yak 7V or Yak 7UTI?? famous picture, anyone know more?

[Troy Smith]

Hi
a couple of famous pics here

have been  captioned "two photos. Yak-7UTI, Kalinin front, February 1942"





Overall aluminum dope with plain red starts?

is this just a two seater, or dual control?  curious as I'd like to do this plane, using the ICM Yak-7V

any pointers or tips or pitfalls to avoid?

yak interiors ?  A-14?

thanks
T

[marluc]

Hello Troy:

It?s an UTI,as the Yak-7V?s had fixed landing gears and no weapons.All the planes marked as "UTI" are armed trainers.The Yak in the picture could be also a Yak-7a single seater converted into a 2 seater.

Overall aluminum dope with plain red starts?

I agree,the surface is too shiny to be painted in white o light grey.As for the interior colours,I don?t know,sorry.

Regarding the ICM kit,I started one but never finished it.It?s a simple kit which has a pretty detailed interior but lacks many external details as the radiator faces.As usual with ICM kits,the fit of  parts is not good.It you want to make an accurate representation of the Yak,you should make the fuel dials over the wings.In the interior,the seats backrests need to be thinned as they are too thick.Hope to be of help.
Greetings.

Martin

[vihonen]

Hello,

I'd be very, nay, extremely careful when guessing a colour of an aircraft which is standing on snow/ice and is illuminated by strong oblique sunshine (see the shadows). The surface of the snow or ice reflects the light in very diffused manner causing even matt camouflaged surface to look overall glossy. I suppose the overall aluminium early LaGG-3 are in fact wrongly interpreted winter camouflaged planes (white on top, light blue below).

Mind you, I am convinced of the existence and continued use of the AE-8 and A II Aluminium paints during the WWII, having seen quite a few genuine examples of both. And for all I know, that Yak-7 UTI may have been overall aluminium, though I will remain doubtful until documentary evidence be brought forth.

For the cockpit colour I'd vote for A-14.

Jan