1/48 AMODEL Aeroflot Yak-18t
Another member of my civilian fleet. Giving a minus to Amodel kit for unclear instructions and very fragile decals, besides that it was fun kit to build.
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Seems like you worked your way through the instructions correctly, Boris.
It turned out in a beautiful Yak.
Nice result on this, whatever the problems were.
Out of curiosity, what was Aeroflot using a Yak-18 for? AFAIK, it's an aerobatic trainer.
Aeroflot used it as a basic (with retracts and variable pitch prop) trainer in its flight schools. They probably built this so students could get used to side by side seating otherwise the Yak-52 would have been just as good.
TY Tom. Inside of the cabin had to be assembled and glued to lower wing before connecting it all to the fuselage. Usually on models when assembling fuselage you have to glue two (left and right) parts of the fuselage. In this case you have to glue three parts (left, right and lower wing with cabin) at the same time. Nor plastic parts nor instructions were very clear about exact position the cabin had to be glued to, so I basically few times realized I glued cabin to the wrong place only after I started gluing the fuselage and had to abort it all. Did cost a lot of nerves. Also luckily I added ballast in front fuselage because instructions say nothing about it - and this plane need a lot of weight in front to stand on all three wheels. In addition, side decals almost disintegrated when I pulled them out of the water.
As for use of the plane, Josh already answered your question. This is what I found on Wikipedia: "The Yak-18T went on to become the standard basic trainer with Aeroflot flight schools, while small numbers also entered service with the Soviet Air Force as liaison and communications aircraft. After approximately 700 were built, many for Aeroflot, production ceased in the late 1980s, to be resumed in 1993.[1] In 2011 it was claimed that the type remained in small-scale production by the Yakovlev Design Bureau,[2] although apparently none had been produced in more than a decade."
Thanks both you guys, @jpatt1000 and @grgast - I get to learn something new!
Your description of the assembly, Boris, makes the accomplishment even better - a triumph of obstinacy and talent over plastic.
With all the Yaks and Aerostars at EAA I keep looking for more 18s but I have yet to find one. There was a Nanching CJ-6 in FAA colors looking like a tiny tricycle Blackburn Firebrand though! (Also an Aero 45 was there which is pretty sweet and decidedly British looking!)
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
An excellent result of a model not often seen built, Boris!
That was the goal. Mostly I see all the same models (F-6,15,16,18, Mig-21) over and over again. I wanted to have one shelf in my display case filled with models rarely anyone assembles.
Quite a satisfying goal! I have many liason/observation and trainer craft queued up.
Now that gets a 10 on the cool factor scale, Boris!
Very nice! I think AModel could also improve the quality of their clear parts - pretty hazy - but it's a good-looking model. Well done.
I agree Greg...but then you can't expect much out of a $15 kit.
Great looking model Boris, nice colour scheme.
Very neat work, Boris, it's always great to see civilian aircraft.
Beautiful work on your build, it looks great! Brittle decals are no fun, you have done a fine job minimizing the damaged areas.
Love the color scheme, great job!