Yakovlev Yak-3 – the Soviet fighter

The Yak-3 became one of the most famous aircraft of World War II. It was the world's lightest fighter of its time. The pilots, who flew these planes, rated its flight characteristics highly. In air battles it significantly outperformed all types of enemy aircraft. At the end of the war a series of comparative training flights with British and American fighters showed, that it surpassed them in its characteristics (at low and medium altitudes). During the years 1944-1946, 4848 (4111 during the war) "Yak-3" fighters of all modifications were produced. 3137 of them were produced by factory No. 292 in Saratov, factory No. 31 in Tbilisi - 934. Supplied to Yugoslavia. The Yak-15 jet fighter is built on the basis of the piston Yak-3. At the end of the 1940s, the S-49 fighter and Typ 213 training aircraft were built in Yugoslavia on the basis of this aircraft. The Yak-3 was first, used in combat operations during the Lviv offensive operation in June 1944. During the month of battles, the pilots of the 91st Fighter Aviation Regiment shot down 23 enemy planes, losing only two of their own machines (another three Yak-3s were shot down by enemy anti-aircraft artillery). Later, fighters of this type took part in air battles in Belarus, the Baltics, in Poland and Germany. It remained in service until the adoption of the first serial jet fighters. In addition to Soviet pilots, these fighters were flown by Frenchmen from the "Normandy - Neman" regiment. After re-arming the regiment with "Yak-3" brand fighters, its pilots shot down 184 enemy planes. After the end of the war, by the decision of the USSR government, 41 Yak-3s were transferred to France as a gift. They remained in the regiment's armory until the end of 1947, then transferred to flying schools, where they were used until 1956. One plane has survived to this day and is kept in the Paris Aviation Museum.

The model from the publication depicts the machine of Hero of the USSR S. Nosov of the 150th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which he used to fight in the skies over Germany in 1945. Great detail and print quality. Flaps can be made separate from the main plates of the wing, ailerons and tail control plates are only provided as separate from the main plates. Minor traces of use, but perfectly represented. Less experienced modelers are recommended to glue the model under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. Modelers with even less experience can forego the engine model, individual fenders, cockpit interior and transparent hood production, stick the landing gear in the flight position - retracted.