I really like MMP books. The reason is that they offer everything the modeler is looking for in a reference. A good historical section, a superb set of detail photographs, and large section of color profiles.

That trend continues with this book on the Yak -9U/P. These were the last of the Yak-9 fighters to be built and the Yak-9P was the first they did with all metal construction. It also pretty well kept Yak out of the jet fighter market and while they were forced to continue production of the Yak-9, MiG was able to spend its time developing the MiG-9, which started them on their long run as the Soviet Union's premiere jet fighter maker.

The Yak-9U saw some service at the very end of the war and the P version was exported to a number of Warsaw Pact and other Soviet-friendly nations (such as North Korea where they were flown against the USAF during the Korean War.

Each of the different variants is well documented with super illustrations. I do have to say that I found it a bit odd that the areas of the canopy that have no framework were not at least represented by a line in the line drawings, but perhaps that was intentional. Made for some very strange looking drawings.

Aside from that small anomaly, the book really is superb and within its 112 pages (most of them in full color) is a complete reference on this aircraft that was the end of the line for Yak piston engine fighters. Highly recommended.

June 2006

Review book courtesy of Mushroom Models Publications.

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