Lavochkin La-5D

[kitbasher]

I'll be up front and honest about this model – I was inspired by (in order of appearance):
•   Gooberliberation's Macchi C.209s "Razzo" in the 'Piston Perfection' GB,
•   the thought that, if Kurt Tank could take the pugnacious radial-engined FW190A and fit it with an in-line engine,
•   and finally, the notion that, if the Czechs could re-engine the Bf109 and call it the Avia S-199,
then I'm sure the Russians could do the same with one of their fighters.

Working on the premise that the Soviet Union could have captured and/or copied hundreds of Jumo and BMW piston engines after WW2 (to supplement captured jet engine technology), I looked to grafting an FW190D-9's Jumo 213 on to the nose of an equally pugnacious Lavochkin La-5FN.  I've a few Dora 9s in stock (mostly Airfix – cheap, cheerful but not bad kits, really), one of which will very soon become a D-15 (well, that's the plan), and a Revell La-5FN was bought.
Work started straight away as the original plan was for it to be my third Piston Perfection GB entry when the long extension looked as though it was going to happen.  Well it didn't and the La-5D was put on the back burner while I got on with other models...
Creating the La-5D was straight forward - basically built straight from the kit with a few necessary 'adjustments'.
Although the nose contours don't precisely match up, a suitable point at which the La-5FN nose could be removed was found.  The 190D nose was removed so that the D-15 conversion would fit in the right place.  Some card tabs were needed to help align and fix the Jumo to the La-5, and to act as a 'host' for the inevitable filler.  As the FW190D's fuselage was longer than the 190A's, I lengthened the La-5's fuselage by exactly the same amount.  Also the 190D had a slightly larger fin, so off came the La-5 fin and rudder and replaced by those off an Airfix Kittyhawk.  Filling and sanding followed, then the priming, masking, top coating and decaling.  Voila!

It's only since finishing this model that I've realised how few kits of Russian aircraft I've built over the years, and apart from the La-5D they've all been Airfix – an Il-2, at least Mig-15s and a Mig-21.  And the last Mig-15 was when I was working overseas almost 10 years ago - and I finished it as a Luftwaffe '46 jet!

[Weaver]

That's a looker Brian! 

If you fancy some more Ruskis, check out the ranges of A-model, Maquette etc.... They do all sorts of obscure WWI and pre-WWII Eastern block stuff.

[kitbasher]

That's a looker Brian! 

Many thanks, Weaver, but who's Brian?

[sequoiaranger]

It's JUST the way I like whifs--believable, subtle, elegant*.

*Though I'm known to enjoy the outlandish whiffs as well!! 


Maybe when I get my similarly-extrapolated "Jinpu-Kai" done, I'll challenge your La-5D to a 1-on-1 at 30,000 ft. over Sakhalin Island for pink slips! **


**and not the silky ones hanging up in my closet you were thinking about--you know, the ownership papers! 

[SPINNERS]

Lovely! And nice pictures too.

Not one for an aircraft carrier though

[sotoolslinger]

Lovely aircraft(still pissed of about the lack of in progress pics)

[Arc3371]

Very good looking aircraft

[Brian da Basher]

That's really sweet kitbasher and totally looks the part! You've given me yet another "wish I'd thought of that!" moments! 

Outstanding work!

Brian da Basher

[Weaver]

That's a looker Brian! 

Many thanks, Weaver, but who's Brian?

PMSL - I was looking at one of BdB's builds just before this one, and I'm a tad slow on days with a "Y" in them.....

It's still a looker, whoever you are! 

[sequoiaranger]

>I'm a tad slow on days with a "Y" in them.....<

Not as slow as I am. I'm still stuck on the day with TWO "Y"s in them----YESTERDAY!


>It's still a looker, whoever you are!<


Ya just got mixed up between the Basher Brothers, "Kit" and "Brian da"

[Gary]

Neato! I looked at this once and didn't realize what I was looking at. Kool on ya!

[ysi_maniac]

Absolutely good idea and realization

[kitbasher]

Thanks chaps for all the plaudits.  Very generous of you.