Scale aviation modeller international

Yak-130

Zvezda 1/72 Yak-130 by Carmel Attard

MANUFACTURER: Zvezda

SCALE: 1/72

KIT NO: 7307

TYPE: Injection moulded

PARTS: 156 plus 5 extra

DECAL OPTIONS: 3

T

he Yak-130 is an advanced

pilot training and ground

attack aircraft. In the early

1990s, the Soviet government

asked the industry to develop

a new aircraft to replace the

Czech-made Aero L-29 Delfín and

Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainers.

Five design bureaus put forward

proposals, out of which only the

MiG-AT and Yak-UTS remained.

The air forces of the newly-

independent Russia estimated that

its requirement would be about

1,000 aircraft, able to replicate

the characteristics of Russian 4th

and 5th generation fighters. This

was possible through the use of

digital avionics compliant with a

1553 data bus, a full digital glass

cockpit, four-channel digital

Fly-By-Wire System (FBWS), and

Instructor controlled, variable

FBWS handling characteristics

and embedded simulation.

The type also has a head-up

display (HUD), a helmet mounted

sighting system (HMSS), and

is equipped for highly accurate

navigation and precision targeting.

The developer estimates that the

plane can cover up to 80% of the

entire pilot flight training program.

In addition to its training

role, the aircraft is capable

of fulfilling light attack and

reconnaissance duties. It can carry

a combat load of 6,600 pounds,

consisting of various guided and

unguided weapons, auxiliary

fuel tanks, and electronic pods.

During a testing phase that

ended in December 2009, and

according to its chief designer

Konstantin Popovich, the plane was

tested with all Russian Air Force

airborne weapons with a weight

of up to 1,100 lbs. To carry those

weapons, the Yak-130 has nine hard

points: two wingtip, six underwing,

and one under the fuselage.

In 2005, the Russian Air Force

released its first order for 12

Yak-130s, and it intended to buy

at least 72 examples, enough to

equip four training regiments.

Commander-in-Chief, Colonel

General Aleksandr Zelin,

announced on 8 November 2011

that the Russian Defence Ministry

was to sign a contract within two

weeks with Irkut Corporation

for 65 additional aircraft – 55

firm orders plus 10 options.

Zelin stated that deliveries were

expected to be completed by 2017.

In December 2012, the

government of Belarus signed an

agreement with Russia to provide

four Yak-130s. Other foreign air

forces have also shown interest

in the Yak-130 and orders are

expected to be on the increase

for both the trainer and counter-

insurgency attack aircraft.

THE KIT

On opening the box my first

impressions were good. This will be

a small model, just over six inches

in length, and yet there are over 150

medium-grey parts and six clear

parts. All are neatly moulded with

fine engraved panel lines, recesses,

and control surfaces. Instructions

contain 21 stages of assembly, with

clear, easy to follow illustrations.

Details look excellent on all

parts, which include the intake

ducting, the excellent pair of crew

figures, and the wheel well and

air break interior detail. All are

nicely rendered; however, one

cannot over- emphasise the need

to dry-fit parts, most especially at

the early stages of construction.

Construction begins with the

multi-part ejection seats. The

cockpit is spacious and contains

13 parts and two crew figures.

When painted and completed

it looks terrific. There is also a

central windscreen for the rear

coming, which is intended to fit

on the inside of the canopy itself.

There is the option of closing

the canopy or leaving it hinged to

one side. If assembled in hinged

form it looks fine, but if

closed one should check

carefully in case it fouls

with the coaming. Mine did and

I had to leave this item out.

Assembly of the intake ducting

and wheel wells requires careful

reference to the instructions, as

there is a central bracket in the

form of a partition that separates

the wheel wells. This part (B42)

is on the thick side and if placed

it will not allow the two wheel

well sides to mate together. I

left this part to a later stage and

fitted it from the top opening

after reducing it in thickness.

Alternatively, one can make a copy

from thin plastic card stock.

There are two clear beacon lights

that should be fitted before the

wings are joined. The wheel wells,

in spite of their size, are adequately

detailed, containing yellow

plumbing and light-blue wheel

legs with chrome sliding parts.

Colour callouts for this area are

white for the interior of the intakes

and light-blue wheel well sides.

The nose gear is nicely moulded

and detailed. In order to fit, the tip

of the side pins attached across

the gear need trimming before

the gear could be glued in place.

The main wing flaps have

alternative parts. The correct one

is marked and can be mounted

extended or retracted. I did not

fix the airbrake and its ram until

after painting, but I did tack it in

place for painting the camouflage.

There are some tricky parts

during the assembly where the

fit was not so good, and some of

the bigger parts needed slight

bending to make a good fit. This

principally applies to the

fitting and alignment of

the wing assembly on

top of fuselage and

the two engine duct

sub-assemblies.

Adding the optional armament

and long-range tanks turns the

model into the attack version. The

56 • JULY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

KIT REVIEWS

054-61-Reviews-0718.indd 56 11/06/2018 13:58