Lavochkin La-9 North Korea "Night Raider"
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/2/0/2/973202-23842-76-720.jpg)
Assembly of the cockpit. Many etched parts included for this area.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/6/7/5/981675-23842-39-720.jpg)
The wing assembly has started.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/6/7/6/981676-23842-32-720.jpg)
Primed the inner fuselage and cockpit.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/7/7/7/981777-23842-41-720.jpg)
Here I illustrate the extreme fit problem of the wheel wells and the fuselage & wings.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/1/5/4/982154-23842-91-720.jpg)
Much sanding & chopping to part C6 to get it to fit. Now 3 parts & translucent in places.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/5/0/2/983502-23842-75-720.jpg)
The next problem: The wing is too large when fitted to the fuselage and creates a step when attempting to attach the cowling. The line marks what must be trimmed.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/4/6/8/987468-23842-11-720.jpg)
The cockpit. All the radio boxes are etch parts.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/4/6/9/987469-23842-36-720.jpg)
Hand painted the interior. Not much of this will be visible when the canopy is attached.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/4/6/7/987467-23842-88-720.jpg)
Tested the Kits World 3D printed seatbelts. Not bad, but I ended up using super glue to get them to adhere.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/6/1/2/989612-23842-26-720.jpg)
The layered etch instrument panel.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/8/1/6/989816-23842-58-720.jpg)
Finally looking like a flying machine. You’ll notice the epoxy putty used to complete the wheel well.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/4/9/1/990491-23842-91-720.jpg)
Start of the exhaust drilling. Too bad you’ll need a pen-light and magnifying lens to see this once installed.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/4/9/2/990492-23842-31-720.jpg)
I’m not sure what this clear part on the fuselage spine is, but it took much sanding to get it smooth.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/1/3/991913-23842-53-720.jpg)
The cowling is finally attached.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/0/3/6/994036-23842-77-720.jpg)
Day 2 of canopy fitting. Here I show the sanding work that I’ve already done on the fuselage.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/0/7/8/1001078-23842-16-720.jpg)
Added a small antenna post that I made from styrene.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/0/7/9/1001079-23842-58-720.jpg)
The included canopy masks were a nice touch. They still needed some help though.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/4/9/3/1001493-23842-20-720.jpg)
The Neutral Grey color is down using Tamiya XF-53.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/6/8/8/1002688-23842-55-720.jpg)
Let the masking begin.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/9/1/3/1002913-23842-21-720.jpg)
Success! The Mr Masking Sol Neo did not eat through the Future coat over Tamiya. A few touch ups were needed due to my long finger nails scratching a few small areas (oops!).
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/8/1/2/1003812-23842-41-720.jpg)
Underside painted black. I tried to make the border match the upper pattern.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/6/2/8/1007628-23842-55-720.jpg)
A little chipping on the prop never hurts.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/6/3/0/1007630-23842-25-720.jpg)
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/6/3/1/1007631-23842-35-720.jpg)
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/6/3/2/1007632-23842-91-720.jpg)
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/6/3/3/1007633-23842-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/6/2/9/1007629-23842-70-720.jpg)
Comentários
38 7 April 2021, 18:50
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Work has begun on the antagonist to the F-94. Many photo-etch parts are included in this kit.
7 April 2021, 18:53
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Welcome Roland! This one should be ramping up as soon as I complete the F-94.
10 April 2021, 21:16
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Welcome Patryk🙂
Primed the cockpit and inner fuselage. Starting work on the wheel wells and wing.
18 April 2021, 19:37
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Thanks Erik! Welcome to the build.
I noticed that no where in the instructions does it show the wing joining the fuselage. Now I know why... because there's no way they will fit without some major surgery. Time to break out the Dremel <insert war cry here>.
19 April 2021, 00:39
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The design is a bit crazy Robert. ?
The rest of the kit seems to fit rather well even though it has no connector pins, but that wheel well!!! There is no way to use it without cutting it apart and grinding it down to make it fit inside the wing & fuselage. I will still need to use epoxy putty once the main assemblies are together.
19 April 2021, 20:18
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O wow that is a real builders kit I think Nathan, good luck with it..!
20 April 2021, 07:48
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Yes Erik, this one's a bit of a tuffy. I really must do a Tamiya kit as a break ?.
20 April 2021, 17:51
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Hopefully the last of the fit problems: The wing is too wide when fitted to the fuselage and creates a step where the cowling attaches. I'll need to shave it down a bit to make it fit.
22 April 2021, 16:56
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Finally some progress on actually building this kit rather than correcting fit problems. Tonight I'll hopefully install the cockpit and seal up the fuselage.
26 April 2021, 17:54
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I am truly impressed with your perseverancy. From this perspective it looks like Wurger, doesn't it?
30 April 2021, 15:46
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Hi, I have an old 1/72 kit of this plane that begs to be started. Quality is very poor so maybe I will get inspired by your own perseverance. I m definitely following you!
1 May 2021, 13:59
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Thank you and welcome to the build Fernando.
Today I neared completion on the cowling. I also began fitting the exhausts and also took the time to drill them. Here I ran into another fit issue. The etched exhaust covers do not fit the molded area on the fuselage and will need to be cut down or replaced. ?
1 May 2021, 17:04
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With respect to this visor on the spine - I know that in Yak-9's there was additional place in the fuselage behind the pilot's seat for the mechanic (carried in the ferry flights), and there was such an overhead visor for him... Most probably this is the same idea, but I was not able to confirm it.
2 May 2021, 06:43
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Ahh yes that makes sense to me. I wanted to make sure and include this in the build as it can be seen in several photographs, although it is not shown on the paint/marking guide in the kit.
Thanks Robert ?
2 May 2021, 13:56
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You are welcome, Nathan🙂 At the site:
airwar.ru/other/bibl/la9to.html
you can download pdf of the original instruction of La-9 in Russian. It does contain no mention of this space, however - yet it must be remembered that this was printed in the darkest Soviet times when everything was classified or deliberately falsified, against alleged espionage. (I own some plans of the city I live, edited in 1970's where there are non existent streets, or erroneously determined places...).
2 May 2021, 14:18
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Thanks Robert 🙂 I'm sure that the visor would at least be useful for letting in natural light when doing repairs in the fuselage.
Today I finally attached the cowling. Next will be the rear stabilizers. I can't wait to begin paint work.
3 May 2021, 17:54
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I'm going to admit it, this build is becoming a slog! I spent all my bench time today sanding down the fuselage and canopy to get a decent fit. Hopefully it ends up looking ok.
6 May 2021, 01:14
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Do not give up, Nathan! (but I am already convinced that I will not purchase neither this kit, nor MikroMir's Lavochkin La-11, even though I was tempted very much... and there is a Hobby Boss offering on the horizon...🙂
9 May 2021, 20:13
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I'm going to go ahead and recommend the Ark kit, it has to be better ?.
9 May 2021, 20:18
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A little progress today. I masked up the canopy and added a small antenna pole to the tail.
15 May 2021, 01:45
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After an undercoat on the canopy of the light grey to match the cockpit I sprayed the entire upper surface in Neutral Grey.
15 May 2021, 16:30
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You made miracle, really, taking into account the elements of this model.
15 May 2021, 17:21
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Thank you very much Robert ?! It definitely won't be a contest winner, but it will happily live on the shelf beside its nemesis the F-94B showing off its colors.
Now we are to my favorite part of any build. The painting decals and weathering.
15 May 2021, 18:28
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Thanks Murad ? So far I've been OK using Mr. Masking Sol Neo on acrylics as long as there's an added coat of Pledge Gloss (Future). I've never done it on an entire model's camo pattern though...
17 May 2021, 18:15
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Uploaded a shot of the completed upper camo pattern. Overall I'm happy. There were a few areas in need of a touch up due to my finger nails scratching the paint. Hopefully this will disappear with the second coat of Future and weathering.
18 May 2021, 03:30
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Thanks so much Roland, Murad & Erik! Today I will work on applying the black bottom color. I found a picture of some North Korean pilots standing in front of an La-9 or La-11 and the bottom looked black. This will definitely fit my "night raider" theme for this build.
18 May 2021, 16:58
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Thanks Jorge ?
Added a shot of the wavy border pattern with the bottom color.
19 May 2021, 16:03
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Thank you Patryk! Today I'm preparing to apply the decals. Considering how the rest of this kit went I'm a little cautious.
20 May 2021, 12:16
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Great camouflage! Very sharp. The rest of the build is also great.
20 May 2021, 15:14
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Thanks Guillaume! I feel like this one is finally going well and not fighting me every step. The decals went on perfect and snuggled well into the engraved detail.
I spent today applying panel washes and general weathering.
22 May 2021, 00:33
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Despite the issues you've encountered (and dealt with) it's looking fantastic. Awesome job on the paint scheme as well 👍
22 May 2021, 03:20
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Thanks James ? I'll admit that since weathering, I'm really liking this camo pattern.
22 May 2021, 23:31
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Adding the final dull coat tonight. The next step is stringing the antenna wire and then final pics. Hopefully I'll have time to upload them tomorrow.
25 May 2021, 00:59
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Nice job mate, despite the difficulties you had with the kit, that turned out looking awesome! 👍
26 May 2021, 19:25
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Thanks mates for all the nice comments and likes. I really enjoyed the painting on this kit even though the construction was a bit of a battle.
27 May 2021, 13:17
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Thank you Major Flannel & Neil! This was a very fun camo to apply 🙂
30 September 2021, 00:19
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Happy to report that this build won gold at the recent PAMSCON 22 contest in the category Aircraft 1:48 Prop (I think it was thrown into the Axis category).
26 June 2022, 21:02