Yakovlev Yak-1b (late)

Montex Model Club, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

Montex Model Club has released some stunning resin kits in a remarkably short period. Their first full kit was a 1/32 scale Boomerang, followed by a Gloster Gamecock and a Hawker Fury in the same scale.

Montex's first sojourns into 1/72 scale covered two more esoteric subjects - the Fairey Fawn and Vickers Viking. This was followed by their eighth kit during 2008 - a 1/32 scale Henschel Hs 123 A.

Montex has now released a 1/32 scale Yak-1b Late Version as a full resin kit.

This kit comprises around 92 parts in grey-green resin, four parts in clear resin, acetate film for instruments and decals for three marking options.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

The resin parts are beautifully cast. The larger parts - fuselage halves, wings and control surfaces - are almost ready to use straight from the box with no casting blocks and minimal waste material.

Surface features comprise very fine, crisp and consistently recessed panel lines, vents and grilles, combined with sutbly raised fabric texture, hinges and fasteners where applicable.

Control surfaces are all separate and may be positioned to taste thanks to deeply curved mating surfaces on the wings and tail planes.

The smaller parts are equally impressive, and include some tiny yet perfectly formed pieces. Interior detail is excellent, with structural features cast straight onto the interior of the fuselage halves, and a comprehensive selection of separate switches, quadrants and handles provided as separate parts. The seat includes a backrest cast in place, but harness straps are not included.

The radiator flap is separate so it may be posed open or closed.

Wheel wells and the flap wells are treated to nice, deep structural details.

The canopy parts and armoured glass are supplied as four clear resin pieces.

Parts breakdown is quite straightforward. The wings are supplied as left and right hand parts, with a separate central section. The lower inboard part of each wing is also provided separately. The fuselage is conventionally provided as a left and right halves. Deep locating holes and corresponding pins will ease the task of aligning and securing the wings to the fuselage and the struts. Test fitting so far suggests excellent fit.

The well-printed decal sheet provides markings for three aircraft. Two are finished in the early-war VVS scheme of Green and Black upper surfaces, while the third option offers two shades of grey.

Self-adhesive masks for painting the canopy round out this impressive package.

Montex's 1/32 scale Yak-1b Late Version looks like a great kit. The cockpit and wheel wells are beautifully detailed, and fit looks very promising.

The relatively small number of parts means that only minimal experience working with this medium will be needed.

Thanks to Darek from Montex for the sample

Montex Masks and Models are available from their website

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 30 March, 2009
Last updated 30 March, 2009

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page