Lavochkin La-5FN - Zvezda, 1/48 (pic intensive)

[Stef (#6)]

Hello guys,

 

Here's my last completed model, the Zvezda, 1/48 Lavochkin La-5FN, white 22, from 2 GIAP (Aviation regiment of the Guard). The yellow scribing reads "Mongolsky Arat", workers of Mongolia, whose donation funded 12 aircrafts in the squadron.

 

This the first of the Zvezda's "new tooling", and was build out of the box, decals from the Avalon range. Quite easy build but for the soft plastic and the engine cowling is a bit tricky, as there are lots of parts to align.

Paints from the Gunze acryl range, various mixes of RLM76 as basis, with black and blue.

 

Hope you'll like her, and as usual comments and critics most welcome. 

 

Best,

 

Stef (#6)

 

 

Edited June 6, 2021 by Stef (#6)
bad image link

[Dafixer]

Photos are not showing.

[Stef (#6)]

That's corrected.

 

Thank you for the head-up, @Dafixer 

[sakai]

It's really pleasing to see that you have used the right shades for VVS fighter standard camo scheme. Congrats!

[Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy]

Man, this is beautiful, a treat to see! I've learned to love the La-5FN very much, amazing aircraft. Love the subtleties you've achieved even with the very careful and different types of streaking.

[Robertson]

On 6/15/2021 at 3:24 PM, sakai said:

It's really pleasing to see that you have used the right shades for VVS fighter standard camo scheme. Congrats!

 

If these are the shades based on the old Soviet book with paint chips, they are likely too dark. (The book of which only 3 copies exist in Russia I mean)

Eric Pilawski saw one copy, and said the book's colours have darkened over time. I believe him, because pieces buried face down or otherwise protected remnants always show lighter more vivid colours, despite never facing the sun. If Russian aircrafts were that dark, they would not have lightened in photos when the shift from black and green to gray and gray happened. But they do look lighter, including the green of the black and green... It is just an opinion, but I feel the research relied too much on that old Soviet book, and having just one source is never good, even if the 3 books deteriorated to similar shades...

[Stef (#6)]

14 hours ago, Robertson said:

 

If these are the shades based on the old Soviet book with paint chips, they are likely too dark. (The book of which only 3 copies exist in Russia I mean)

Eric Pilawski saw one copy, and said the book's colours have darkened over time. I believe him, because pieces buried face down or otherwise protected remnants always show lighter more vivid colours, despite never facing the sun. If Russian aircrafts were that dark, they would not have lightened in photos when the shift from black and green to gray and gray happened. But they do look lighter, including the green of the black and green... It is just an opinion, but I feel the research relied too much on that old Soviet book, and having just one source is never good, even if the 3 books deteriorated to similar shades...

Hello,

 

Thanks for your inputs :).

 

My research for the colors wasn't extended that much as refering to the reference book you're talking.

In fact I've just been browsing Massimo Tessitori's website, and made a compilation of the various shades paint manufacturers were proposing.
I first resorted to colors proposed by Eduard and it seemed to me there was far too much contrast between the 2 shades.

 

I then made some trial mixes, trying to reflect the contrast level I saw on various B&W pics rather than matching "most commonly accepted hues".

Beside, my pics might be a little underexposed, which reinfiorce the "too dark" impression.

 

I always like a good, constructive talking about colours and references, indeed.

 

Best,

 

Stef (#6)