1:72 Jak-3

The real subject

The Yak-3 was a Soviet single-seat fighter from the end of the Second World War. It came about by consistently lightening an older type, and the result was a small, light machine that made its name mainly in combat close to the ground, where most of the fighting on the Eastern Front was decided. For a model this has one practical consequence: the airframe is small, so every part that takes thickness off it shows.

What a separate canopy is for

On an aircraft model the cockpit is the first place anyone looks. The part from the kit tends to be heavier than the scale calls for, the frames on it may not read clearly, and after years in the box it is easily scratched. A separate clear canopy solves this and also opens up the option of building the model with the canopy slid back, so that the seat and the instrument panel can be seen.

Building tips

• Hold clear parts by the edges; fingerprints are harder to remove from them than they appear.
• How the canopy is separated and prepared is given in the manufacturer's instructions, because it varies from one version to another.
• Try the fit on the fuselage dry, while the shape can still be adjusted.
• Mask and spray the frames before you seat the canopy, not after the paint has dried.
• Super glue can fog a clear surface; on visible areas use a glue intended for clear parts.
• Small scratches can be polished out with a fine sanding sponge and a polishing compound.

Terms of supply

What is supplied is a clear cockpit canopy. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.