Yu ModeLs New Mould: Tupolev Tu-124

Almost a year ago now I wrote about a new brand YU ModeLs who had paid for the rehabilitation of the old Aeroclassics Tu-154 and with it produced a pair of Chinese liveried examples. No more had been heard of YU since but just yesterday I was informed of an exciting new development from them.

A massive thanks to Dang Tung and Minh Quan Nguyen for informing me of this development.

---

---

For my original post about YU ModeL see:

Yu ModeLs & The Return of the Tu-154

I have recently also created a video about the increased attention Soviet-era types have been getting:

---

---

Even so, this development has taken me by surprise. Details are extremely limited but from the two images it is clear that YU ModeL are mid-way along the development path for producing a Tupolev Tu-124 in 400 scale and have got as far as the plastic resin style sample. From what I understand they are now moving towards the die-cast metal casting point but I have no further details of the progress or timescales associated with it.

---

---

The Tupolev Tu-124 (NATO reporting name Cookpot) was the first Soviet turbofan aircraft and a short-haul development of the larger Tu-104. In appearance it was basically a 75% size Tu-104 with modified flaps and a large airbrake. It is a curious type to be made in 400 scale as it saw only a small production run (164 aircraft) and was operated by only a handful of users.

Lars Soderstrom, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

In civilian life the airline operators were Aeroflot, CSA and Interflug with CSA selling its aircraft to Iraqi Airways. The type saw military service with the PLAAF, Czechoslovakian Air Force, East German Air Force, Indian Air Force, Iraqi Air Force and of course Soviet Air Force.

Production ended in 1965 and the type lingered on in service into the late 80s in the Soviet Union and Iraq, although not with airlines.

Ronidong, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

From the photos it is hard to say much about the quality of the mould development but YU ModeL appear serious about producing it and seem to love Tupolevs! I look forward to seeing how this develops and will try and bring you more news as soon as I have it.