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Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

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Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Old 10-06-2008, 10:26 PM
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tgking44
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Default Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Being a fan of such a rare and beautiful warbird, I'm amazed at how little this airplane has been modeled. There are few DS La7 posts on this site... and I'm grateful for that, but most are several years old. And, for the ones that are here, there's not much detail about the actual build. I've been working on this bird for a while now and have tried to take as many pics of the build as I can. Although not finished yet, I am determined to finish it within the next few months. If anyone is interested, I can post the progress (in pics) up to the point at which you see below (first coat of primer) and continue to document the final stages. Just let me know if anyone is interested in this "documentary".

Glenn
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Old 10-07-2008, 05:55 AM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

I built the Dave Andersen LA-7. Broke the wing when a tree sappling appeared from nowhere . Fues undamaged, new wing build commencing. The LA-7 is a gorgeous airplane. Good luck with your LA-7.

Jeff
Old 10-07-2008, 08:23 AM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Glenn,

Make sure you post this over at RC Scale Builder. The folks over there would love it.

And I totally agree, the Russian birds dont get the representation they should. From the MiG-3 to the LaGG-3, to the Yak-3... we need more Russian birds!
Old 10-07-2008, 08:31 AM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

What size?

Engine?

Cost?
Old 10-07-2008, 10:30 AM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

I don't know if the plane was modeled correctly in warbirds, but in that game it was the ultimate ww2 fighter.
Old 10-07-2008, 12:04 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

I know that it is the most whined about plane in Aces High, well the 3 cannon version anyway.

Mike
Old 10-07-2008, 01:37 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Thanks for the suggestion Merlin. I will post it on RC Scale Builder to see if anyone is interested. Although it's scale to Don's drawing in size, it's not exactly to scale. My intent is not to win any scale contests with it, but instead to build it to look scale and fly well. To simplify the build, I modified the ailerons and elevator to be "standard" hinging and I didn't include the functional slats on the wing's leading edge (hope I don't regret that one). I have many photos of the build, so I'll start posting those soon.

Da Rock, Don's plan is 1/4.8 scale, which equates to an 80" wing. My target weight is 20lbs, but we'll see after a few more details and paint are added. Engine will be a DA-50. Cost? That's a good question. I haven't kept up with how much I've spent since the beginning. Because of that, it's really hard to give an exact figure. My guess is going to be between $1,500 and $2,000. But again, that's a guess.

Glenn
Old 10-07-2008, 01:46 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Nice bird [sm=thumbs_up.gif]

wish you success with this projekt ,if you nead some information for this plane ,I think that I can hepl you
Old 10-07-2008, 02:30 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Thanks fokke. Do you have information on the real La-7 or the Don Smith model? Either one would be great. I've done a lot of research on this bird, but with only two authentic La-7's left in existance (from what I know of - and they are in Russia), it's been difficult to find references. I have several publications with information about her and even many photos of the real one, but compared to the reference information that exists for every other WW2 European fighter, there's still not much out there! Here is the one that I have photos of (it's Kozedub's paint scheme, and it's the one I plan to model):
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Old 10-07-2008, 02:48 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Glenn ,I have much info for this fighter,books ,some drawings of real machine ,and other stuf, if you have SKYPE I can sedn it topu you My skype is fokker6
Old 10-07-2008, 03:44 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

fokke, I am not familiar with SKYPE. Can you post the information on your website?

Glenn
Old 10-07-2008, 07:00 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

To save a little time, I had Precision laser cut all of the parts. It was my Christmas present to me

I started with the wing. Once it was built up, I started switching between the fuse and wing, but again... the wing was first.


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Old 10-07-2008, 07:12 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

By the way, I had heard a lot of great things about gorilla glue, so I gave it a try. I wound up using it almost almost exclusively throughout the build. You can't beat the strength to weight ratio, and it's very easy to sand. Just have to watch the expansion and control it in places where you don't want it. More pics of the wing..
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Old 10-07-2008, 07:24 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Although not original, my solution to mounting the servos. All Hitec digitals, two for ailerons and two for flaps. The flap servos and their linkages are completely hidden, the two aileron servos are hidden, but their linkages are exposed.
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Old 10-07-2008, 07:27 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Servos temporarily mounted...
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Old 10-07-2008, 07:40 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

With one side of the wing sheeted and servos temporarily mounted, I moved onto the fuse. This was my first time building a Don Smith design, and I just wasn't used to building the fuse's left and right side separately. It was different, that's for sure. You have to be careful about keeping everything aligned. Time to build up the fuse..
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Old 10-07-2008, 07:46 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

To determine the size of the engine box, initial fitting and alignment of the DA-50...
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Old 10-07-2008, 07:52 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Both sides joined. This is where alignment is critical...
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Old 10-07-2008, 07:59 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Main fuse sheeted...
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Old 10-07-2008, 08:03 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Installing Robart retractable tailwheel...
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Old 10-07-2008, 08:23 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

One of the reasons I interrupted the wing construction and started on the fuselage was because I was waiting on scale wheels from Glennis Aircraft and custom Robart retracts built specifically for the La-7.

They finally arrived, so I took the fuse off the table and went back to the wing.

This is where it got interesting. First of all, the wheels looked great, but they were very heavy and I was concerned about that. Second, after installing them, there was no way they were going to fit inside the wing. Hmm..
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Old 10-07-2008, 08:39 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

As much as I didn't want to, I finally had to resort to using Dubro wheels, simply because the profile of the wheels are much thinner than the Glennis wheels. Aside from them fitting inside the wing (with some alterations), there was the benefit of significant weight savings by using the Dubro wheels.

The third picture shows the replacement of the wing's upper sheeting with 1/32 plywood "circles". The circles allows the Dubro wheels and Robart retracts the additional clearance needed to fit inside the wing. Some spackling and shaping was needed to contour the new circles to the shape of the wing. It seemed like an extreme solution, but it worked!
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Old 10-07-2008, 08:46 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Closing in the wing and making the flaps...
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Old 10-07-2008, 08:52 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

Laying up the fiberglass doors for the gear...
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Old 10-07-2008, 08:59 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Lavochkin La7 - Full Build

That's carbon figer reinforcement on the doors...
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