YAK-23 Flora in Yugoslav and USAF service

[Supercuber]

Here's my entry into the Soviet AF in Foreign service.

YAK-23 Flora in Yugoslav and USAF service.

Will be built in double paint scheme model , first ,bare metal YAK-23 , obtained by chance, in 1953, when Romanian pilot Mihail Dijakonu defected to Yugoslavia on a Yak-23 jet.

Romanian markings were stripped and YAK-23 was tested at Yugoslav AF Test centre .

Same plane was later dismantled, crated and transported to USA where this plane is tested, receiving regular USAF markings , and 0599/ FU-599 serial.

Source-Mushroom Model publications 6124 'Yellow' series, ISBN 978-83-89450-54-8

Kit is 1/32 scale Planet Models YAK-23

More to follow.

Edited March 6, 2011 by Supercuber

[Deon]

Excellent project Supercuber, I'd not spotted the Yak 23 last time I looked at Planet Models, so this will be a very interesting build. Good luck

Deon

[CliffB]

What a brute of a plane - should be good!

Cliff

[Miroslav]

Oi mate Very interesting story from our history, indeed. Nice kit.

[Giorgio N]

This is a very interesting subject ! The yak-23 itself is not very well known and built models are a rare sight. A yak-23 in Yugoslav markings will be even more unique !

[Supercuber]

Well, Giorgio, there will be no any Yugoslav markings, since this YAK-23 was tested without any markings applied in Yugoslavia, and after the short trip to USA, plane was via Yugoslavia, returned to Romania.

But, will be photographed prior i apply any decals and markings , and will look exactly like the plane on which test flights were conduced.

Parts ready for cleaning the casting blocks,

Starting with cockpit, this weekend work,

More will follow, tomorrow,

[Supercuber]

Finally i find some time to post few pics, canopy work, done.

Nicely done two vac formed canopies,

Dry fit, seems OK,

There is no any location pins or adjusting lines where the clear part could be secured,

Using copper wire, superglued and later painted, i made the guiding lines for gluing the canopy.

Using slow setting epoxy glue, i have a lot of time to carefully position and secure the canopy.

24 hrs later, its ready for some sanding on the canopy frame,

Edited March 14, 2011 by Supercuber

[Supercuber]

And some of Alclad Grey primer and microfiller applied, to prepare for next wet sanding session.

Edited March 14, 2011 by Supercuber

[Giorgio N]

my mistake, I totally misunderstood your first post and for some reason thought it would have had Yugoslav markings...

Anyway, that cockpit looks really good, plenty of details there !

[Deon]

Thats a lovely pit, hope all goes well with the canopy

[Supercuber]

Some in progress pics, taken in past two weeks,

Just a wings dry fit to see how the plane looks,

Canopy masked to save it from scratch, during the sanding and priming the fuselage,

Horizontal and vertical tail join line need some putty and later sanding.

Sanded,

Primed,

[Supercuber]

Wing joints were strenghtened with 1,5mm steel wire,

And superglued with slow setting superglue,

Then primed with Alclad gray primer,

and polished with wet sanding sponge,

Gloss black ( does not look gloss on photo, later will be polished with 2000 grit wet sanding paper) was applied as a base coat for Alclad,

And Alclad was sprayed in few coats,

Some areas were masked and sprayed with Humbrol aluminium and revell aluminium, to give different panel shades,

Wheel bay was masked and sprayed with Gray Green ,

Wheels, UC legs and covers were sprayed, too.

[Supercuber]

USAF serials were drawn in COREL and printed on my home laser printer, on clear decal film.

Font is slightly modified Amarillo USAF.

Custom printed decal was coated with one coat of Revell 01 gloss lacquer, to seal it on the decal film.

Decals from decal leftovers and custom printed serials are ready,

But, prior decaling, i completed this YAK model in bare metal finish, without any markings and stencils, just like it was photographed during the test flights in Yugoslavia, prior it was transfered to USA,

After this "bare metal" photo session, decals were applied, using some movie captured shots as decal application guide,

And this is finished YAK-23 Flora, more pics in Gallery

Edited April 11, 2011 by Supercuber

[Supercuber]

And Youtube movie with same YAK in test flight over OHIO,

[Deon]

That NMF ha come out really well the YAk looks splendid!

[Metallicus]

Now that does look superb!!

[Metallicus]

Now that does look superb!!