1:48 Yak-9D LooK

Eduard 1:48 Yak-9D LööK, instrument panel and belts

It is not an aircraft kit but a small accessory focused on the cockpit. The LööK range from the Czech manufacturer Eduard of Obrnice near Most combines a finished color instrument panel with seat belts, so a modeler gets the most visible part of the interior in one box and without assembling small parts. The panel is fitted in place of the plastic part from the kit and the belts are added to the seat. It is the quickest way to raise the level of a cockpit without building a whole interior out of photo-etch.

The real subject

The Yakovlev Yak-9 was a Soviet single-engine fighter of the Second World War with a mixed-construction airframe. Compared with the basic variant, the Yak-9D version had an increased fuel load and therefore a greater range, which marked it out for escort duties over longer distances. The cockpit was single-seat, with glazing giving a good view to the rear; on a model displayed with the canopy open the interior is therefore clearly visible.

Building and painting tips

A panel from this range usually does not have to be painted; repainting would lose the fine printing. It usually fits in place of the original plastic part, which has to be removed or sanded away first; test fit dry and take the material away in small amounts. Glue with a small amount of super glue, and on printed parts a drop of gloss varnish also works well, as it leaves no white bloom. Leave the belts slightly slack and thrown over the edge of the seat, as taut ones look unnatural. At the end, a fine wash into the recesses is enough.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build the Yak-9D in 1:48 scale
• builders who want a better cockpit without assembling a whole photo-etched interior
• exhibitors who present the model with the canopy open
• beginners who find a finished color part convenient

It is an accessory set, not a model in its own right. The kit, glue, paints and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.