Hi all,
My most recent build, the Special Hobby Kittyhawk, was my birthday present to myself last year. This year's was the new Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 which I got from a Russian store on eBay for a song. It's surprisingly basic for a 2021 kit - inside the cockpit there should be frames and stringers, the panel lines are deep and fairings/plates are too tall:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51686323254_0ec074f76b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKkVbo)Ark Models 1/48 AK48049 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKkVbo) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51685636906_de95e6bbac_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKhp9N)Ark Models 1/48 AK48049 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKhp9N) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
However it was evened out by the inclusion at no extra cost of the 3D decals by Quinta Studio. These are a true delight and very easy to use. And necessary as there is no detail on the IP or consoles. Plus if you put them in the wrong place they're easy enough to relocate if you've used PVA/craft glue rather than CA. I'll be trying to replicate some sidewall boxes missing from the kit and made the choice to add the missing brake lever to the stick.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51686538940_04d70b375a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKn2i7)Ark Models 1/48 AK48049 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKn2i7) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51685910873_61737ab89b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKiNAn)Ark Models 1/48 AK48049 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKiNAn) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51691677341_a3162f62b2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKPmLe)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKPmLe) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51691947658_62dae6bb52_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKQK7S)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKQK7S) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51691947638_ee75bbe713_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mKQK7w)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mKQK7w) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
There's an airworthy example of the La-9 which was restored here in New Zealand for the late Ray Hanna. It first flew after restoration in 2003, appeared at one airshow and was off to Duxford where it wowed (I think) everyone who saw it. Likewise its pilots. Ray then brought it back to NZ and entered into a partnership with P-40N owner Garth Hogan to operate it here. It appeared at Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 (my family attended for the first time) and as soon as it went past me on the takeoff roll this sixteen-year-old fell in love. Photos by my Dad:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51118843714_359767ae19_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcrho)Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt2_0064 (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcrho) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120847830_36faeb9f8d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kTnH37)Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt3_0053 (https://flic.kr/p/2kTnH37) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51119483452_877f35fcc6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kTfHsm)Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt3_0064 (https://flic.kr/p/2kTfHsm) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120057261_432267a209_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kTiE2B)Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt3_0022 (https://flic.kr/p/2kTiE2B) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120848705_0982bbb235_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kTnHic)Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt3_0028 (https://flic.kr/p/2kTnHic) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51109693775_95c1285a1a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kSoxjP)Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt1_0017 (https://flic.kr/p/2kSoxjP) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
Those 3D decals do look good Zac. Oddly enough I was looking at some seatbelts on the Big H's website this morning. Might stick some to test in my next order.
I didn't realise I hadn't posted in so long - progress has progressed! The fuselage sidewalls were far too bare for a 1/48 aircraft, even with the canopy closed, so I added some bits and bobs based on photos of the restored ZK-LIX:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51714955514_d2e579b779_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMSEy3)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mMSEy3) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
The cockpit (with added throttle and propeller levers replacing the 3D decal's blobs) was installed along with some styrene bits to act as alignment tabs as the kit's joining surfaces are all smooth:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51723483664_3fa18258aa_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mNCnF7)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mNCnF7) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
Fuselage joined. Note the hole in the spine aft of the cockpit: this appears as a clear-glazed area on drawings and the restored La-9, but is not present on the kit. I also replaced the kit's gunsight with a crash pad.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731422002_73398219c5_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPk4t1)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPk4t1) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
For some bizarre reason my SIX attempts to upload a photo to Flickr have failed, but the wheel well in the kit is very bare with one junction box the only extra part to be added. But as seen in these photos of ZK-LIX taken by Phillip Treweek you can see the well's rather busy:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732750540_dde3252539_w.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPrSoQ)Lavochkin La-9 ZK-LIX (https://flic.kr/p/2mPrSoQ) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731040957_3534f50710_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPi7cg)Lavochkin La-9 ZK-LIX (https://flic.kr/p/2mPi7cg) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732511579_51145ef511_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPqDmP)Lavochkin La-9 ZK-LIX (https://flic.kr/p/2mPqDmP) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(note the abovementioned junction box)
So I set to work with stretched sprue and gubbins from my spares and I'm happy with the result:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732101018_9f77a82530_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPoxjb)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPoxjb) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731040007_e57d0567c6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPi6UT)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPi6UT) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
Unfortunately Flickr's autosizing does my scratching work no favours but I am very, very pleased with the outcome. The wheelwell is now mounted in the lower wing.
Stay tuned for another update, hopefully in better time!
Coming along very nicely Zac :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Nice. :lol: The OOB kit almost looks like a scaled-up 1:72 mould?
Nice going so far Zak ..your pics are fine for me mate ;D..on my phone i can enlarge the hell out of em and i can see your work just fine..dude its looking sweet :thumbsup:
Thank you all!
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on December 08, 2021, 08:07:46 AM
The OOB kit almost looks like a scaled-up 1:72 mould?
It really does. I was surprised at how little is in the cockpit. Honestly, I was going to leave it with the 3D decals of the canopy handle and switchboard and my little first aid box, but I just couldn't do it. There's so much empty real estate on those sidewalls...and if you buy the boxing without the 3D decals you'll need to put in even more work as you're given a literal blank slate. I wrote an in-box preview of this kit (https://modelingmadness.com/review/korean/previews/ark/ak48049.htm) for Modeling Madness where you can see sprue shots.
Wheel well in place, the lower wing may be in position later today. You can't tell but I've already painted the underside light blue, a custom mix I'm afraid I cannot recall!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51734518710_ce3b56dcb0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPAW1w)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPAW1w) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
So as of yesterday evening this was the state of play:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51735056573_a99eea6808_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPDFU2)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPDFU2) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
One of the many oversights in this kit (I keep reminding myself it was cheap, so it's kind of understandable) is that there are no exhaust stacks in the box. I trimmed some surplus P-40 parts and they work well:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51734822331_7efd4061d7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPCugn)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPCugn) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51736124528_424afae57b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPKan3)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPKan3) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51736535289_9bfbe8c501_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPMgt8)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPMgt8) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
And between appointments, training for work and Christmas shopping she now sits thusly:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51736600976_27b79d0a4a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPMAZE)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPMAZE) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
The stretched sprue is for brake lines because evidently I passed the point of no return some time back.
Dude this is gonna look pretty damn cool when your done and it proves..you can polish a turd ;D ;D :thumbsup:
Nice. :thumbsup:
Reminds me of a Gran 1/72 La-11 buried somewhere in The Stash™ that I have been wanting to build as an early Vietnamese aircraft for some years... :rolleyes:
Flash forward and progress has certainly progressed!! Paint was applied in the days leading up to the New Year:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51784154613_0d19f702b9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mTZk2X)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mTZk2X) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51783899916_23593d43ff_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mTY2jC)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mTY2jC) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
The kit decals (including the silver straps? around the cowling) performed perfectly:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51791438398_f945e82510_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mUCEfs)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mUCEfs) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
And a fellow modeller and former OFMC employee kindly sent me some Breitling Fighters shield decals to add to the nose:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51809642475_7aa4da24a5_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWeXFR)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mWeXFR) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
I need to get some more red paint so I can do the rudder stripes and source the 28s for the fuselage sides, but the end is in sight!
That's looking fantastic, Zac! :thumbsup:
That looks so good Zac..i gotta do a MIG 3 at some point .
Neat. :thumbsup:
Very nice. I'm very jealous of your canopy frame painting ... I've had to resort to pens to get mine even half decent.
Good job, sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looks great Zac! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thank you all so much! I've been wanting to do this for many years so it's gratifying to have it turn out so well.
Quote from: Scotaidh on January 10, 2022, 02:00:56 AM
Very nice. I'm very jealous of your canopy frame painting ... I've had to resort to pens to get mine even half decent.
Good job, sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
A brush and a surprisingly steady hand! It came with two canopies but I already ruined the other with a gloss coat gone wrong so I was worried. Strictly speaking part of the windscreen framing isn't accurate but I can always get a vac replacement if it begins to irk me.
looking sharp :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Don't think I said it;
Good job Zac, albeit in the wrong scale.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: zenrat on January 12, 2022, 02:26:00 AM
Don't think I said it;
Good job Zac, albeit in the wrong scale.
:thumbsup:
Is this better?
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51817398675_95619c0a43_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWVHkr)1/72 (https://flic.kr/p/2mWVHkr) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51817372005_81ac536c00_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWVzpB)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2mWVzpB) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
As soon as I saw ZK-LIX fly I knew I needed a model of her. I scoured all the vendors tents at the airshow, we stopped at every hobby shop on our family tour around the lower and eastern South Island, all to no avail. Dad (understandbly getting exasperated with all this running around) said "It looks like a Focke-Wulf 190, why don't you try and make it out of one?" I wouldn't have any of that!
It wasn't until our ship took us back to the North Island that the proprietors of Modelcrafts & Hobbies in Wellington - one of whom would become a pivotal figure in Wingnut Wings - said he could order in a 1/72 Eastern European kit (I think by Gran?) of this very unknown aircraft for me. A month or two later it arrived and 17yo Zac very excitedly tackled his first short-run kit. This is the result, and I'm so glad it's survived the intervening years!!
Much better. Well done on preserving her.
Quote from: zenrat on January 13, 2022, 03:31:48 AM
Well done on preserving her.
About six months ago Dad called and said "I found a box of old built models, you should come round". To my delight the box was filled with builds done in 2004-06 I thought had been lost in house moves, including this La-9. I now intend to add a pilot figure and the missing decals (which I never got around to as a teen) and mount it on a stand as a companion for the big one :wub:
Dont ya just love it when stuff like that happens ;D
This La-9 was inspiring enough to make me dig out an old MPM 1:72 La-9/11 from The Stash™ and tackle/whif it. :lol:
Thanks gents!
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on January 14, 2022, 01:11:23 AM
This La-9 was inspiring enough to make me dig out an old MPM 1:72 La-9/11 from The Stash™ and tackle/whif it. :lol:
Do it!!!
Done. ;)
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=50119.0
This makes me happy :wub:
With undying thanks to a kind member of another forum, a little envelope arrived over the weekend containing beautiful masks for the fuselage side numbers. She's coming together!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51851490707_a498832cfe_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mZWrH6)Ark Models 1/48 Lavochkin La-9 (https://flic.kr/p/2mZWrH6) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/zacyates/), on Flickr
Now I'm just waiting for my local shop to restock their Tamiya paint so I can add red stripes to the rudder and she's done!
Damn thats looking good mate..real good :thumbsup:
As for your paint problem ..Zac ol mate you might be in for a good wait..my fav shops up here are having a nightmare trying to restock..the Tamiya extra thin glue is like hens teeth right now and so is paint.
Luckly Hobby City has a wicked selection of Ammo paints..their Tamiya stock ia very low..i cant even get flat black or white.
Just had a thought Zac..hit up their website..shipping is cheap and fast .
Im off there on Wednesday to restock my styrene pile and for the very first time ever..buy a length of HO rail track.
:thumbsup: