Eduard Lavochkin La-5FN and La-7 Limited Edition. 1:48

[Shar2]

Lavochkin La-5FN and La-7 Limited Edition

Eduard 1:48

History
The history of the La-5 and La-7 are inextricably linked and they became the ultimate wartime designs of a line of fighters that began with the LaGG-3 in 1941. The LaGG-3 suffered from a heavy structure due to its designers unfamiliarity with modern aircraft design and the fact that the state of the Soviet aircraft industry forced them to use wood throughout instead of the lighter aluminium structures being developed in the west, and the lack of a engine of suitable power other than the M-105 1,000 h.p. license-built derivative of the Hispano-Suiza 12-Y series. The LaGG-3 was forced into service due to a lack of alternative, and gained the nickname among its pilots of “varnished guaranteed coffin.”

The design team was not unaware of the problems of the LaGG-3. The appearance of the Fw-190 on the Eastern Front was enough for them to obtain official permission to explore the possibility of developing a radial-engined fighter, the result of which was the La-5 series which appeared in 1943, with 150% more power than the LaGG-3 and a worthwhile armament of two 20mm cannon. The ultimate development of this series – the La-5FN – was the first Soviet fighter that could really hold its own against the Fw-190 in combat and was superior to the Bf-109G at low altitude; it was widely produced.

While the La-5 could at least confer equality on Soviet pilots, the designers wanted superiority. A more powerful Shvetsov radial was developed, but it was unreliable; there would be no possibility of increasing engine power past the 1,850 h.p. of the ASh-82FN engine used in the La-5FN. Thus, the designers engaged in a program to further lighten the airframe by the substitution of aluminium structures for the main spar and other parts of the design wherever possible, as well as a general cleaning-up of the airframe. The result was the La-7, which first appeared in prototype form in January, 1944. With the airframe gaps sealed, a different propeller, and the engine oil cooler removed from the drag-producing position atop the engine cowling to a neat scoop under the fuselage, the wheel wells covered completely, and a different exhaust cover, maximum speed was increased to 407 m.p.h at 15,000 ft. – over 40 m.p.h. faster than the La-5FN – making the La-7 the fastest of all Soviet fighters to see service during the war. Interestingly, the control stick changed from the spade grip of the La-5 to an American-style stick almost exactly the same as the P-39 Airacobra. It had been originally planned to arm the La-7 with three Berezin B-20 lightweight 20-mm cannon; however, delivery delays required that the majority of the La-7s that saw combat were armed with the two ShVAK 20mm cannon used by the La-5; only 368 3-cannon La-7s were delivered to combat units before the end of the war, compared with more than 3,000 of the 2-cannon variety.
In combat, the standard La-7 was 44 mph faster than the Fw-190 at sea level, was 22 mph faster than the Butcher-bird at 20,000 feet, and out climbed it at all altitudes below 20,000 ft. The La-7 was more than 2,000 pounds lighter than its German opponent, which translated into manoeuvrability the Focke-Wulf could not match in close manoeuvring combat at any altitude. The first La-7s to reach an operational unit were delivered in July 1944, to the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, of which Ivan Kozhedub – the leading V-VS ace – was deputy commander. Kozhedub would score 17 of his 62 kills in the La-7, including a Me-262 shot down on February 15, 1945. Between September 15 and October 15, 1944, the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment scored 55 victories – 52 Fw-190s and 3 Bf-109Gs – for the loss of only seven La-7s. The new Lavochkin fighter was clearly a winner where it mattered. The aircraft did not survive long in service after the war lasting only until 1947

The Model
Both of the kits contained in the large box with a very nice artists impression of the two aircraft flying over a Russian mountain have been released before, but this special edition package also provides a fabulous book, some resin, etch, masks and a large decal sheet. The downside is that the book and historical notes in the instructions are only in Czech, but at least the book has a great selection of period photographs to help the modeller. The La-5FN is from the Zvezda moulds, whilst the La-7 was originally from Gavia. Even though they are re-pops the quality of the moulding is still good, with no sign of flash or imperfections. Detail is pretty good with fine panel lines where required along with the rivets, vents and other details well represented. Since the aircraft were mostly made of wood there are large areas without surface detail. The clear parts aren’t the best I’ve seen as there is some slight distortion, but they are eminently useable. Whilst the Zvezda derived kit is definitely the more detailed the Gavia kit is more of a weekend build, even with the addition of the etch. Each kit has its own build section within the instruction booklet, while the painting and decal placement guide requires a completely separate booklet almost the thickness of the instruction booklet.

La-5FN Build
As stated above the La-5FN is the more detailed of the two kits and construction starts with the assembly of the two nose mounted ammunition boxes followed by the fitting of the instrument panel backing pa plate to the top framework structure. The rear bulkhead is then added to the underside of this framework along with the side frames, which include the engine bearers, the ammunition boxes and the engine mounting ring. The cockpit assembly includes a floor, joystick, rudder pedals with PE straps and floor mounted PE switch and its backing plate.

The wings are then assembled with the fitting of what looks like a fuel tank fitted to the lower wing, just behind the wheel wells, four ring ribs which are fitted, two per side along with the rear spar parts over the outer wheel wells. The inner wing sections are then glued into position, followed by the outer sections, which have clear navigation lights fitted on top of each wing tip. The cockpit and internal framework assemblies are then fitted to the wing centre section along with additional bulkheads above, below the structure and to the rear of the structure. The radio shelf is then assembled and glued into position.

The engine is really highly detailed and comes as two halves for each cylinder bank, which when assembled are joined together with the valve rods fitted to the front bank. The two piece accessory drive cover is then fitted to the rear bank. Each of the intake and exhaust pipes are separate and will need a bit of care to fit correctly as there is a specific route for each pipe.

The instrument panels are fitted to the cockpit, and this is where the pre-painted PE really comes into its own, producing a nice clear panel. Also fitted to the panel are the forward machine gun cocking levers and I presume a canopy jettison handle. More PE parts are fitted to either side of the internal framework and the seat is fitted out with a set of etched straps and belts. The seat is then fitted into position and the gunsight is fitted on the front coaming. Before the fuselage sides are added there are even more detail parts to be attached, items such as the trim wheels, placards, throttle quadrant, landing gear lever, and flap lever. The i internal engine cooling flap bays and tail wheel, made up of the oleo, wheel and attached to the tail bulkhead, also need to be fitted to one side before the fuselage is closed up.

The engine assembly is now affixed to the support ring, whilst on the wings the ailerons and slats are attached. There is now plenty of panel work to be added, with the upper fuselage, engine cooling flaps, engine side cowling panels and the nose cowling. Alternatively the model can be posed with the upper fuselage panel removed, showing off the two machine guns complete with ammunition belt guides and link ejector guides. The horizontal tailplane with its separate elevators are now fitted along with the separate rudder, followed by the three piece canopy of which the centre piece can be posed open or closed.

The main undercarriage is pretty much the last major assembly of the build with each unit being assembled from the main oleo, resin wheel/tyre and the undercarriage door. The tail wheel doors are also fitted. These necessitate the separation of each door from the single piece part which can be used as is for the retracted tail wheel. Whilst the model is upside down the radiator, complete with two radiator blocks is fitted into position. Lastly the propeller, assembled from a single piece propeller, backing plate and spinner is attached and the radio mast.

La-7 Build
This is a much simpler kit as mentioned above, but with the addition of the etch there is still quite a bit of detail, particularly in the cockpit where you need it. The seat if fitted out with an etched height adjustment lever and the obligatory seatbelts and straps, while the instrument panel needs to have the raised detail removed before the etched panel can be fitted, also with the cocking levers and canopy handle. The seat is then fixed to the rear bulkhead, but before fitting to one side of the fuselage there are lots of small details to add to the fuselage sections. These include both etched and styrene parts and make up the throttle quadrant, trim wheels, flap and undercarriage levers, auxiliary instruments, document pocket and canopy opening lever. The radio shelf, complete with radios is also assembled ready to fit into the fuselage. Before closing the fuselage up the tailwheel assembly is constructed from a single piece wheel, oleo, complete with yoke and the retraction jack. The subassemblies are fitted to one half of the fuselage along with the forward bulkhead and seat head armour after which the fuselage is closed up.

The wing is constructed from single piece upper and lower halves but before joining the main undercarriage bays are fitted to the lower section. Once the wing parts are assembled the rudder pedals and joystick are added to the centre section and the pitot probe fitted to the starboard wing. The completed wing is then attached to the fuselage assembly followed by the forward upper panel front cowling with added cooling fan, the horizontal tailplanes, each produced as upper and lower halves, the propeller, assembled from the backing plate, to which the single blades are fitted before the spinner is added to finish it off.

Each main undercarriage is assembled using the main oleo, PE scissor link outer door and resin wheel. These are then fitted into position and completed with the addition of the retraction jack. The inner doors are then attached along with their retraction arms. The oil cooler and radiator, assembled from a two part “bathtub” styrene radiator and PE grilles, are fitted along the centreline between and just aft of the wheel wells. The build is completed with fitting of the gunsight, three piece canopy and aerial mast.

Decals
The decal sheet is quite large and contains markings for twenty two different La-5FNs and five La-7s. The camouflage is pretty samey for the La-5FNs, with the exception of one example and all serving with the Russian Air Force . The same goes for the La-7s, although these are all with the Czech Air Force, but at least they have some interesting markings and slogans painted on them. I would normally list the units and locations for each of the markings provided, but it’s all in Czech, so haven’t a clue what they say, which is a shame.

Conclusion
Overall this is a very nicely produced boxing and with the number of decal options should result in a pair of very nicely models being built, particularly with the help of the etched parts, resin wheels and masks. The addition of the book will help with the research and there are some very nice photographs, but I would have like to have seen an English translation to have been included as well. Very highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Antoine]

No pics of the book?

I mean, what's inside?

[Shar2]

It's a tightly bound softback, which is very difficult to scan or photograph , with loads of pictures of the aircraft , mainly on the ground, the aircrew and groundcrew and some side profiles of the aircraft from different units. Can't say exactly which units as I can't speak Czech.

[Viking]

They should make an interesting pair side by side. Looks like a very nice package especially the etch, shame about the lack of English text though.

Cheers

John