general melchett Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) Good news for us Soviet 'weird and wonderful' modellers, Avis are to release a 1/72nd Lavochkin La-200. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BX72014 I would expect Amodel/Modelsvit quality with its short run nature and going by their previous releases. Hopefully they'll follow it up with the later and weirder La-200B some time down the line. Edited July 8, 2016 by general melchett 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Now that is interesting! They have to do the La-200B - that's so ugly it has a certain charm to it. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 That looks horrible, its nearly as lumpy & mishapen as a Swift. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Jason, totally agree. It has the distinction of being (unofficially) the ugliest jet built. Unicraft do the La-200B but not a kit I'd relish attempting....and I'll try almost anything ! Steve...that's what's so endearing about these early Russian jets....just look at the first Su-15 ! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff_B Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Well that's right up your street Andy and I knew you would want it as soon as your spotted it ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Thanks for the heads-up Andy - definitely one to get. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 I hope they'll release the Toriy-equipped La-200 too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 (edited) Hopefully they'll do all three versions of the La-200; I mean one's prettier than another - how can you choose? With the resin Lavochkin jets that Prop & Jet are doing (beautiful resin kits by all appearances, and in the one true scale) it looks like soon it might be possible to build all the weird and wonderful (and unfortunately unsuccessful) Lavochkin jets. Does anyone do an La-15? I can't think of any kits offhand but as that was the only Lavochkin jet to go into production, it seems someone would have kitted it. If it seems that I know a bit about the Lavochkin jets it's because WARNING: SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION! I've just written a book on Lavochkin fighters and sent the manuscript off to the publisher (Fonthill Media - publisher of fine books, and mine also). It's mainly about the GPW Lavochkins (LaGG-3, La-5, and the La-7), but it does include some information about both the piston-engined post-war fighters (La-9 and La-11) and the post-war jets (La-15, La-150, etc.). Regards, Jason Edited September 1, 2015 by Learstang 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Does anyone do an La-15? I can't think of any kits offhand but as that was the only Lavochkin jet to go into production, it seems someone would have kitted it. VES tooled a 1/72 kit. It was reboxed by Cooperativa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Thank you, Laurent! I'd forgotten about that one. I might have to pick that up, although that's a little too normal-looking for my tastes so I might have to pick up the La-200 first. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Geoff, I had a feeling you might think it right up my alley ! Ken, you too..just got to be done ! Laurent and Jason, totally agree, all three would be nice......funny old thing this Soviet design business at one end you have the sleek looking Sukhoi Su-17R, (LF Models do a resin one and so I believe did Legato, not sure if it isn't the same model though, I know Ken's done one). http://q-zon-fighterplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Sukhoi-Su-17-R.jpg And at the other this wonderful monstrosity ! http://q-zon-fighterplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Lavochkin-La-200-B1.jpg Thanks goodness for the USSR bringing us these wonderful designs... Re the Unicraft La-200B...I think, erm 'basic' is the kindest word I can apply to it in polite company around here ! http://www.unicraft.biz/on/la200b/la200b.htm Jason, great stuff, I'll keep an eye out for it.....and there's nothing wrong with a bit of self-promotion...if you 'don't blow yer own trumpet who else will '? is how I look at it (and the Memsahib agrees wholeheartedly, a little too readily for my taste, I think she's got the wrong end of the stick again but there you are )... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Legato did the Su-17 (Type R)........ It's not the best model I've ever made - but then it wasn't the best kit..... The whole forward fuselage and cockpit could be jettisoned in an emergency as an escape capsule - something that pre-dates the F-111 by a decade or so. Built in 1949, it never flew. Ken 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 (edited) General, I wasn't familiar with that Su-17; quite nice-looking aircraft in fact. The Soviets did indeed run the gamut from the sublime to the ridiculous when it came to aircraft. Who else would think of a retractable-winged biplane/monoplane (IS-1 and IS-2)? I know the Soviets have a reputation for producing rather staid and sturdy aeroplanes, but their experimental types were something to behold. I had actually intended to have that photograph of the lovely and talented La-200B in my book, but unfortunately it didn't make the cut. To be honest though, I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or a good thing; I can imagine someone opening my book to that particular page, fainting dead away and not only foreswearing off my books forever, but perhaps all books. I don't think I could have that on my conscience. However, that is an aeroplane that it's no use describing - you just have to see (if you dare!) a photograph of it. However, when or if Avis produce it, I will buy it. Regards, Jason P.S. Ken, thank you for posting that Su-17 model! That is a rather attractive-looking aeroplane. Pity the kit wasn't better but your model looks quite nice. Edited September 1, 2015 by Learstang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 There was me thinking the X-32 was ugly, these were certainly in the race!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Thanks Ken, lovely model...one I must get hold of to add to the ever growing collection of Soviet 'weirdos' though the LF one isn't exactly cheap ! Jason it's unforgivable that you omitted the La-200........I shall now not read your book ! There was me thinking the X-32 was ugly You were not alone Julien...truly hideous, like the deranged love child of the original Su-15 if you squint hard enough. http://www.aer.ita.br/~bmattos/mundo/images_jul06/Sukhoi_Su-15P.jpg (Apologies for the thread drift but it's such a fascinating subject). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Talking of Su-15 (Aircraft P)...... The Unicraft kit....... Pre-digital photo..... Build here. Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Nice model Ken, hideous aircraft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 (edited) Wow, great job on the Unicraft kit, Ken! General, I understand your anger - to not include in my book a photograph of that beauteous creature is beyond unforgivable. Perhaps as penance I'll write a book solely on the La-200 called something like 'Fleeting Beauty: The Story of the La-200', or some such rubbish as that. Certain to sell dozens of copies. People will buy them just to burn them in the town square. Regards, Jason Edited September 1, 2015 by Learstang 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehammer Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 (edited) Jason, totally agree. It has the distinction of being (unofficially) the ugliest jet built. Well, I dunno... Even in the Soviet Union alone, the competition is fierce. ...and for me, the Sokol nose takes the cake: Now excuse me while I go drown myself in pictures of kittens... Edited September 1, 2015 by Bonehammer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) Nice collection of piccies, BH! I don't know, though, the Mikoyan Ye-150 (third from the bottom) has a certain brutish charm, almost as if the twin engines on the E.E. Lightning just kept getting bigger until they finally merged into one huge turbojet. The fourth one from the top though looks like it's about to vomit, perhaps mimicking the faces of most people when they saw it for the first time. Regards, Jason Edited September 2, 2015 by Learstang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 How could you include the wonderful Mikoyan Ye-152A in that lot Bonehammer...a thing of brutal beauty as Jason points out. Though you're quite right about the rest...the T-7 in particular, looks like it's sticking it's tounge out at the aviation industry, but I'm a huge fan of the aesthetically challenged...just ask the Mem ! Ken I was sorely tempted to get hold of the Su-15 when it first appeared but never got around to it, hopefully someone else will come to the rescue in the near future with something a little more refined...great model btw. Jason, I would buy every copy of any book you wrote about the La-200, if only to prevent them falling into the hands of those heathens who'd demand the satanic images be burned at the stake. I think it should be titled...' The La-200... Semyons Revenge', or 'Why I should stick to designing missiles' Back to the La-200 and I shudder to think what kind of forward vision, if any the pilot would have had at any point of a flight let alone at night, in high winds, rain or snow, glaring sun, frozen runway, etc....tough breed those Soviet aircrew types.....(also the undercarriage doesn't quite look up to the job of keeping that lot off the runway for very long...). One can only wonder what the NATO designation might have been had it gone into operational service.....'frightful', 'faceache', 'flop'..........'forgawdsake' even. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehammer Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) Nice collection of piccies, BH! I don't know, though, the Mikoyan Ye-150 (third from the bottom) has a certain brutish charm, almost as if the twin engines on the E.E. Lightning just kept getting bigger until they finally merged into one huge turbojet. The fourth one from the top though looks like it's about to vomit, perhaps mimicking the faces of most people when they saw it for the first time. Regards, Jason You mean the PT-7? In truth it's one I had never heard of (not surprisingly) and stumbled upon it while looking for a picture of the T-49 (fifth from the top). Indeed it does look like the engineers at Sukhoi were listening to black market records at the time... How could you include the wonderful Mikoyan Ye-152A in that lot Bonehammer...a thing of brutal beauty as Jason points out. When considering its performance, yes, but going by looks alone it's like someone attached a pair of wings and a cockpit to an engine test tunnel... EDIT: IMHO no discussion of the ugliness of the Su-15 can be complete unless one is aware of the twistedness of its innards. And oh, dear. I just found the Su-10. Who designed this thing? Hayao Miyazaki in a fever-induced dream? Anyway I want one in 1/72. Edited September 2, 2015 by Bonehammer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Very true Bonehammer, I'd take two.........mind you it's hard to beat this........wings and tail optional... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Brilliant stuff Andy, thanks for putting this up it may have slipped through my net otherwise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Thought you'd like it Radders...surprisingly popular little fella and quite unexpected.....long may these little gems keep coming ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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