WIX Archives

Another replica LA5 ?

Posted by Mick on Wed Jan 23, 2002 02:07:43 PM

In reply top Re: Fixed image URL... Sorry! posted by bdk on Wed Jan 23, 2002 12:26:36 PM

If that one is a full scale model then it is very well made, it appears to have all the correct bits and pieces for an early model high-back LA5, and an authentic paintjob, more or less. If it's actually the same one then it's pictured in Osprey's "Soviet Aces of WWII", White 15 flown by Capt G.D.Kostylev, Leningrad 1945......should have a yellow rudder and spinner though.

Not so sure about the other LA5 that Tony posted. If it is real then a few things are wrong according to every LA5 photo and drawing that I've just been perusing.

Firstly, it appears to have a high-back rear fuselage as the top line of the canopy is perfectly straight into the rear fuselage(to my eyes anyway), but the early versions had rear windows exactly the same as the LAGG3,as shown in bdk's pic. The windows on Tony's LA5 are completely wrong for a high-back, and it certainly doesn't look to me as though it has a low back like the later LA5FN or LA7.

Secondly, the supercharger intake on the upper cowling is wrong. For a late LA5FN or LA7 it is correct, but for a high-back it is wrong, they stopped short just at the rear of the nose-ring cowling on the high-back.

Thirdly is the oil cooler intake under the cowling.It is much bigger than the intake on any LA5 that I've seen. The one on bdk's pic appears to be correct, only reaching halfway along the cowling, but on Tony's pic it reaches all the way to the nose-ring cowling, much too big.

Along with the overall smooth "plasticky" look to it, and the sealed up wheel-wells, and one or two other bits, it just doesn't look entirely right to me.

So........who knows what it is really, it could be real, built from a recovered wreck maybe, but messed around a bit, or it could be a full scale model built as near as they could get it to the original, perhaps using some bits off other aircraft types ?

Anyone agree...or not ?

And is bdk's LA5 real or not....I'm presuming the latter but willing to be surprised ?

TaTa
Mick








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