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Leszek Golubinski
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Yak-23 1/144 (Mikro Mir + Shelf Oddity)

January 20, 2021 · in Aviation · · 5 · 2.6K

Hello everyone!

This model has been finished in December 2020, but photos and editing dragged on a bit. The kit is , which I really like and highly recommend. This is the most crisp and delicate short-run kit I've seen. Mikro Mir's Tu-22 comes close, and I am looking forward to building that one. Having checked the gear details I had serious doubts whether designing PE details for it makes any sense (in the end it did - there are still some tiny PE bits that can further enhance it). I like the slightly irregular, hair thin panel lines, sharp trailing edges of wings and tail; the plastic is good to work with, no big fit issues and it is so lovely tiny.

The scene is loosely based on a monument airplane that used to be displayed on a square in Świdnica, Poland (photos attached). I wanted to build two-seater variant of Yak-23, however never used two-seater Yak-23s which instills a major and obvious historical inaccuracy. Having this one already onboard I was less worried by some other bits that may or may not fit any particular reference photos. The airplane on display was easily accessible, kids favorite, and as such subject of slow but steady decay and settling on one single "proper" state of the airframe to reproduce is nearly impossible.

(decals are custom printed, kit was used for testing PE details set, some additional parts such as intake plug or wing walkway + all the vignette are scratch built)

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

17 additional images. Click to enlarge.


5 responses

  1. That's a first to see rivet detail on a 144 scale model! Excellent work on this tiny thing!

  2. This is a great build, Leszek.
    Unbelievable that this can be done in 1/144.
    Love that picture of the Lego doll taking a picture of that wonderful aircraft.

  3. Well done Leszek, especially in that scale.

  4. That's really amazing, that it's 1/144. Beautiful result.

  5. Amazing detail for 1/144, Leszek!
    Love the diorama concept, too!

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