Zvezda LA-5N, 1/48 Scale
OOB
Paints: Golden & Liquitex Fluid Acrylics
Mediums: Golden - GAC 200, Airbrush Extender, Airbrush Medium: Liquitex – Matte Medium, Flow Aid: Gunze – Acrylic Retarder
Weathering: Promodeller Washes, Tamiya Weathering
KIT:
I suppose I should start by saying that if you want to see a Zvezda LA-5 (razorback version) the way it should be done, check Doog’s recent entry in this forum and in the Eastern Front. As the results no doubt indicate, I can’t say that I shared Doog’s thumbs up on this kit. So, let’s just say this model was a learning experience. I got a lot of practice in sanding, clamping, using CA (which I hate), cutting huge hunks of plastic out of pieces and pushing the envelope on all replacements for putty which I also hate.
This kit was oddly similar to the Eduard FW-190A5 I just completed. Once again, this kit was really designed to be shown with the engine and gun bay open. After these examples, I have concluded if you have an Eastern European model airplane, and it has the option to open major components, open them. Had I done so, this plane would have built very nicely. My mistake was wanting to button it up. This is a very handsome plane (as was the FW) and my 48 scale collection isn’t at “gee, look at the bloody engine won’t you” stage. This kit builds very differently than Tamigawas. The cockpit is constructed into a kind of frame which also holds the entire gun bay and the engine. This means that a slight error at the the early stage of construction can bite you in the face several stages later. (Might add that Zvezda instructions are openly bad. That’s good in a way because you expect to figure things out. Much better than have things look right and be wrong. However, because of the build sequence, you are on your own concerning painting.) I’m not sure how to put this nicely: every major piece was the wrong shape more or less and not one major fit on the entire plane was spot-on, except, ironically, the engine which I didn’t show. The saving grace, if you want to call it that, is that Zvezda has very soft plastic. (This factor apparently also helped Doog’s steadier hand.) Consequently, it was possible to contort pieces (such as the fuselage halves) and get them into shape. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you don’t have a really clean fit. The reason that the cockpit is open, is that it would have required major surgery to close it. It looks ok, but I would have liked the choice. Might add that although the detail was very crisp (not much of it because of the wooden frame found on the LAs) a couple of clear pieces had a haze that Future/Klear couldn’t really cure. Actually, maybe the modeling gnomes were ticked at me. I ordered an Eduard cockpit mask along with the plane. When it was cockpit time, I opened it and found it was for a 72 scale Airfix Nimrod. So I masked the thing myself and did the best job I’ve done so far – on fuzzy clear plastic. Sprue Brothers sent me a replacement – for some reason I don’t see myself using it anytime soon. (For detail fans I should point out that the LA-5FN has major differences from the earlier razorback. I think it’s prettier for one thing.)
Obviously better modelers than myself will have better luck. Indeed, if I did another one I would know what corners you could cut. And I mean that literally. You really only needed the front piece of the engine and about half the frame. If the Queen models and did this kit, I’m pretty sure her reaction would be “We were not amused.” The real lesson I learned is that unless it’s necessary, I’m not buying any more Zvezda airplanes. The LA-5 was a very important plane and good looking to boot - reminds me of some of the Japanese planes. (Small though: about the size of a 109.) So Zvezda was the only game in town. Good for them if they’ve built the BF-109 for the ages - I’ll cheer from the sidelines and buy a Tamiya. (Ironically, I like their tanks.) Yet despite the ulcers and the wasted time, the completed version does look like a LA-5.
Painting and Weathering:
As noted this kit was painted entirely with artist acrylics and mediums. I had a great time but the whole thing can’t be summarized in a few words so I’ll put a post in the Paint forum. Suffice it to say that I got a wonderful base coat (all made from primes and silver) and not a bit of nozzle clog.
This plane and my Eduard FW190 will go into the Ost group build so I wanted this plane to represent a fighter in the middle of the fierce Soviet summer offensive launched after Citadel was defeated. The weather was clear, fighting was non-stop, dirt strips were the norm and Rooskie radials were known to burn oil (so did ours.) I did not want a tidy plane. So I gave it a very flat finish using Future/Klear at a 3:1 ratio with Tamiya base coat. I usually like a flat/satin finish, but this was designed to hold the washes and pigments. The finish was as flat as South Dakota - certainly the flattest finish I’ve ever done. And it certainly gave me the dusty look I wanted. On the underside, however, I did slip a bit. I was fading the color and was trying to blend some pigments with mineral spirits - I used lacquer thinner instead. Luckily, it didn’t demolish the plastic (this was the bulk stuff - not the civilized Tamiya or Gunze version) but it certainly bonded the plastic and pigments. So I had to give it another coat of flat and try to repair with pigments - I had no desire to strip the surface. Pity: I think I created a very nice ATM-7 blue - you can only judge on the wing tips or rear. The antenna is sprue and simplified a bit. At the end, I was genuinely afraid that somehow I was going to wreck this thing totally. It now sits next to the FW.
If you are bored on a Sunday without the NFL you can check out the Ost Group Build and read my thoughts on the air war in the East.
Eric
Pics:
