1/48 Zvezda LA5

[Avgas]

Bit of background from our friend Wiki.

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The La-5's heritage began even before the outbreak of war, with the LaGG-1, a promising yet underpowered aircraft. The LaGG-3 was a modification of that design that attempted to correct this by both lightening the airframe and fitting a more powerful engine. Nevertheless, this was not enough, and the lack of power remained a significant problem.

In early 1942, two of the LaGG-1 and -3's designers, Semyon Lavochkin and Vladimir Gorbunov, attempted to correct this deficiency by experimentally fitting a LaGG-3 with the more powerful Shvetsov ASh-82 radial engine. Since the LaGG-3 was powered by an inline engine, they accomplished this by grafting on the nose section of a Sukhoi Su-2 (which used this engine). By now, the shortcomings of the LaGG-3 had caused Lavochkin to fall out of Joseph Stalin's favour, and factories previously assigned to LaGG-3 construction had been turned over to building the rival Yakovlev Yak-1 and Yak-7. The design work required to adapt the LaGG-3 to the new engine and still maintain the aircraft's balance was undertaken by Lavochkin in a small hut beside an airfield over the winter of 1941-1942, all completely unofficially.

When the prototype took flight in March, the result was surprisingly pleasing - the fighter finally had a powerplant that allowed it to perform as well in the air as it had been supposed to on paper. After flying, the LaG-5 (the change in name reflecting that one of the original LaGG designers was no longer with the programme), Air Force test pilots declared it superior to the Yak-7, and intensive flight tests began in April.

By July, Stalin ordered maximum-rate production of the aircraft and the conversion of any incomplete LaGG-3 airframes to the new configuration, now simply known as the La-5. The prototype was put in mass production almost immediately in factories located in Moscow and in the Yaroslav region. Design changes for main production La-5 models included fixed slats to improve all-round performance. While still inferior to the best German fighters, the La-5 proved to be every bit their match closer to the ground. With most of the air combat over the Eastern Front taking place at altitudes of under 5,000 m (16,404 ft), the La-5 was very much in its element.

Further refinement of the aircraft involved cutting down the rear fuselage to give the pilot better visibility, making this version the La-5F. Later, a fuel-injected engine, a different engine air intake and further lightening of the aircraft led to the designation La-5FN that would become the definitive version of the aircraft. A full circle turn took 18–19 seconds. Altogether, 9,920 La-5s of all variants were built, including a number of dedicated trainer versions, designated La-5UTI. Very late La-5FN production models had two 20mm Berezin B-20 cannon installed in the cowling in place of the heavier two 20mm ShVAK (both were capable of a salvo weight of 3.4 kg/s). Further improvements of the aircraft would lead to the Lavochkin La-7.

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Overall a decent enough kit. Bit fiddly in places, the guns were a right pain to get in the nose and straight. Managed to loose the reflector sight to the monster and the nav lights although fitted had somehow mysteriously disappeared when I took the photos. They were only tiny farty little things, probably wouldn't have shown up on the photos anyway but it's annoying all the same. I weathered it lightly with Ultimate light dirt and put a few light streaks of crud from the rad under the nose. The aircraft was of wooden construction mostly so had a smooth skin with few panel lines.

The kit is worth a punt, recommended.

This aircraft is in the markings of the 3rd IAK, May 1943.

[Willem]

Very cool Dave. Engine work looks great.

[Sturm]

Wonderful!

[Coen]

El'supremo Worko Dave!

[Avgas]

Thanks chaps.

[P51dplt]

Looks great!
I'll put this kit on my wish list.

[Avgas]

Thanks P51, it is a nice kit.

[Les0012]

Brilliant piece of work Dave looks great

Les

[Avgas]

Thanks Les.

[timtamtung]

Very nice. I really like how zvezda have open engine bays, like their 109

[Avgas]

Thanks TimTam. The cowlings off are optional, you can do them closed as well. The 'open' instructions have you put the cowling ring on as well but I left it off to show a bit more of the donk off.

[shortCummins]

very nice build

[Avgas]

Thanks SC.

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Sweet build Engine is wonderful!

[pourquoi61]

Very nice model you have there.

[Avgas]

Thanks chaps.

[Icemannique]

Looking good ! Very nice build !

[Avgas]

Cheers Ice.

[TommyKillander]

That's a sweet build of a great looking aircraft, top notch work !

Love the details of the engine


Tommy

[Avgas]

Thanks Tommy. It's a nice kit, well worth a shot.