The Yak-23 was the production version of a series of Yak fighters developed from the Yak fighters of World War II but powered by a jet engine. Although successful they were overshadowed by the more advanced MiG-15.

Like most other aeroplane designers, the Yakovlev Bureau designed jet powered fighters in the mid 1940s.

Yak combined the new jet engine with many features of its excellent piston engined fighters in the Yak-15 and that was, in turn, developed into the Yak-23 which was refined to match the power available from jet engines.

The first Yak-23 flew on 17 June 1947 and they went into production in 1948.

In all 310 were built and, despite being overshadowed by the more advanced MiG-15, they served with many of the Soviet Union’s Eastern European allies.

This model represents a Yak-23 that served in the Polish Air Force and was later displayed in a museum in Krakov.

KP 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in September 1998.