Yak-1b 812 IAP
A Yak-1b from the 812-й Севастопольский ИАП

The 812 "Sevastopol" IAP was one of the highest scoring VVS units during the Second World War with over 800 enemy planes down or destroyed on the ground. Part of the elite 3 IAK (Fighter Air Corps similar in size to a four Grouppe Geschwader) that flew only Yakovlev fighters, it never received the coveted "Guards" title due to political issues.

It also holds the destinction of being the only Soviet unit to have a its combat history published in English, in Aviaology's excellent "Dragons on Birds Wings, Vol. I" by Vladimir Antipov and Igor Utkin from 2006. Sadly, Volume II was never published...

All 3 IAK machines bore several versions of a "winged red star" emblem on their noses making for some colorful paint schemes and, having read the detailed unit history and several articles on the many aces that served in the 812 IAP, I've always wanted to model some Yak fighters in their livery.

Arma Hobby's Yak-1b 1:72 excellent kit is to serve as the basis for this build.

Possible paint schemes:

White 24, early red winged star emblem version - AMT-4 Green / AMT-6 Black over AMT-7 Blue - Kuban, April - May 1943
White 32, early red winged sttar emblem version - AMT-4 Green / AMT-6 Black over AMT-7 Blue - Kuban, April - May 1943
White 31, late red winged sttar emblem version - AMT-11 Blue Grey / AMT-12 Dark Grey over AMT Blue - Crimea, March - April 1944