Roden 1/72 LaGG-3

[StarFar]

That's is my entry – LaGG 3 series 35 in 1/72 scale by Roden. This is an old model back from the late 90s, and still produced by Roden nowadays (originally it was manufactured by Toko). I bought it for spare parts for another model (spinner, exhausts, propeller and some others) because these kits are cheap, and actually, I was not going to build it (and later I'll show why). But after this Winter GB was announced, I've started to look for some model with winter camouflage on my shelf and found this LaGG, so I've decided to give it a chance.

Some parts were cut out from sprue but the kit was not started.


Also, I have some PE parts, but it's for another model, so I will use only some of them which fit the Roden kit. Unfortunately, flaps don't fit.


Painting scheme should represent an airplane of a soviet ace Lvov at the winter of 1943. He was fighting on a Baltic Sea.






Kit quality is somewhere between OMG and LOL, but I'll try to build it. It looks like molds must be at least refurbished. Sanding is coming.

[Avgas]

Are you sure all of those parts are for the same kit...

[pourquoi61]

Got your work cut out there my friend.
Good luck.

[StarFar]

Are you sure all of those parts are for the same kit...

I must believe

Got your work cut out there my friend.
Good luck.

Thank you!

Yesterday's progress. I've started with a fix of side windows. Initial fit was not good as you can see. Anyway, I'm going to process these details once more after gluing.


Next step was to remove all the molding artifacts on the engine cowling, restore panel lines and rivets, and drill air intakes (I was using 0.34 mm drill for this).


After that, I've moved to interior assembly. Kit contains not so many parts for it, and even in this case they just don't fit each other. So, after spending some time on removing styrene, I was able to put a floor and instrumental panel into the fuselage without a hammer.



The pilot's seat. I thought that the backpad was too thick, so I've sanded it a little and made an opening for seat belts (I've found some seat belts in my box with spare parts).


Control column was remade along with its placement.


Then I've added PE parts to the cockpit walls. And now everything is ready for painting.


And somehow I've realized that my prototype has a different type of a rudder. And this was also fixed.

[StarFar]

The cockpit has been painted. I was using AKAN A-14 authentic enamel. It's a fast drying paint, so after several hours I've applied other colors and a layer of a glass coat.

[Always48]

initial reaction those parts pass a quality check??
seriously like have they even tried to put this kit together?
on the box it should say you going to need:
paint, cutters, lots of sanders and glue and a mountain of putty in a mastic gun. approx 30 parts with good luck trying to get them to fit.

But it looks like you got this all in hand and are making great progress. I shall look at my kitty hawk jag and think what was i grumbling about lol

[StarFar]

I shall look at my kitty hawk jag and think what was i grumbling about lol

Definitely, I'll need some Tamiya or Airfix kit after this one! And what about Roden kits... I think that their new 3D modeled kits in 48 or 144 scale are quite good, but old ones have such quality, but they are cheap anyway.

Moving forward. I've applied washes (I use new Vallejo washes in 35ml bottles), then satin varnish and some pigments. That's all for the cockpit, also taking into account that I'm not going to open canopy, so most of this work will be invisible. The pretty usual situation for aviation in a 1/72 scale.


Before fuselage assembly, I've made masks for side windows and then I've installed them with Clear Fix glue.


And now it's time for a fuselage and some struggle of course. For now, only rear part is glued because I don't know how engine cowling will fit with wings. And also cowling looks deformed. That's why I need to assemble wings and then to make it all at once – wings and a front part of the fuselage.


Wings need some sanding for sure. I've thinned down trailing edge – it will look much better and realistic I suppose. Also, I've removed material upon wheel bays to make parts to fit each other. And that's all for today.

[StarFar]

Some updates. Now working on wings – glued without any issues, but now I need time to polish it and restore small details.

[pourquoi61]

You are going to master this one.
Looking good.

[ElCapitan]

Looks like a lot of work, but should be worth it! You're doing a masterful job

[Tomcat64]

Wow that's a real Frankenstyrene monster - very well done in bending it into shape because that's a really nice looking plane!

[StarFar]

You are going to master this one. Looking good.

Looks like a lot of work, but should be worth it! You're doing a masterful job

Wow that's a real Frankenstyrene monster - very well done in bending it into shape because that's a really nice looking plane!

Thank you guys, I'm trying to do my best with this kit!

It's Saturday, and it's time for updates. I've finished wings and prepared clear part of a landing light. First, I've glued it with a very small amount of a ClearFix, then sanded it, and then polished it. To make it clear again I was using nail polishing block. After all, I've unstuck clear part – that's why I've used only a small amount of glue before. I'll put back this clear part after painting.


The rudder was finished.


Next surprise from the manufacturer was with this pads for exhaust. I was reviewing materials and realized that such elements were present only on an early version of LaGGs. Unfortunately, I didn't find that before.


These elements so well visible, so I've decided to remove them. Riveting was also restored.


And finally, I've joined wings and fuselage together. Went much better than I was expecting, but anyway, it will need filler. And putty.




Also, you can see that the starboard part of the fuselage is slightly deformed. Not a big deal, and now (after wings) I see how to glue it properly.

[StarFar]

Next step of Operation "Fuselage". Nose part glued, and I've added a piece of styrene from inside for hardness. After processing, it should look good.

[StarFar]

Small evening update. I've added pieces of styrene and Milliput to fill gaps... Huge holes... Radiator intake was assembled.

[StarFar]

Struggle continues. Now it's front radiator air intake, wings, and fuselage. Several stages of filling and sanding and I'll need a few more. But, anyway, the plane takes the shape.

[StarFar]

Updates after this weekend. The bottom part of an engine cowling was polished and re-scribed. I've made a new radiator air exit flap because the kit part was totally unacceptable.


Before gluing the upper engine cowling I've made these guides for exhausts to be able to install them after all of the paint work would be done.


The upper cowling installed and waits for a sandpaper.


Another funny kit part is this radiator detail. As you can see, it just doesn't fit nor intake, nor fuselage.


After I've sanded and assembled the radiator I thought that it would be a good moment to pre-paint it from inside because it would be hard to do this after. And then I've installed radiator air intake - without any major problems this time.

[panzerman825]

Great job correcting the molding and fit problems. P.E. parts really upgrade the kit nicely. Cockpit detail is wonderful. Bill

[StarFar]

Great job correcting the molding and fit problems. P.E. parts really upgrade the kit nicely. Cockpit detail is wonderful. Bill

Thanks Bill!

[Bissyboat]

I admire your commitment StarFar. Not an easy build, having to fill every crack and gap with putty. You´re doing a fantastic job and judging by the progress of your work, you´ll be getting your dividends soon.

[StarFar]

I admire your commitment StarFar. Not an easy build, having to fill every crack and gap with putty. You´re doing a fantastic job and judging by the progress of your work, you´ll be getting your dividends soon.

Thanks mate! I'm trying to do my best.

[hansolo]

Mate, you got your work cut out for you!
Or rother, you have to do the cutting, filling and sanding.

[StarFar]

Mate, you got your work cut out for you!
Or rother, you have to do the cutting, filling and sanding.

Thank you! I knew that this build wouldn't be an easy one.

Small updates. Cowling is ready but I need to restore anti-glare plates.

[Tomcat64]

Wow - can't believe how this one is still fighting you every step of the way.

Really well done for persevering and getting it into shape

[Bissyboat]

Looking good mate.

[StarFar]

Wow - can't believe how this one is still fighting you every step of the way.

Really well done for persevering and getting it into shape

Looking good mate.

Thank you friends for your support!

And one another updates. Anti-glare plates restored – I've made it from 0.5mm styrene.


Second radiator air exit flap I've made from a thinned down kit part and styrene pieces. Oil radiator is completed.

[StarFar]

Weekend progress. Due to that fact that I don't have original propeller from this kit I was used to get a new one somehow. I found a short-run P-40's propeller, cut it to the diameter of VISh-105SV and gave a shape of its blades.


Exhausts were drilled and a bit sanded.


Stabilizers have been installed along with a tail wheel bay doors. Everything were thinned down as for other part of this kit.

[StarFar]

The weekend is over and it's time for some updates.

Pitot tube made from a... tube.


Unfortunately, I had to remove anti-glare plates after some searches. These things are for a later series of LaGGs. Also, I've filled holes beside exhausts as you can see.


Another problem was discovered with landing gear – actually, I completely can't understand how it should be installed. And I've made legs longer.


PE parts for wheel bay doors.


PE doors compared to a kit ones.


Landing gear assembled and I've made a template for installing it after painting.


Checking canopy fit. Looks good but I'll install it after painting.


And finally... it's ready for priming...

[Bissyboat]

Looking forward to see her coated with paint.

[StarFar]

Before painting I build such stands for every my model. Main purpose is not to touch model with hands during paint works.


After first priming I've found several issues which was fixed. That's why I do priming.


Ready for painting!

[Tomcat64]

Great job on pulling all this together especially the custom built propeller - very neat work.

Looking forward to seeing it in paint now

[StarFar]

Looking forward to see her coated with paint.

Great job on pulling all this together especially the custom built propeller - very neat work.

Looking forward to seeing it in paint now

Thanks guys, I'll try not to disappoint!

AMT-7 applied, I've used AKAN paint for that.

2017-02-19 13.11.46.jpg

[Bissyboat]

Good job!

[StarFar]

Green and black camo applied. Black was applied free-hand. Next step will be applying winter white.

[StarFar]

Winter temporary camouflage.

Before applying camouflage paint, I've made very raw masks for national insignias and numbers. I think that something similar airfield personnel was doing with the real aircraft – masking insignias and numbers before applying winter paint. And because of that, we can see not-painted regions around insignias on some old photos. I want to try to recreate this effect on my model.


The biggest question of this build is how to make this temporary white camouflage looks good and realistic? Previously, I've tried some popular techniques of making it. I don't like the hairspray technique because you can't get a semi-transparent layer of white – all or nothing. Another way is to use enamel paint and immediately after applying start to wash it away with an enamel thinner and a brush. Looks way more realistic, but it's hard to do (and this smell is something my wife don't like). And this time I decided to try MIG Washable White paint. This is acrylic paint designed especially for creating such effects, and all you need is water to wash away. And you can get this semi-transparency. First, I've tried it on spare parts of this kit and results was promising.


After these tests, I painted the model trying to recreate white camouflage look from photos.




Later I removed masks and applied a small amount of white to smooth the edges.


And winter white is done! Next, I applied layers of a gloss varnish and next step will be decals (already scared about theirs quality).




Also, all other details were painted.

[StarFar]

Decals have been applied. Thin, but with a poor reaction on the Set/Sol liquids, one has broken. Luckily, surfaces are mostly flat and there are not many panel lines on them.


Another funny thing with a decal is stencils. My winter version lacks most of them, but not all. And, surprise! – there are no stencils on the decal sheet – just a transparent film without any printing (it should be white).

[StarFar]

There were several productive nights during this week, so there is some progress updates.

Washes was applied. I use water-based Vallejo washes (new ones, series 76.***) and this time I've also used them for weathering – oil stains, fading, streaking. It was an interesting experiment and I like the result.


Under surface after satin varnish.


Main landing gear installation with a template.


No more airbrushing! (I hope), so I've started to unmask everything.


Final assembly is ahead.

[Tomcat64]

That's looking really good - a nice reward for all that battling you had to do to get it looking right!

[StarFar]

That's looking really good - a nice reward for all that battling you had to do to get it looking right!

Thanks! I didn't expect that this build will lasts so long.

Some final WIP photos. Wheels in "snow":


Scratch built gun sight installed:


Pitot tube and position lights:


Antenna and CA glue:


And finally, after two months I'm calling this LaGG-3 done! It was hard, but it was fun.

[StarFar]

Final photos - viewtopic.php?f=583&t=21663

[Les]

Congratulations on your finished project!

[Bissyboat]

Job well done mate!