The Yak-9P for Korea

While I have a decent Korean War collection for Check Your 6!, there are some aircraft types I have yet to pick up, such as the Yak-9P used by the North Koreans early in the conflict. The Yak appears in a few scenarios that appear interesting and not overly large, and as the Yaks are not sporting camouflage, I should be able to paint them without sending them off for commission work. 

Over the last few months I have gathered into one spreadsheet as many Korean War scenarios as I could locate, using the Skirmish Campaigns Air War Korea book, Scramble - a Bag the Hun compendium, and finally some scenarios found on the Check Your 6! discussion group. In total that list now comprises of fifty-two scenarios, the Yak-9P making an appearance in eleven. I won't be collecting aircraft for all eleven scenarios as fielding a bunch of B-29s or Il-10s does not appeal to me, but collecting enough to add Yaks to field a few of the North Korean Air Force scenarios.

As portrayed on the Flight Deck website

In 1/285 scale there are of course numerous choices for various models of the Yak-9, but I am going with Flight Deck Decals as their 3D prints are the best thing going, and their price point is extremely good for such a high quality miniature, and they make a Yak-9P. Painting however is less of a certain thing - there is some debate over the basic color of the Yak-9P. Some illustrations show a natural metal, while others show a light blue gray. Most informed folks seem to lean towards the latter, which is the direction I plan to go, using Vallejo's Pale Blue 71.008. It is a bit too dark perhaps, but seems to fit what the pundits push forth.

This version is a little too light on the gray and has no blue hue

This is what I will be shooting for

Decals are easy - Sieben Schwaben Spiele Decals makes a set for North Korean Yaks in 1/200 scale, and Bernhard at Sieben Schwaben will rescale to 1/285. 

I am looking forward to tackling these relatively simply planes and adding a bit to my Korean War arsenal.