Orel Yak 7b 1:33

**modelperry** · #1 09-20-2018, 12:09 PM

I started this on the road but have not got very far with it yet.

It appears to be Orel's first aircraft offering and they tried to provide a complete kit by including some clear sheet for the canopy and formers printed on .5 mm cardboard.

Looking at the printed pages, the cover model and using my own intuition, I suspected that this would not be a simple or color accurate build.

The blue looks absolutely too dark for the underside surfaces.

Anyway I was able to get the fuselage frames together and skin the front of it. However the formers are too big and needed much trimming to fit inside the nose skin.

Here's what I got for pictures so far:

**CMDRTED** · #2 09-20-2018, 12:46 PM

modelperry. the kit itself is complex and early in orels offerings. the bottom color is the suspect issue. it is way too dark of a blue. topside is ok the lighter green can be more of a grassier type of green but is acceptable, (weathering and such). looks good so far.

**CMDRTED** · #3 09-20-2018, 12:47 PM

also the upper wing stars can be suspect if later in the war

**Butelczynski** · #4 09-20-2018, 01:56 PM

I have few of their early models and they are all suspect. Teething trouble were common with every starting card model company.Look up first GPMs for example.

Expect trouble with fitting.I would scan,do b&W copy and test build it before doing original.

**modelperry** · #5 09-21-2018, 06:02 AM

I have decided to forego the cockpit detail. I'm just not sure it's worth the time and effort.

When I started this one, all the points made by Butelczynski and CMDRTED were on my mind. Definitely one of Orel's teething trouble models. And I have definitely had more challenges with other publishers' offerings, so I have no intention to bash Orel. This one is OK for a company's first model.

**Butelczynski** · #6 09-21-2018, 06:25 AM

I like Orel models,I'm just disappointed about the way some of their models are/were designed.I bought few of their aircraft and tried to build them and unfortunately I can't build them.

They do make some spectacular ships but that's just an eye candy for me.

**YOAVHOZMI** · #7 09-21-2018, 09:16 AM

good start.

keep on the good working.

YOAV

**modelperry** · #8 09-24-2018, 08:44 AM

Worked on this a little this weekend. Very little. Interest has waned already. the holes to cut for the horizontal tail pieces do not line up with the hole in the former. Also trying to decide if landing gear up or down. Right now I am thinking up.

greg