1/72 Yak-15 bis floatplane from the "classic" PM kit

[Brian da Basher]

While practically unknown to the West, inter-service and inter-agency rivalvries played a large part in the history of the Soviet Union. The advent of jet technology brought the rivalvry between the Red Air Force and the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. to a head.

Since the Red Fleet had no aircraft carriers in the late 1940's and hence, no need for the most modern aircraft, the grab for state-of-the-art jets was left to the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. and its commander, Comrade Admiral Offadeependski. Since the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. had few actual runways, obviously a floatplane redesign of the cutting-edge Yak-15 was called for. The Peoples' Secretary for Red Fleet Procurement twisted every arm he could at the Yakelov bureau to make the Yak-15 bis floatplane happen.





Unfortunately, stronger arm-twisting was done by the People's Commisar of the VVS and the Yakelov bureau delivered the initial aircraft for testing without wings. Fortunately, the refit shop of the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. was able to find some old metal-framed ND-622 wings built under license in the early 1930's and fitted them on to the Yak-15 bis fuselage. Results were promising.



continued...

Brian da Basher

[GTX_Admin]

I understand this was particularly adept at intercepting Slowy Jets...

[Brian da Basher]

Comrade Admiral Offadeependski decided Red Fleet Week was the perfect time for the new aircraft to make its public debut. The Comrade Admiral knew the jet floatplane prototype had been given a shake-down flight a few days prior. What the Comrade Admiral didn't know was that the Yak-15 bis had been launched from a battleship catapult and had never actually taken off from water.









continued...

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Before the engine hit 75% power, it ingested a large volume of water. The Yak-15 bis and Comrade Admiral Offadeependski were plunged into the sea. Neither returned as the Comrade Admiral couldn't swim. Not only did this sink the future of Soviet jet-powered floatplanes but it almost sank the Yakelov bureau too.





Charges of treason and sabotage were made against Comrade Chief Technician 5th Class Dimitry Skapegoatski of the Yakelov bureau's quality control office and he was hustled off to a gulag and never heard from again. The Yak-15 bis floatplane was soon forgotten and all that exists today is this desk model found in an abandoned Yakelov bureau branch office's lavatory sink.

Brian da Basher

[GTX_Admin]

I understand this was particularly adept at intercepting Slowy Jets...

I guess I was wrong ...but it would have been great!!!

[Brian da Basher]

The basis for this project was the "venerable" 1/72 PM Yak-15 kit.



The kit's about as basic as it gets.



I decided to biplane it and was going to graft together some wings from the spares box but then I found that then wings from a 1/72 Smer ND-622 were a pretty good fit. But, while spares box diving, I found some nifty little floats and the idea of making this into a float plane was so ridiculous I just had to do it.



I hope it gave you a chuckle and remember, no matter how bad your day's been, Comrade Admiral Offadeependski's was worse.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I understand this was particularly adept at intercepting Slowy Jets...

I guess I was wrong ...but it would have been great!!!

There wasn't even a fish kill of note when it sank. Utter failure!

Brian da Basher

[GTX_Admin]

Yes, but did they catch any crabs...

[Brian da Basher]

Yes, but did they catch any crabs...

They prefer not to discuss their personal lives on a public forum.

Brian da Basher

[GTX_Admin]

 

[finsrin]

Brian - splendid bash.  So creative.   
Does it qualify to be classified as a tri-plane?    If so, would look good in tridelphia museum.

[Daryl J.]

BdaB, you never cease to amaze.  In fact you inspired me to pick up some 1/72 PM list today.

[cthulhu77]

LOVE it !!!  the diorama as well !!!

[RussC]

Parasol wing! XD  I might say that this design would have been useful if the Russians were presented with some of the IJN submarine fleet under the surrender terms. Taking immediate interest in the I-400 class, which was built in numbers as a new class with a longer hangar tube, running to the stern and carrying 10 Yak 15 bis floatplanes. Putting all future aircraft carrier development in the coming cold war fully underwater.


http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/03/stingray-atomic-submarine-aircraft.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread275833/pg1

http://www.warisboring.com/2009/06/10/huge-chinese-heli-carrier-to-re-inforce-giant-submarine-aircraft-carrier/

http://kingsofwar.org.uk/2011/08/fridays-geek-asks-wheres-my-submarine-aircraft-carrier/

[Tophe]

Wonderful! All the World's engineers had failed to design the perfect sea-jet-fighter, then Brian produced this marvel...

[taiidantomcat]

Great job!! 

[GTX_Admin]

if the Russians were presented with some of the IJN submarine fleet under the surrender terms. Taking immediate interest in the I-400 class,

Damn it Russ!!!  Stop giving me new ideas!!!!

[Frank3k]

Great model, Brian! Too bad it didn't survive - it would have been great for heating up water for saunas, or melting holes in the ice for ice fishing. Hell, they could have gone fishing in the middle of the Pacific, then cooked their catch on the way home! What a sad waste...

Dimitry Skapegoatski sure gets blamed for a lot.

[elmayerle]

Parasol wing! XD  I might say that this design would have been useful if the Russians were presented with some of the IJN submarine fleet under the surrender terms. Taking immediate interest in the I-400 class, which was built in numbers as a new class with a longer hangar tube, running to the stern and carrying 10 Yak 15 bis floatplanes. Putting all future aircraft carrier development in the coming cold war fully underwater.


http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/03/stingray-atomic-submarine-aircraft.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread275833/pg1

http://www.warisboring.com/2009/06/10/huge-chinese-heli-carrier-to-re-inforce-giant-submarine-aircraft-carrier/

http://kingsofwar.org.uk/2011/08/fridays-geek-asks-wheres-my-submarine-aircraft-carrier/

that looks like something out of the lsat series of sf novels that G. Harry Stine wrote, the one with the US submarine aircraft carriers, one especially which encountered unusual situations and peoples.

[TimJ]

When I saw 'Yak-15 bis floatplane' that wasn't quite what I expected.  :) It looks great and the backstory gave me a good laugh.

[ChrisF]

Brilliant !! Looks like it really could have happened ! 

[Sentinel Chicken]

I'm not sure what brings a smile to my face more- the build itself or the backstory. Well done, Brian.

[apophenia]

I'm not sure what brings a smile to my face more- the build itself or the backstory.

Oh face it, it's all brilliant! Besides BdB, who on Earth would even conceive of putting Nieuport-Delage wings onto a jet! Like the Vigilant Fowl said, "Well done, Brian"  :)