Eduard 1/72nd Lavochkin La-7 Three Guns and Profipack
Versions
|
 |
Since I've already described the original kit in detail in the March
2004 edition, I plan on concentrating on only the differences between
the original, "two-gun, non-profi" kit to these two latest releases.
The 3 Guns Kit
  The
only difference between the original release and the 3 Guns Version is
the decals. Since the first (and subsequent) release contains all plastic
parts to make both the two-gun and three-gun variant, the three-gun version
comes with decals to specifically make aircraft that flew with three guns.
Aircraft catered to on this decal sheet are: an La-7 of the 2nd GFAR;
a post-war La-7 of the VVS; a post-war La-7 of the Czechoslovak AF, late
40s, 2nd Fighter Air Regiment; and an La-7 flown by the commander of the
4th GFAR of the Baltic Fleet, Lt. Col. V.F. Golubyev. Decals are in register
and sharply printed.
The Profipack
 Not
only are there different - and more - decals in this release, true to
Eduard fashion the profipack contains a photoetch fret. The photoetch
supplies such parts as more cockpit pieces, including two nicely done
instrument panels (one for an "early" La-7, one for a "late")
that are colored in Eduard's new style. (While there is some question
about the color they chose, it won't be too noticeable inside the cockpit.)
In fact, colored photoetch also includes more of the internal cockpit
pieces, as well as the seat harness. Nicely done, Eduard!
Decals are for eight separate aircraft - a stunning array. First
up is the famous mount of the Allied leading ace of the Great Patriotic
War/World War 2 - I.N. Kozhedub. Purists will no doubt want to consult
the article Lost
in Time...The Misadventures of Ivan Kozhedub's Famous "White 27"
by Erik Pilawskii. This article has all of the past and present thinking
about how Kozhedub's machine could have been, might have been, and might
not have been marked.
 The
rest of the aircraft catered for in the profi kit are: Capt. P. Ya. Golovachev
of the 9the GIAP, 303 IAD; Maj. Amet Khan Sultan's La-7; Lt. Col. S.F.
Dolgushin's machine of the 156th FAR; a post-war Czech machine of the
2nd Fighter Air Regiment, 1945; an unknown La-7 of the 2nd GFAR; a post-war
VVS machine, 1946; and a repeat from the three-gun kit, that machine of
Lt. Col V.F. Golubyev. Again, decals are well done and in register. In
addition, Eduard supplies paint "chipping" as decals - an interesting
concept that I hope works.
Conclusion
As was my conclusion before, these are extremely well done kits that
every person who builds 1/72nd WW2 aircraft should purchase. We need to
prove to Eduard that it's a viable genre so they can release La-5s - a
serious omission in 1/72nd.
Our thanks to Eduard for the kits.
|
|
