Amodel 1/72 Lavochkin LA-250A

AMODEL 1:72 LAVOCHKIN LA-250A

Reviewer: Paul Wherran (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 3 October 2004

Kit Details:

Amodel #7264 - 1/72 Lavochkin La 250A

Aircraft History:

TBA

The Kit:

Packaged typically in an AModel box that probably needs to be a bit bigger and sturdier than what it is, because inside there are over 100 parts molded in a light grey-bluish colour on three sprues. The quality is what you would expect from Amodel in their short run technology fashion which is of fairly good standard but there is a fair bit of flash encumbering the sprues. There is one clear part for the canopy, also with flash, and the surface detail on the parts is quite good and finely engraved.

Instructions:

A six page booklet makes up the instructions, and again, if you have built AModel kits before then it is pretty much as you would expect. There is a sprue diagram with the numbered parts to help identify them individually, since the sprue itself is not numbered. Sixteen exploded view assembly steps are provided which are detailed enough for the average and upward modeller, with only a bit of indecision likely on exact positioning of smaller parts. The painting and marking guide is quite good and the instructions also provide smaller inset diagrams to help paint and assemble during the construction stage.

Construction:

I've built a few Amodel kits in my time so I knew what to expect, and how to start construction which was removing flash and other mold imperfections, cleaning up the parts and test fitting parts over and over with slight adjustments until they fitted together perfectly. You are well advised to do this either beforehand or as you go along as I did. Of course being a short run kit there are virtually no locating pins or alignment tabs to help you during construction.

The cockpit is put together first, which is where the test fitting is definitely a must. There are over a dozen parts to the cockpit assembly so it is made up in a fairly detailed fashion including control sticks, instrument panels, sidewall detail, seat and head rest, and so forth for the two crew office. Decals are supplied for the instrument panels. Once work was done to ensure a good fit it was affixed inside the main forward fuselage cavity.

There are four parts to the fuselage section, a forward section incorporating cockpit, intakes and wheel bays which is split vertically, and the rear section split horizontally. The rear section is affixed into the forward section and incorporate the only tabs in the kit. The join lines need some work and sanding is required to blend the two sections together but other than that it affixes together rather well.

Air intakes are typically challenging and in this kit, a fair bit of filling and sanding is needed to blend them into the fuselage, as a step results when you attach them.

The wings come in upper and lower halves, although the upper overlaps the lower section and these are carefully butt joined to the fuselage. They need to be positioned correctly and left to dry before going onto the next area. At the same time as doing one wing, I also affixed that side's tailplane which also provides a challenge to dry in the correct position. A side jig or vice is needed to aid here.

The nose cone and tail fin both need a bit of work in regard to sanding of their mating surfaces to achieve a good fit. Some filler is required in both areas to help it blend into the fuselage. Some nose weight can be jammed into the nose cone as I suspect the model will be a tail sitter otherwise.

The undercarriage is encrusted with flash so needs very careful cleaning up. I also considered them to be rather flimsy for the kit, and used a dab of super glue here and there to aid in the adhesion process. The canopy was the final part to be added which also needed a bit of test fitting and trimming to achieve a flush fit.

Colour Schemes/Decals:

The prototype is the only option that the kit produces in overall natural metal silver. Red 04 and stars are provided on a small decal sheet along with some stencilling. The decals are thin, matt and in excellent register, typically Propagteam-like and affix well to the model surface.

Accuracy:

I don't have much reference material to comment on accuracy. The dimensions seem pretty much spot on and the profile matches the few grainy pictures I have very well. Those of you who have access to Moscow's huge aviation museum (Marino?) will delight in knowing that the prototype of this aircraft is preserved there, so you can compare the finished product with the real thing.

Overall Recommendation:

This kit is aimed at the more advanced modeller and those who have put together a few short run kits in their time. If you fit this category then you know what to expect, and given that it provides a pretty good finished product, with only a few reasonably difficult challenges to overcome, I would recommend highly to those of you interested in this aircraft.

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