LA 5 build.

Christopher Mullins
Well, I had taken a couple of other pictures after I started but somehow they got lost. This is up to about the 8 step. It has a full air frame and I think the engine looks pretty good for an OOB engine. I am not adding any extra detail even though I have the Eduard sets, I do not think it is really needed, the detail on this model seems to be pretty darn good, and it didn't cost all that much either. Would highly recommend this kit.

Lost_Erik
👍 Good start

Jens
Hello Christopher, I know the La 5 and have already tried, congratulations, a real start 👍

Christopher Mullins
There are a lot of mislabeled parts on the instructions, but with a bit of looking around on the trees they are not hard to find. I do like Zvezda though, I have been buying their models for about 20 years now. At first they were really simple and undetailed, and a bought quite a few of em because I was on a tight budget, but they have just gotten better and better, and as long as the parts look good, I can deal with a little mislabeling. I didn't follow the instruction for painting the cockpit though, the walls and other stuff in the cockpit I made a color similar to RLM 02, but the instructions call out to make it aluminum. Maybe they were, but I really doubt that the instrument panel was Aluminium like the instructions say,if the sun were shining on it the pilot would be blinded I would think. There are also not instructions on the details on the cockpit walls or anything, and was able to find no pictures of the inside. It was really hard to get the exhausts lined up where they were supposed to be, and mine are not perfect, but OK I think.

Jens
Hello Christopher, If there are questions about detail colors, then I look at WW II aircraft very happy to Eduard, there you will find the PDF file to the blueprint and there very good information about the colors, just keep it up, I like it really well

Christopher Mullins
Do you have a link for this?

Jens
1. stepp eduard.com/store/ind..searchparam=+La+5+FN

2.stepp eduard.com/store/ind..searchparam=+La+5+FN

Jens
if other types are searched for, IL 2 or F6F Hellcat, etc. then simply type in the search line the type, you get to almost all models a blueprint and thus the color information

Christopher Mullins
Vielen Dank

Christopher Mullins
Decided on the colors now, underside Revell 49, camo, Revell 77 with Model Master Neutral Grey, if its exactly right, well I dont know, all these color arguments are not that important to me, once an aircraft has been used, the colors are gonna change anyways, and the environment it is used in is going to affect how it changes, so I think as long as the colors are close, than its OK, like Horseshoes and Hand grenades. I do think that every army and air force has standards and those standards are usually adhered to also, but camo that is done from paste int he field is going to show a lot of differences because it depends on what they mix it with. None of us were there so we cannot know 100% for sure what these colors were unless there are documents that show the RGB percentages of the colors, then it can be known exactly, but we all see colors differently anyways. That is my take on the color argument at least, I like my stuff to look good, but an exact colors are difficult to define much less to paint.

Christopher Mullins
Update, well got the blue on the bottom and the dark grey on top. I found this picture of an LA 7 on the internet, on Wikipedia (credit given to photgrapher Ralf Roletschek), it is from the air museum in Prague. It says it is a Czech aircraft but it looks pretty Russian to me. The colors, I am trying to figure out if it is Original paint, due to the wear on the paint, it is at least old if not original. The dark grey looks like it almost has a Brownish tint to it, and the light grey looks a lot like Revell 45 or so. Of course I am also not sure if this paint is even AMT 11 and 12, but I think it could be, maybe.

Christopher Mullins
Had some problems with the med grey paint I used, think it was too old and had to take it off and replace it with some new color. I think the colors are OK, even though Im sure they are probably not exactly right.

Christopher Mullins
The decals are terrible, in hindsight, I should have masked off and painted the white stripes, I usually do, didn't here though and should have. I used decal sol and decal set, didn't help too much. i also put the propeller on, then took it back off to do something in the front and the pin broke off. Not having much luck here. I think my Mig 3 looks a lot better.

Christopher Mullins
I will call this one finished now, I should have painted the white stripes on it, the decals would have come out better that way. The decals do not look all that great, even with Microset and Microsol. The Mig 3 and Yak 3 I built look better I think, the kit was really good though,k good detail and everything, but in hindsight, AM decals would have been better I think.

Jens
Hello Christopher, as has become good 👍 congratulate, for your workshop a very pretty and successful model 👍 👍 👍

Lost_Erik
Well done. I like your effect on the exhaust pipes.