First in a new project, the history of Normandie-Niemen squadron of the French Air Force:
In November 1945, the Free French squadron that had been flying with the Red Air Force as the Normandie-Niemen Regiment returned to Paris, arriving at Le Bourget Airport in front of a crowd of 100,000 people. Part of the return ceremony involved the gifting of the 36 fighters they had used during the war as a gift from the USSR to the French People. After the celebrations, these became the nucleus of the new GC/III, Normandie-Niemen of the Armee de l'Air and continued to serve until some time in 1947/8 when lack of spare parts effectively grounded them. This had been a continuing problem that became progressively worse, causing the new Groupe to supplement its Soviet flightline with a very unexpected running mate (keep watching this space).
The kit was the surprisingly nice, given its age, Yak-3 from Heller, which went together well with surprisingly few fit issues. The colour scheme is a tentative reconstruction from several sources, as almost no GC/III aircraft had a matching scheme. Decals were pulled from the spares box and worked fairly well, although the blue of the roundel centre disk seems way too pale and may be revisited at a later date, as will the crosses of Lorraine.
The next kit in the build list will be the Yak's unexpected running mate in 1947. Please keep watching.
Yak-3 Normandie-Niemen Squadron
- Spaceowl
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Yak-3 Normandie-Niemen Squadron
Overhead a rainbow appears...in black and white.
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Aircraft of VMA-542, USMC
Peru-Ecuador War 1995
THK 1939-2023
Polish Air Force 1939
- iggie
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Re: Yak-3 Normandie-Nieman Squadron
Excellent build and some great history to back it up
Best wishes
Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
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Re: Yak-3 Normandie-Nieman Squadron
Super build again Rob. Just goes to show that some planes do look good in grey.
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East German Air Force (1956-90)
South African Air Force (1958-93)
Current Projects:
East German Air Force (1956-90)
South African Air Force (1958-93)
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Re: Yak-3 Normandie-Niemen Squadron
What an interesting subject and theme. Looking forward to more....
- skypirate
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Re: Yak-3 Normandie-Niemen Squadron
Not the usual scheme makes a very attractive model!
Cheers,
David
Cheers,
David
- Clashcityrocker
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Re: Yak-3 Normandie-Niemen Squadron
Looks very nice.
Nigel
Nigel
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Re: Yak-3 Normandie-Niemen Squadron
Very nicely done and an interesting bit of history.
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300