1/48 Zvezda LA-5

[Avgas]

Sturdy box.



But no protection at all inside apart from the transparencies.



Instructions are on a fold out 3xA4 sheet.





Decals seem OK, no stencils. Three marking options, haven't decided which one I'm doing yet.



Three sprues of light grey plastic.



A sprue of clear parts. I'll leave these in the bag as it looks like they have separated from the sprue.



Set of masks bought separately by me.

[patrickroos]

Cool!! Love the Russian warbirds

If You haven't build Zvezdas newer kits before, just watch the extra thin a bit, the plastic melts like butter...

Good luck!!

[Avgas]

Thanks Patrick I'll watch out for that.

[Avgas]

Thought I would make a start on this while the Aqua Gloss is drying on the F16. Plastic is quite soft and the parts on the sprue aren't laid out in much of a logical order but apart from that it seems to be quite a well moulded kit. I don't think it's going to take as long as the F16.

[Avgas]

Some work on the donk. Everything going together well, nice kit so far.



Tried brush painting the Vallejo Metal Color for the inlet manifolds. Works quite well, used Burnt Iron.

[Avgas]

Got the exhausts on. Used xf9 hull red then washed with Ultimate rust. If the ends had been round I would have drilled them out a bit but I think the chances of ballsing it up on a rectangular end is too high to risk.

[Avgas]

Fuselage framework built up. Bit delicate and constant dry fitting required to get the angles right.

[Avgas]

Got the interior finished and oiled up. Will get round to buttoning it up next week some time. Excuse the iPhone 5 photos, it doesn't do close ups very well!

Right side. Trim wheel done in Metal Colour duraluminium.



Left side. Picked a few control levers out with Tam gloss red and yellow.



Fuselage cage. Dry brushed the instrument panel with xf16, picked out one or two bits in red and dabbed some Aqua Gloss on the dials. There are decals for the instrument panel but they look a bit in your face so went for the paint and dry brush look instead. Doubt you'll see much once it's buttoned up.







Tailwheel assembly.



Engine oiled up. The pushrod covers are a bit short in places on the photo but in real life you can't see.





Impressed with the way it's going together. It's not a beginner's kit (listen to me! ) but with a bit of care and mountains of dry fitting it's turning out to be a decent and enjoyable build..

[Novorus]

Nice build

[TomasGould]

Great build so far

[Avgas]

Thanks guys. A last look at the inside before I put the other fuselage half on. Bit over engineered this kit really.

[Avgas]

Slapped some paint on. I'll get the gloss on and do the decals next.

[Avgas]

Decals done. 45 minute job, lovely. The F16 took me around 6 hours.

This is what I call cool jazz decals. Just the one on the underside, but stands out a mile.



Quite nice stuff on the fuselage. haven't got a clue what it says, probably 'Comrade Stalin will be victorious' or something.





I'll get a gloss coat on that in the morning and do a bit of weathering.

[heel]

Very nice job. I am just now catching up on this build.

[Avgas]

Thanks Heel. Calling this one done, pictures on reveal.

[Svenne009]

Came out looking damn fine, looks indeed a bit overengineerd.
Great work .

[Avgas]

Thanks Sven.