Jet Boosted Yak-3

[McGreig]

Just when I'd decided to concentrate on finishing my almost-complete models and finalising my project for the Nationals, I came across this 1943 project to fit a VRDK jet booster to a Yak-9.

[McGreig]

I didn't have a Yak-9 to hand, but I did have a few Hobby Boss Yak-3s and so, despite my resolution not to start anything new - - -

The booster was made by cutting down a Matchbox Me-262 nacelle. This shows the Yak-3, the booster pod and the original Me-262 nacelle for comparison.

[McGreig]

The main parts mated together. As a conversion, this couldn't be simpler.

[McGreig]

The Yak-3 VRDK ready for painting, with the undercarriage test fitted. In the original project the rear of the VRDK nacelle appears to be hinged to retract slightly into the fuselage for ground clearance. This seems unnecessarily complicated and on my model I decided simply to extend the tail wheel, as on the torpedo carrying Fw-190s.

[McGreig]

A view of the underside. With luck, painting and decaling should be done next week.

[Rafael]

         

Rafa

[Brian da Basher]

Woah, very cool, McG! I'd be tempted to leave off the prop and put a few more guns in the nose. This one's gonna turn a few heads, that's for sure!

Brian da Basher

[Archibald]

Very nice! I suppose that, the jet being a booster, it was started in flight only , thus avoiding to burn the tailwheel    

Nice build btw  

[upnorth]

Very nice! I suppose that, the jet being a booster, it was started in flight only , thus avoiding to burn the tailwheel    

Nice build btw

That's why the Yak-15 had a stainless steel tailwheel.

Guess that was an object lesson in how not to marry a jet to a tail dragger landing gear set up!

[ysi_maniac]

Indeed a good start.

[McGreig]

I'd be tempted to leave off the prop and put a few more guns in the nose.

I was tempted to produce a pure jet along the lines of the Focke Wulf P-II project but, as this will be going on the Soviet Aircraft SIG stand at Telford, I decided to stick as closely as possible to the "real" project.

Of course, as SIG Commissar and V.I. Lenin look-alike, I should be able to put anything I want into the display    but too many Whiffs could spark off a Counter-Revolutionary coup  :ar:  (There have already been mutterings from Sukhoi-loving Reactionary Elements   over the Twin Kobra and the interceptor version of the Tupolev "Blinder" in last year's display.)

In the meantime, painting of the Yak has begun.

[McGreig]

The Yak-3 is now finished. The Hobby Boss kit is not as good as their MiG-3 but it's ideal for this sort of project. I'm toying with the idea of using parts from two Hobby Boss Yak-3s for the Piston Perfection GB to make a tandem engined ground attack aircraft along the lines of the Bolkhovitinov "S".

[McGreig]

Another view. The decals are from the kit and went on easily, just using Klear.

[McGreig]

The underside.  

[McGreig]

A final photo. Apart from the One Week MiG-3, this is the easiest and quickest build that I've done for some time.