxing of the same one. If I am wrong, please let me know.
Massimo

when did Maquette 'go under' ?? I didn't know.

actually I haven't shopped for that kit recently but it did go for very little when available.
as for the I-185 kit , it was originally molded by Modelist (as it says clearly on the sprue)
Squadron.com also sold that one for very little when available.(Again haven't shopped for it in a while as I acquired mine on ebay-I think!)


http://www.squadron.com/NoStock.asp?item=MQC03107
http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=KPV72025

Hi,
Thanks again for details on I-185 and thanks John for sending me the pics. Decals look really nice, with all that inscriptions and badges.
I will have to do a re-count of my Yak-7 kits to see if there is a room for this, or will a "make" a room :D

Cheers

That's per Hannants' weekly "hot news" e-mail from maybe 3 weeks ago.


Will do, as soon as I dig out your e-mail address. I didn't post the scans here because I haven't got around to setting myself up on an image-sharing site (Any suggestions?). You (or Renato) are welcome to post the images here, though!


You've already seen this, haven't you, you sly devil:
http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/Forum/showthread.php?tid=737&pid=4018#pid4018

Excellent bargain; even with postage from Japan and import duties you're still saving plenty compared to the MSRP. NKR also still has the Valom Yak-7PVRD on sale for half price - all these kits have the same plastic in the box and can be built as a Yak-7B or Yak-7A, regardless of what type is shown in the box art; this includes the Yak-7V kit.

John

nice to know it is recent , there might still be a chance to get these decals.





scan received. Thank you very much!
have you looked into Photobucket or Imageshak ? usually Photobucket allows you to upload/download for free and will even provide tags for forum and Internet use.





Yes I have , but they are not Dakoplast.
I think Valom over-engineered these new versions. I want to build them quickly and easily.
(lots of kits to do)

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They're not Dakoplast, but they're *the same* as Dakoplast. The main difference is that Valom have made the upper cowling a separate part, to allow the armament variations required for Yak-7A/Yak-7B/Yak-7V/Yak-7UTI. Valom have used the same masters as Dakoplast (although a few parts are molded in resin) but the arrangement of parts on the sprues is different, which shows that Valom did not use the Dako molds. If you compare the two kits side-by-side, you'll see what I mean.

John