In Box Review of MPM 1/72nd Scale
Soviet Lavochkin La-9/11 Fighter
Kit No. 72004
By Ray Mehlberger
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1990
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Available one place overseas on the internet.
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Available one place overseas on the internet.
HISTORY:
The last piston aeroplanes made in S. A. Lavochkin designing department are represented by the La-9 and 11. In their conception they followed up the previous type La-7, including the driving unit ASH-82 FW (1,850 hp/1,350 kg).
Their up-to-date all-metal structure as well as their shapes and laminar-flow aerofoils of the wings with straight "cut-off" ends corresponded to a modern design. The design of the type La-9 started in 1945, the prototype, designated La-130, too off in 1946.
It was armed with a synchronized 23mm canons NS-23. A lighter air-frame structure made possible to adhiere a larger range than the La-7. There were made only 16 of the La-9, because the production of an improved type La-11 had been started.
Its prototype (La-140) passed the flight tests in May 1947. The La-11 was determined to be an escort aeroplane with Tu-2 and Tu-4. As a result of the removal of a cannon, its flying range even increased: hence, 3 cannons NS-23 were situated on the fuselage asymmetrically.
The engine cooler was shifted from its place under the fuselage (by La-9) directly to the engine cowling (by La-11). Other-wise, both types did not differ significantly from each other; their construction was congruent
The La-11's were used in the Air Forces of the USSR, Northern Korea and China. They were fighting in the initial combats in Korea, used above all as fighter-bombers.
There were produced 1,500 of the La-11. They fulfilled an important role in the period of transition, before the first jet fighters came into use.
It was an all-metal aeroplane of a monocoque structure. The wings had CAGI-laminar-flow aerofoils. The tail planes had an all-metal structure. The La-11 was provided with ice-removing devices from the leading edge, a stabilizer and a propeller cone.
The last piston aeroplanes made in S. A. Lavochkin designing department are represented by the La-9 and 11. In their conception they followed up the previous type La-7, including the driving unit ASH-82 FW (1,850 hp/1,350 kg).
Their up-to-date all-metal structure as well as their shapes and laminar-flow aerofoils of the wings with straight "cut-off" ends corresponded to a modern design. The design of the type La-9 started in 1945, the prototype, designated La-130, too off in 1946.
It was armed with a synchronized 23mm canons NS-23. A lighter air-frame structure made possible to adhiere a larger range than the La-7. There were made only 16 of the La-9, because the production of an improved type La-11 had been started.
Its prototype (La-140) passed the flight tests in May 1947. The La-11 was determined to be an escort aeroplane with Tu-2 and Tu-4. As a result of the removal of a cannon, its flying range even increased: hence, 3 cannons NS-23 were situated on the fuselage asymmetrically.
The engine cooler was shifted from its place under the fuselage (by La-9) directly to the engine cowling (by La-11). Other-wise, both types did not differ significantly from each other; their construction was congruent
The La-11's were used in the Air Forces of the USSR, Northern Korea and China. They were fighting in the initial combats in Korea, used above all as fighter-bombers.
There were produced 1,500 of the La-11. They fulfilled an important role in the period of transition, before the first jet fighters came into use.
It was an all-metal aeroplane of a monocoque structure. The wings had CAGI-laminar-flow aerofoils. The tail planes had an all-metal structure. The La-11 was provided with ice-removing devices from the leading edge, a stabilizer and a propeller cone.
THE KIT
MPM is based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture short run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a unwrapped generic white box. The cover art is on a seperate sheet that is glued to the lid.
The box art shows 2 La-9's taking off from a rain soaked airfield. Both are overall bright-grey with 2 silver bands around the nose, red spinners and the nearest one has a yellow fuselage no. 07.
The La-9 in the background is in the same scheme with a fuselage no. 011.
MPM is based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture short run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a unwrapped generic white box. The cover art is on a seperate sheet that is glued to the lid.
The box art shows 2 La-9's taking off from a rain soaked airfield. Both are overall bright-grey with 2 silver bands around the nose, red spinners and the nearest one has a yellow fuselage no. 07.
The La-9 in the background is in the same scheme with a fuselage no. 011.
WHAT'S IN THE KIT:
This kit contains a single dark-green parts tree and a clear vacuform canopy in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a unbound booklet of 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing profile of the aircraft over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 4-view line-drawing of the aircraft.
Page 3 has 2 exploded drawings for assembly purpose.
Page 4 is the marking and painting instructions. There are two 2-views and a side view.
The 1st 2-view is in the same camouflage as the box art scheme. It is with the Air Forces of the USSR, postwar period 1945. It has the fuselage number 02 outlined in black.
The side view is the box art scheme with a yellow 07 fuse number (already described above).
The 2nd 2-view is in a wave pattern of dark-green and light-grey over a blue-grey undercarriage. It has a red star on a white circle outlined in 2 rings of red for roundel markings. It has 2 silver rings around the nose and a black 71 on the rudder.
Page 5 and 6 is a loose page, not bound into the booklet. Page 5 has the part trees illustrations and page 6 is blank.
The dark green tree holds: wings, fuselage, wheels, propeller, spinner, cowling, landing -gear legs, elevators, dashboard, seat etc. (34 parts)
This kit contains a single dark-green parts tree and a clear vacuform canopy in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a unbound booklet of 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing profile of the aircraft over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 4-view line-drawing of the aircraft.
Page 3 has 2 exploded drawings for assembly purpose.
Page 4 is the marking and painting instructions. There are two 2-views and a side view.
The 1st 2-view is in the same camouflage as the box art scheme. It is with the Air Forces of the USSR, postwar period 1945. It has the fuselage number 02 outlined in black.
The side view is the box art scheme with a yellow 07 fuse number (already described above).
The 2nd 2-view is in a wave pattern of dark-green and light-grey over a blue-grey undercarriage. It has a red star on a white circle outlined in 2 rings of red for roundel markings. It has 2 silver rings around the nose and a black 71 on the rudder.
Page 5 and 6 is a loose page, not bound into the booklet. Page 5 has the part trees illustrations and page 6 is blank.
The dark green tree holds: wings, fuselage, wheels, propeller, spinner, cowling, landing -gear legs, elevators, dashboard, seat etc. (34 parts)
The clear vacuum-formed canopy is next (1 part)
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents. It includes a tissue to protect its face from scratching, but it is loose and floating around and not protecting anything. So, I stapled it to the decal sheet.
No pilot figure is included. Parts are lightly engraved detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.
Recommended.