Normandy Niémen Yak-3
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/7/4/6/1284746-36121-72-720.jpg)
Made a start on Airwaves’ PE cockpit which went together well. Some levers have spares as inevitably you’ll lose them. The actual insertion of the PE onto the kit is another matter and requires some work to sort out how to marry it all up.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/7/9/7/1284797-36121-29-720.jpg)
After around 2 hours, we’re here. There was quite a bit of grinding out of the plastic floor to allow the PE ‘cage’ in. Dry fitting suggests we’re okay with the fuselage when it comes together.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/7/9/6/1284796-36121-17-720.jpg)
The air cooler and air intakes in the wings have PE grills - neat little piece of detailing missing from the original
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/3/0/3/1285303-36121-76-720.jpg)
After a morning’s work we have the fuselage and wings readied for attaching. The kit maybe old, but Hasegawa’s moulds are pretty tight.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/3/0/1/1285301-36121-79-720.jpg)
I scratch built the wires from the radio receiver having seen a larger scale build doing the same.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/3/0/2/1285302-36121-67-720.jpg)
The instrument panel has been inserted and Milliput fills the back of it for strength. You cannot attach the panel in the correct place in the fuselage without shortening the cockpit’s cage (see next photo).
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/3/0/4/1285304-36121-16-720.jpg)
Note: gingerly I chopped the forward pieces of the side walls off to allow for the instrument panel. Not clear in Airwaves’ instructions on how to mate these two parts of the build. Pragmatism for me.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/4/7/1/1285471-36121-95-720.jpg)
The fuselage mated to the wings went well. No filler and all PE (once manipulated) fell into line. I hope the kit runs true to scale. It is by far the smallest single seat WWII fighter I’ve built- even smaller than the Bf109!
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/4/6/9/1285469-36121-21-720.jpg)
A challenge- the tricoleur spinner. That’s the easy one done. How to get the blue tip done so that all looks equidistant?…
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/4/7/0/1285470-36121-70-720.jpg)
Airwaves provided the torque links/plates for the oleos- nice and detailed
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/4/7/2/1285472-36121-65-720.jpg)
The kit gives no gunsight- so I scratch one
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/4/7/3/1285473-36121-56-720.jpg)
The Achilles’ heel- nothing in the wheel wells. So again, I’ll think about how I add some details. End of the 2nd day.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/7/4/3/1285743-36121-82-720.jpg)
scratch built gunsight now in situ, going to use Hasegawa's open canopy option (rather than Rob Taurus) as its pretty clear and allows the main shield to be withdrawn backwards.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/7/4/4/1285744-36121-36-720.jpg)
well, I went 'old school'...cracked open a 30 year-plus Humbrol 109 enamel, a paintbrush, held my breath and painted the 'bleu', et voila!, think I got away with it?
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/7/4/5/1285745-36121-25-720.jpg)
spinner <<comme le tricoleur, n'est pas?>>
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/7/4/6/1285746-36121-85-720.jpg)
2nd full day of work on this. Having to decide the Soviet colours, without resorting to buying any official shades. I'm going with Vallejo's 71.258 (Grey-Green) and 71.307 (BS Medium Sea Grey) for the uppers. 71.255 Hellblau for the lowers. (the three left to right on the stick).
Pitot is my signature guitar string aftermarket!
It looks the tiniest of things, this Yak-3. I have measured it, multiplied by 72 and it is pretty much to scale. [To my eyes looks 1/76th, but no.]
Pitot is my signature guitar string aftermarket!
It looks the tiniest of things, this Yak-3. I have measured it, multiplied by 72 and it is pretty much to scale. [To my eyes looks 1/76th, but no.]
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/0/8/1285908-36121-45-720.jpg)
canopy masked freehand with Tamiya tape.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/8/3/8/1285838-36121-68-720.jpg)
Well, every so often one tries to up ones game. This is mine. The scratch building of the wheel wells. I couldn't see any aftermarkets, so out with a piece of plasticard and away we go...
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/9/0/9/1285909-36121-67-720.jpg)
wells in position, some filler required to emulate the side walls.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/9/1/0/1285910-36121-16-720.jpg)
they don't look too bad?...end of day 2 (and a half)
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/2/9/7/1286297-36121-63-720.jpg)
I discovered on a walk-around that the doors have an “H” hinge. PE raided, and a suitable piece found and attached. It then prompted me to finish the legs (unusually) to see if we’ve got the right sort of look.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/2/9/8/1286298-36121-10-720.jpg)
The PE “Y” struts are from the Airwaves ‘boost’ and fit well against the kit’s legs. I assume the undercarriage was a little “knock-kneed”!
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/4/1/3/1286413-36121-97-720.jpg)
Corrected the gait.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/4/7/2/1286472-36121-99-720.jpg)
First pass of tri-camouflage- Vallejos’ performed better here.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/4/7/4/1286474-36121-95-720.jpg)
First pass of tri-camouflage- Vallejos’ performed better here.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/4/7/3/1286473-36121-74-720.jpg)
Underside will need a tidy up around the meeting of the uppers
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/8/7/4/1287874-36121-83-720.jpg)
We’re decal'd and almost ready for washes.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/8/7/5/1287875-36121-71-720.jpg)
We’re decal'd and almost ready for washes.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/8/7/3/1287873-36121-52-720.jpg)
Front undercarriage all done now.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/0/6/1/1289061-36121-52-pristine.jpg)
Landed.
For me a quick build. Hasegawa's 1990s moulds still pass the muster, and this builds into a little fighter- probably the smallest I've made so far.
For me a quick build. Hasegawa's 1990s moulds still pass the muster, and this builds into a little fighter- probably the smallest I've made so far.
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/0/6/2/1289062-36121-56-720.jpg)
Landed.
For myself, a quick build. Hasegawa's 1990s moulds still pass the muster, and this builds into a little fighter- probably the smallest I've made so far.
For myself, a quick build. Hasegawa's 1990s moulds still pass the muster, and this builds into a little fighter- probably the smallest I've made so far.
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/0/6/4/1289064-36121-84-720.jpg)
Landed.
For myself, a quick build. Hasegawa's 1990's moulds still pass the muster, and this builds into a little fighter- probably the smallest I've made so far.
For myself, a quick build. Hasegawa's 1990's moulds still pass the muster, and this builds into a little fighter- probably the smallest I've made so far.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/0/6/5/1289065-36121-18-720.jpg)
Top side I
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/0/6/8/1289068-36121-55-720.jpg)
Top side II
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/0/6/9/1289069-36121-82-720.jpg)
Underside I
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/0/7/0/1289070-36121-99-720.jpg)
Top side III
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/0/7/1/1289071-36121-96-720.jpg)
Underside II
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/0/7/2/1289072-36121-82-720.jpg)
NB didn't use the Rob Taurus canopy. Hasegawa allows you an open or closed version, and it isn't too bad.
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/0/7/3/1289073-36121-40-720.jpg)
That's all, folks!, on this one.....(another one to be built, someday)
Comentarii
33 15 August 2022, 17:44
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Welcome Robert, have a beer, we're on warp-factor with model builds at the moment....
17 August 2022, 12:01
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
@Robert- "speedboat". Definitely my last build for a while, been trying to run down the stash.
17 August 2022, 21:27
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
Very nice build A, that's probably a bit better materiel than my Yak-1b.
I have to disappoint you, but I think the undercarriage wasn't leaning inwards that much:
[img1]
18 August 2022, 11:15
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Oh, piffle- better get the splints on them and get them straightened 😞
18 August 2022, 12:15
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks Cuajete, I'm no "rivet counter" and don't know their relative sizes, but this Yak-3 seems to be on scale. It looks like a tiny Soviet gnat. Much like Putin.
18 August 2022, 18:47
![](/profiles/img/60295-750-s.jpg)
Hey Andy. Nice project and plane. As always your explanations in each picture are very interesting. Good work with the scrap parts.
18 August 2022, 20:32
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
@Micky: glad we could throw some light on this kit and I welcome your words too.
19 August 2022, 14:29
![](/profiles/img/41967-490-s.jpg)
You're working as fast as lightning Andy, pun intended 😄
Looking good 👍🏻
20 August 2022, 17:58
![](/profiles/img/114154-852-s.jpg)
Good job.
This paint on the tail, it was just when the Normandie Niemen come Back to France.
During the war, there was a red star on the tail.
20 August 2022, 19:50
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
@Noël, thanks for those historic notes. The duo combo pack allows 3 schemes, and the Croix de Lorraine seemed unique to Delfino's mount, and doesn't involve putting on a Russian red star, so I thought it was a twist on the usual theme. Therefore this project is set when the squadron returned to France. Cool!
A bientôt, et merci beaucoup.
21 August 2022, 07:23
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks Cuajete- getting close to finals. I had a heavy weekend with commitments and lost some build time!
21 August 2022, 07:24
![](/profiles/img/69549-161-s.jpg)
Famous pattern and nicely built model, I like it very much. 😎 👍 👍 👍
23 August 2022, 16:59
![](/profiles/img/27826-126-s.jpg)
Very nice job, Andy 👍
One express build more with a little pause, but very well executed.
Congrats!
23 August 2022, 17:22
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks Ludvík, Łukasz and Cuajete - a quickie. May return to the weathering another time?...
23 August 2022, 19:55