I was reading a book about the battle of Kursk, where this Russian female pilot was mentioned, and thought it might be a fun project to do. But after searching the net this morning I came up with: nothing...

So, is there anyone with some info out there, what planes she flew, markings and so on.

Did a web search my self and come up with a quite promising page:

Lidiya Litviak

Will search some more later and see what I find, you got me interested. Could be a good come-back project to modelling.

Hi Thomas

Accurate Miniatures released a Yak-1 with markings to represent an aircraft flown by Lilia Litvyak at the Battle of Stalingrad. It's camouflaged in Black and Dark Green , plus Underside Blue. It carries the number 44 in yellow.

AM give FS refs for the colours:
Dark Green - between 24102 and 24151
Underside Blue - 25190

Lilia was credited with at least 12 "kills" before she was lost in action on 1st August 1943, aged 21.

Hope this helps

Rowan

Thanks for the help guys (and girls).

Any comments on the A-M kit? Good, bad or stay-away-from-it?

Hi again Thomas

Unfortunately the kit doesn't seem to be in production at the moment, but there are some pictures in the gallery over on Accurate Miniatures .

I haven't built my example yet, but it looks great. The cockpit is very detailed and the surface scribing and fabric effects are really nice. A quick test fit doesn't show any problems.

Let's hope Accurate Miniatures resurrect their Yak series soon.

All the best

Rowan

I have that kit in my stash. Looks to be a well detailed kit. Here's a review for you:

http://m2reviews.cnsi.net/scotts/allies/yak1b.htm

Squadron has them in stock:

http://squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=AJ3424

Thanks for the comments guys. One more little question.

I have found some markings on Hannants, with a plane flown by Litviak later in the war, but with bubble top canopy instead of the models bird-cage. And in the review it states that the model could be made with bubble-top canopy, but are the parts for this included in the model or is there anything on the after-market market?

When I get home from work, I'll check on that for you.

Here are a couple more links for you:

http://donaldgranger.home.att.net/yak-1.htm

http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/litvak/litvak.htm

Hi again Thomas

The version of Accurate Miniatures Yak-1 in Lilia Litvyak's markings (Kit#3424) is a "razorback". They released a separate kit of the Yak with a "bubbletop" (Kit #3425).

Hope this helps

Rowan