Female Aces: 1/48 Accurate Miniatures Yak-1

Accurate Miniatures model aircraft kits set a high-standard when they came into the market in the 90s. Sporting finely molded surface details with good parts fit they also focused on some types that weren't given much attention previously. This 1/48 Accurate Miniatures Yak-1 is another good quality example of their product line.

Notable Kit Features:

• Detailed cockpit complete with surrounding framework

• Clear instrument panel with raised switches and dials and decals for instruments

• Nice clear multi-piece canopy which can be posed open or closed

• Finely finished surface details

• Clear landing and wingtip navigation lights

• Separate ailerons

• Lower radiator flap can be positioned

• Instructions clearly written by model makers with tips mixed in on various aspects of the build, including how to drop the flaps if desired

• Separate wheel hubs & tires (great help at the painting stage)

• Choice of weighted or unweighted main wheels

• Underwing drop tanks and rocket armament included

Build Inspiration:

This kit includes markings of one of the very few female combat pilots of WWII. Лидия Владимировна Литвяк (Lydiia Vladimirovna Litviak - Spelling varies depending upon the translation method) served with the all female 1st Squadron, 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment (APVO) with the VVS in WWII. In less than two years of operations, she became one of the first female fighter pilots to shoot down an enemy aircraft and the first of two female fighter pilots to earn the title of ace. She went on to set the record for the greatest number of kills by a female fighter pilot (Officially with 12 Individual kills; 1 Ju-87, 3 Ju-88, 7 Me-109, 1 balloon and 3 shared kills; 2 Me-109, 1 FW-190). Unfortunately she did not survive the war as on August 1st 1943, Lydiia was reported shot down as she attacked a formation of German aircraft near Orel during the Battle of Kursk.

Heads-Up Report:

• The Yak-1 had mostly wood wings the smooth surface (so don't be trying out your chipped metal skills here :)

• The cockpit as well as separate exhaust stubs are a bit fiddly to install

• Spine fit requires some work to get it sealed up

Kit Additions / Modifications:

• Kit built Out-of-Box (OoB)

Finishing:

Finding exact colour matches for VVS aircraft is quite the challenge, Accurate Miniatures provides some guidance here, however new information may change the colour choices, so you can do your research or go with your best guesses. The paint scheme of Lydiia's aircraft is a green (Between FS 34102 - 34151) and black camouflage over Russian Underside Blue (FS 35190) lower surfaces. The interior colour was reported as (FS 34226 /RLM02) however later research may have found this was probably Russian interior blue gray. At the time I was painting with Model Master oil-based enamels, which were applied using an airbrush. Afterwards a shot of Pledge floor finish gloss was applied to prepare for decals and washes. My weathering was fairly mild on this aircraft, consisting mainly of panel wash in the control surfaces and paint powder exhaust staining. A Model Master acrylic matte coat sealed everything in with a dull finish.

The After-Build Report:

The Accurate Miniatures kits are among my favourite brands. Developed with model makers in mind their products developed nicely to include check-list instructions, a multi-paint brand reference chart as well as some research material. Not perfect, but noticeably impressive. After Accurate Miniatures went under, many of their molds were sold off, in the case of the 1/48 Accurate Miniatures Yak-1, to Eduard and Academy, so they are still available if you can't find an original. Recommended in my books, especially if I come across an original at a discount price. Happy model making to all.

Completed build #101 - February 2006 using the 1/48th scale Accurate Miniatures #3424 kit.

Feel free to comment or ask any questions - Keep on building, gain experience, challenge yourself if you like, but try not to stress yourself out over the build - it is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby after all - Cheers