Yak-9U/P - in 1/48th, possible conversion, add Yak-3 nose to Yak-9?

[Troy Smith]

HI all

Now I know Scale Bureau do a resin kit, but $100 is quite a chunk of cash especially if a conversion is possible.


so,  I am wondering, if you use the nose of a Yak -3 on Yak-9, plus work on smaller details, can you make a Yak-9U.

I'm just investigating if this is do-able or not.  Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I was thinking along the lines of using an Eduard Yak-3 nose/wing root intakes,[the remaining bits used to make a Yak-11] and add the nose to probably one of the ICM kits, or if I can source a cheap LTD kit.

So is this possible or preposterous?   

I'm quite happy chopping up cheapish kits, not so happy about stumping up a hundred bucks for one kit. [I have time but not much cash.]

Look forward to ideas and comments.

cheers
T

[John Thompson]

I'd start with some drawings:
http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw/jak9uaiv.html
http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw/jak9pvk107a.html
http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw/jak9m107ia.html

This book, published by Mushroom, would be helpful:
http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/books/m3/m3yak9up.htm

Here's a walkaround:
http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat.php?cid=156&orderby=dateA&show=12&min=12

Here's another one - total of 99 images, on 3 pages:
http://www.moskittech.ru/eng/myze/Yak-9P/Yak-9P.htm#z1

We 1/72 people are lucky in that we already have good kits of the Yak-9U and Yak-9P, as well as the Yak-3/VK107A, from Amodel; studying the parts breakdown in those kits might be helpful:
http://modelism.airforce.ru/reviews/ru/yak-3_9-amodel/index.htm

Yak-9P technical manual; page 1 of 18 web pages, with 9 manual pages each:
http://walkarounds.scalemodels.ru/v/manuals/Yak-9P/

That should get you started...

I'm not so sure that a Yak-9 fuselage would be useful - the rear fuselage structure of the Yak-9 (fabric covered) was different from the later Yak-9U (laminated wood surface) and -9P (metal surface). The Yak-3 (laminated wood) is closer to the late Yak-9's in this regard. What you might actually wind up with is the Yak-3 fuselage with the nose extended and modified, attached to Yak-9 wings with Yak-3 wing root intakes. Have fun...  

John

[Troy Smith]

I'm not so sure that a Yak-9 fuselage would be useful - the rear fuselage structure of the Yak-9 (fabric covered) was different from the later Yak-9U (laminated wood surface) and -9P (metal surface). The Yak-3 (laminated wood) is closer to the late Yak-9's in this regard. What you might actually wind up with is the Yak-3 fuselage with the nose extended and modified, attached to Yak-9 wings with Yak-3 wing root intakes. Have fun...  

John

Brilliant John, thank you.

The reason I sk is I'm extrapolating from this, http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/yak179/yaks-matvienko/yaks-matvienko.htm

For the modeling purposes, we have to bear in mind that all M-105-engined Yak-1/3/7/9s had absolutely identically outlined fuselages, except for a few details shown on the drawing below.

It is the VK-107 engine introduction that caused any remarkable charges in the fuselage construction.

I presume this means to the nose section, rather than the rear fuselage shape? 

As for ther rear fuselage, different covering, yes, but was it a significantly different shape?   And removing the fabric effect will give the smooth plywood or metal with some new panel lines?

Or, have i missed some crucial detail?   

cheers
T

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi Troy and John,
on  Yakovlev's piston-engined fighters I've read a length of 8.6m for Yak-9U and 8.5 for the most of other versions, strangely including Yak-9P and Yak-3vk-107. The gun was not particularly protruding, so it seems that the fuselage was longer than other variants. I haven't yet compared drawings.
Regards
Massimo

[John Thompson]

As for ther rear fuselage, different covering, yes, but was it a significantly different shape?   And removing the fabric effect will give the smooth plywood or metal with some new panel lines?

Or, have i missed some crucial detail?  

cheers
T

Here's a review of the Scale Bureau kit by A. Sekularac which has some good information in it; also the images will help answer some questions:
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2007/december/first-looks/sb_yak9u.php

Hi Troy and John,
on  Yakovlev's piston-engined fighters I've read a length of 8.6m for Yak-9U and 8.5 for the most of other versions, strangely including Yak-9P and Yak-3vk-107. The gun was not particularly protruding, so it seems that the fuselage was longer than other variants. I haven't yet compared drawings.
Regards
Massimo

Probably nose length; I'm guessing the rear fuselage length (and cross-sectional shape) didn't change.

John

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi John, hi Troy,
I would be a bit uneasy to work so much on a conversion when a so well made resin kit is available.
I would suggest to make  a Yak-3 vk-107, that has a fuselage nearly identical to the Yak-9U/P, but a wing nearly identical to that of a production Yak-3. Less work, less expense, no comparison with superior kits.
Only, the operativity of this plane is doubtful: after two or three prototypes, they built about 50 planes in 1945/46, but no photos of operational Yak-3vk-107 are known.
Regards
Massimo

[KL]

Yak-9U and Yak-9P were really a separate branch in Yaks family tree.  They were developed from Yak-9, but postwar Yak-9P didn't have a lot in common with 1943-44 Yak-9s.
Yak-9P differed from original Yak-9 in following:

-  VK-107 engine with different engine bearers, cowlings, exhausts
-  larger radiator
-  wingroot oil cooler intakes (from Yak-3)
-  all metal wing with eliptical wingtips
-  larger ailerons
-  wing moved forward for 100mm
-  all metal rear fuselage
-  smaller rudder
-  nav equipment, etc, etc,...

hth,
KL

[Troy Smith]

Thanks you again John, Massimo and Konstantin.

OK, so it's a fair amount of work, but not impossible then.   Regarding the resin kit, $100 buck is way more than I want to spend one one kit. 

if I was going to buy a  Scale Bureau kits, it would be the La-9 or 11.

This is some groundwork on if it's possible, i'm looking at the basic shapes/parts.  I'll get some plans printed out and do some comparisons with various kits. 

Having compared the new Modelsvit Yak-1B with the ICM Yak-9, the ICM Yak-9 has a wing shifted forward....
Given that ICM Yak-9's can be got really cheap if it goes wrong I have not lost much, an I'm quite happy chopping and and modifying a base kit...[one day i'll finish making a Pyorremyrsky out of an old Airfix Hurricane and 109F combo!]

I'll report my findings eventually.   I ask these questions here as I get useful answers as to possible projects, and maybe of use to other folks.

thanks again
T

[John Thompson]

Well, good luck, then - as much as I like chopping up model kits, I was ready to agree with Massimo on this, but if you do decide to go ahead, please post some in-progress photos!

Cheers!
John