Yak-1b Limited Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Yak-1b is available online from Squadron.com for only UD$37.46!

When they were released in the 1990s, Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale aircraft kits set new standards in quality and detail that are rarely matched even today. Their 1998 family of Yak-1 models was one of several bold subject choices, tackling important aircraft that had not been adequately depicted in plastic. In common with their other offerings of the time, Accurate Miniatures' Yak-1s boasted excellent attention detail, crisp mouldings, outstanding surface features and good fit.

What more could anyone ask for in a Yak-1?

How about colour photo-etch parts, canopy and wheel masks, plus five colourful new marking options?

The latest Eduard Limited Edition kit contains the plastic from Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale Yak-1b, comprising 90 parts in grey coloured plastic and 14 parts in clear; combined with a large new colour photo-etched fret; masking sheet; and three decal sheets with markings for six aircraft.

Eduard has actually released this package twice before, the first time in 2006, but both of these offerings sold out quickly. Also, this time it a wider selection of markings is included.

The styrene sprues contain the familiar plastic parts from Accurate Miniatures' 1998 Yak-1b. Accurate Miniatures' plastic parts still look impessive today in terms of quality of injection moulded parts, detail and markings.

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Thumbnail panels:

Eduard's packaging is very modeller-friendly. Sprues are packed, singly or in pairs, in resealable bags with each pair of sprues interlocked to prevent scuffing.

Surface detail is excellent. Panel lines are consistent and finely engraved. Subtly recessed rivets are also present in limited (but appropriate) locations.

Moulding quality has not suffered in the last 17 years (could it really be that long??), with beautifully crisp mouldings and only one minor sink mark on top of one aileron, a shallow sink line on the bottom of the other, and a few ejector pin circles on the inside of the undercarriage doors.

The rudder and elevators are fixed in the neutral position, but ailerons are supplied separately. I really like the fabric texture of the control surfaces.

The main undercarriage offers the choice of weighted (bulged and flattened) or unweighted tyres. Although not used in any of the marking options for this boxing, the full sprue containing skis is also included in this kit.

Ordnance options include rockets and drop tanks.

The kit is not overly complex, and includes plenty of perfectly aligned locating pins.

Clear parts are thin and free from distortion.

The colour photo-etched fret adds intricate detail to the excellent plastic parts. This fret provides the harness, instrument panel and side consoles in full colour, plus supplementary metal detail parts for the cockpit and aircraft exterior. The instrument panel should look great when assembled, incorporating all the tiny details of the dials and the characteristic coloured surrounds of the engine gauges.

Die-cut self-adhesive masks round out the package.

Instructions are supplied in an A-5 size 12 page loose leaf booklet. This is accompanied by six pages of full-colour marking guides, each with a four-view illustration.

Markings

Markings are provided for seven colourful aircraft.

Four are finished in the early-war VVS scheme of Green and Black over Light Blue, with another in whitewashed upper surfaces and two examples in two-tone grey.

Decals are printed by Cartograf. Register is perfect and colours look good.

Accurate Miniatures' 1/48 scale Yak-1b is still a great kit. The addition of Eduard's colour photo-etch parts, masks and new decals take it to an even higher level.

Keep in mind, however, that this is a limited edition offering. Both earlier issues sold out quickly, so get in now while you can.

Also, build reports indicate that fit around the fuselage deck is tricky, so take plenty of time test-fitting before committing to glue.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2015 by Brett Green
Page Created 4 September, 2015
Last updated 4 September, 2015

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