Yak-3 WIP

As you can see from the previous pictures there is not that much detail in the cockpit offered by the kit parts, but that's okay since this will be an in-flight display and the pilot figure will cover just about everything inside the cockpit. I'm building this thing OOB. The only detail I think I will add will be a wiring harness to the comms unit behind the pilot's seat.  

While not adding any aftermarket, I am making a couple of easy modifications to the kit parts to make it pop just a little more. Here - drilling out the exhaust stubs. 

Didn't take a before picture, but the engine cowling that's used to build the closed up version of the plane had just a blank wall in the pockets where the barrels of the Berezin UBS guns come through. I drilled them out and then used the bits from the guns that are provided for the exposed engine option to make barrel stubs and make the business end of the aircraft a little more interesting. 

I'm going to do a bit of chipping on the metal parts, so masking off the wooden parts to spray the aluminum base coat 

After the aluminum paint dried, I airbrushed a layer of hair spray for the chipping solution before removing the masks.  

Skipping documenting all the steps for applying the Montex masks. First colors of the camouflage scheme are about ready to go on at this point. 

Underside painted... 

...and chipped. 

Ready for the most satisfying part! 

Rarely can decals beat painted markings.  

The chipping on the upper surfaces didn't turn out as well as on the bottom and perhaps the post-shading is bit too stark, but she's ready for a gloss coat and decals.  

Calling it done. At this point the only things left are the pilot figure to paint, place, and seal inside the cockpit, some EZ line for the aerial antenna, and the acrylic rod magnetic stand to put together. Pretty happy how this one came together in the end. 

Well, there it is! Dressy final photos coming soon in a separate album.