Yakovlev Yak-1b

Arma Hobby, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The refined Yakovlev Yak-1B represented the coming of age of the Yakovlev fighter family during the darkest days of the Great Patriotic War. Derived from the earlier Yak-1, the Yak-1B was introduced in late 1942 as Soviet engineers sought to improve pilot visibility, combat effectiveness and overall survivability in the brutal air battles raging across the Eastern Front.

At first glance, the Yak-1B looked similar to its predecessor, but the changes were significant. The most noticeable modification was the redesigned cockpit canopy, featuring a cut-down rear fuselage and a new all-round vision hood. Soviet pilots had long complained about restricted rearward visibility in earlier fighters, a dangerous weakness when facing experienced Luftwaffe pilots. The Yak-1B finally gave Soviet airmen a much improved field of view, greatly enhancing situational awareness during swirling dogfights.

The Klimov M-105PF inline engine delivered improved low and medium altitude performance where most Eastern Front combat occurred. Armament typically comprised a 20mm ShVAK cannon firing through the propeller hub, backed by a single heavy Berezin UBS 12.7mm machine gun. Though modest by Western standards, the Yak-1B’s weaponry proved effective against German fighters and bombers alike.

What truly distinguished the Yak-1B was its balance. Lightweight, manoeuvrable and forgiving to fly, it excelled in low-altitude combat against the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Soviet aces such as Lydia Litvyak and Alexander Pokryshkin flew Yakovlev fighters with notable success during pivotal campaigns including Battle of Stalingrad and Battle of Kursk.

By 1943, the Yak-1B had become one of the Soviet Union’s finest frontline fighters. More importantly, it laid the foundation for the superb later Yak fighters that would help secure air superiority over the Eastern Front in the final years of the war.

Arma Hobby's 1/72 scale Yak-1b 44 parts in grey plastic, eight parts in clear plastic, markings for two aircraft and die-cut self adhesive masks.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

The grey plastic parts are supplied on a single sprue. Moulding quality is excellent, with no flash, flaws or visible moulding imperfections on my sample.

The larger parts are moulded with a satin finish. Surface textures are just gorgeous. Panel lines, fastener heads and selected rows of rivets are very fine.

The stretched fabric effect on the fuselage is exquisite.

The fuselage is supplied as left and right halves. The upper cowl is a separate part.

Frames and some details are moulded directly to the inside of the fuselage. These are supplemented by a plastic side console on each side with quadrants, levers and switches.

With the exception of a filler cap and inspection hatch on each side, the wings are correctly featureless. The upper and lower wings are moulded as full span. The upper wings have the cockpit supports and other details including an oxygen bottle moulded in place.

A wing spar not only adds rigidity and ensure the correct dihedral, but it also acts as the rear walls for the main undercarriage bays.

The main wheels are beautifully detailed and subtly bulged. You won't need resin replacements here.

The clear sprue has been revised / improved. In the original release, the canopy could only be fitted closed.

This time around, we have the option of open or closed positions.

A three-part clear assembly jig is also included.

Instructions are supplied in a 12 page stapled A5-sized booklet. Assembly is described over nine steps using clear diagrams.

The kit is packed into a side-opening cardboard box. I am not a fan of side-opening boxes - access to the parts is more difficult, loose parts can easily be lost while retrieving instructions or a larger sprue, and the format is less structurally rigid, inviting the contents to be crushed when the box is inevitably at the bottom of a pile of kits. I know it is a nit-pick but I would prefer to see future Arma Hobby releases in a lid-style of box.

Marking Options

Two marking options are offered.

Decals are printed by Cartograf. They are glossy, colours are well saturated and everything is in perfect register.

Details for the two subjects are as follows:

• Yak-1b, No. 4, 1st Squadron, Polish 1st Fighter Aviation Regiment “Warszawa”, pilot: W/O Edward Chromy, Zadybie Stare, Summer 1944

• Yak-1b, 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (31 GvIAP), pilot: Maj. Boris Nikolayevich Yeremin, 1943 (aircraft modified to carry an aerial reconnaissance camera)

Stencil markings are included on the decal sheet.

Instrument panel overlay decals are supplied.

There are also decals for two boxes on the upper cockpit sidewalls.

Arma Hobby's 1/72 scale Yak-1b is a lovely little kit - excellent surface textures, moulding quality, detail and inclusions.

The inclusion of an open canopy option and an assembly jig with this release makes the package even more appealing

Thanks to Arma Hobby for the sample

Review and Images Text Copyright © 2026 by Brett Green
Page Created 14 May, 2026
Last updated 14 May, 2026

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page