A&A Models 1/48 Yak-11

The Yak-11 entered service in 1947, serving as a standard advanced trainer with the Soviet Air Forces and DOSAAF. Both the Yak-11 and C-11 were used in all Warsaw Pact countries and were exported to eighteen countries, including many African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries.

North Korean Yak-11s were used in combat in the Korean War, with one Yak-11 being the first North Korean aircraft shot down by US forces when it was destroyed by a North American F-82 Twin Mustang over Kimpo Airfield on 27 June 1950. East Germany used the Yak-11 to intercept American reconnaissance balloons. The aircraft are popular with the warbird crowd and over 100 still remain airworthy.

This kit is made in Ukraine and if you have ever bought a kit from most Ukraine manufacturers, they have a similar look to them. Detailing is quite good. Many of the thicker pieces have sink areas in them and you'll find that the sprue gates encroach onto the various parts to which they are attached. Nothing major, but you do need to be aware of this. I found the fabric representation on the fuselage to be a bit overdone in terms of 'hills and valleys' though it isn't outrageous.

A photo etch fret is provided for the seat harness, rudder pedals, engine fan assembly (more on this later) and a grille on the engine cowling to name a few. None of the p.e. is required if you don't want to use it. Each of the seats is two pieces while the four side consoles, that also include some of the framework, are three pieces each. A decal is provided for the instrument panels and you'll need them as the panels are otherwise devoid of detail.

The interior bits fit on on a flat floor and there is a bit of additional interior sidewall detail that fits atop the side console framework. This is then installed into a fuselage half along with the rear self and bulkhead along with a tail gear well piece. Wings have three piece gear wells on each side and the tailplanes are upper and lower halves.

Now to the engine. Building up the engine assembly takes six full construction steps. It includes the engine mounts, a bunch of separate intake and exhaust tubes with the latter going into the final header. In the front, a p.e. circular item is used to fit over the cylinders and to this is attached the brass engine fan assembly. Now, if you don't want to do all that, you can simply use the alternative forward cowling piece that blocks any view of the engine and stick the shortened exhaust through the holes in the cowling. Will probably save a ton of time, but won't look as nice.

Each main gear leg consists of many parts and you have the option of plastic or p.e. oleo scissors. The kit also includes two piece plastic wheels or you can use the rubber donuts provided that will have plastic inserts.  The canopy is a single piece and you are provided canopy masks. Also included are two styles of forward canopy mirrors that allow the instructor in the back to see what's going on from the back seat. The canopy is a bit thick and distorted, so no need to go nuts on the interior.

Instructions are nicely done and provide Humbrol paint references. There are four options. Three are in overall light grey and are for a Soviet, East German, and Hungarian aircraft. The fourth is in an overall light olive with yellow wing and fuselage bands from the Egyptian Air Force. The light olive will need to be mixed. Decals look to be very nice and based on other Ukrainian decals I've used, should be quite thin. 

This looks to be a very nice kit. Of course, building it will tell all, but it has all the right parts for those who want a lot of detail and the option to do one that is not so fussy to build. Either way, it is nice to see this aircraft produced in this scale.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-11

August 2022

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