Yakovlev Yak-3 – “White 1”

Vital Stats

Manufacturer: Eduard
Scale: 1:48
Aircraft: Yakovlev Yak-3
Markings: Maj. Nikolai Fedorovich Denchik | Order of Aleksandr Nevskii IAP | 4th GIAD | 1st Baltic Front | Winter 1944
Aftermarket: True Details wheels | Eduard PE seatblets | Aeromaster decals

Mini-Review

Eduard’s Yak-3 is the best representation of the nimble Soviet fighter available in 1/48 scale.

It’s also the only representation available in 1/48 scale.

Overall, it’s something of a mixed bag. Cockpit detail is decent if simplistic. The fuselage detail – especially forward of the wingroot – is surprisingly strong, but other details seem heavy-handed and sloppy. The fit along the major seams – fuselage and wings – is phenomenal, which is something of a miracle considering the lack of locating pins.

Where this kit really stumbles is the smaller details. The landing gear is a train wreck. The struts don’t have much in the way of positive location into the gear bays, so you just have to wing it. The wheels are the worst kit wheels I’ve ever encountered – replacing them with the True Details resin wheels should be considered mandatory – and the various bits and bobs that connect to the main gear struts also lack in any kind of placement guidance or locating holes. The decals are another letdown.

In summary…this kit builds fast and turns out a pretty slick looking Yak-3, but the devil’s in the details, and that’s where this kit has trouble.

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