Captain_YAK

Hi all!

I started building a Lavochkin - LA-7

The design is my own as this way I can add and create different options (Like to build some lightness in the model).

The specs are as follows!

W/S = 76 inch
weight estimated 13 - 14 lbs
Engine used will be G-26 (Will be replaced with a Glow FS - later on).
Split flaps.
Retracts used will be Custom retracts in AUS. (Or robart depending available, time cost etch).

I will be posting pics and upgrades every 2 weeks.

Any comments are welcomed.

Regards
Captain_Yak

Captain_YAK

Started work on the tail today and the rudder attached are some pics.

I use the split method to do the rudder tail combo!

p-40_lova

Looks great so far Captain! I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.


Doug

tubig

cap'n, looks good! what scale is your model? have you picked out a paint scheme yet?

Chad Veich

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Very interesting thread, I have one worked up at about 72 inch span (reduced Don Smith plan) but have not started building it yet. I look forward to watching the progress on your bird, good luck with it. Regards, Chad Veich.

Captain_YAK

Scale is close to 1/5 (worked out to 1/5.1, will fit in my car . just)

Colour scheme ......... still looking. I like to make the (Flying fish/shark/salanander) GeorgiyKostylev LA73xB20 or the la_7 of Kozhebud #27 and the 3rd option is the LA-7 of Konilenko (1945) (Some how I like option 3).

The attached immages are from the sim/game IL-2 (Like to play on line with others every now and then).

Regards

Captain_Yak!

LA7flier

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Captn...you probably already know that the shark mouth motiff was only on the La-5 with the old style (LAGG 3) canopy...LA-7's were 1944 and later so they were all two-tone greys with some personalized markings depending upon which aircraft you opt for. Mine was done from Don Smith plans and sported the livery of Sergei Dolgushin...see it in my gallery

Katchmarek

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Capt Yak, If you like Kozhedub's aircraft take a look at my site (address below). I have lot's of pic's of his actual aircraft that is at the Russian Central Air Force Muesem "Monino" near Moscow. Was there this past summer...super place! Keep this thread going...looking forward to following your progress!
Rob / Pickupsticks

SBR_RV

captain yak, great work.
ill watch this one till the end.
btw, i also play il2 (now PF), my user name is 334th_RV-56 (im with the ES squad)

Captain_YAK

Hi all thanks for the feed back!

La7_Flier your LA_7 looks great, I am not familear with DS/LA_7 (How is it in the air?) what size is it etch,etch. If there was anything you could change to the design when you were building it what would it be?


Pickupsticks_Thanks for the photos great stuff_ I had a look at your web site and loved the 109. (Unfortunatly the feeled I fly at is too small for a 1/4 scale model, if only I had the space...........


SBR_J - I dont belong to a squad as I dont have much time. But no doubt the LA-7 is one of the finest CCCP aircraft that was build by the ruskies

Ok......... today i finished off the tail and rudder. Started work on the fuss. Problem is that as of tomorrow I go back to work[&:] and will slow down a bit on the building side.

So I will be posting progress work only once a week and at this rate depending when I get my retracts from Custom retracts (6 - 8 weeks wait, have not ordered them yet as I would like to try out springair or robart hope to get them faster than that).

4trax

i love the LA -7.. recently i saw a real life LA-9 not far from my home as there is one at the Wanaka Air museum.. it flew at easter last year... Breathtaking... i wanna build one too!!!

Captain_YAK

Hi
4trax!

The LA-9 is a bit different than the LA-7 I was going to build the La-9 but has a smaller wing than the LA-7 so the W/L was a bitt too heavy for the selected engine used on this LA-7 (I am using a G-26 .......... got sucked in and got one for $350 AUS ....) any way I intend to fly this prototype fith the G-26 and if all turnes out "OK" I will put in a Glow twin or radial .......... love the FS sound

Regards

Captain_Yak

LA7flier

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[quote]ORIGINAL: Captain_YAK

Hi all thanks for the feed back!

Well Cap'n....since you asked......the Don Smith La 7 is pretty close to scale. 81 inch w/s. The cowl is huge and I could put it over my head like a lampshade. I built it with the functioning leading edge slats which extend when the landing gear come down. It helps the slow speed stall tendancy. I flew it with a 3W 48 twin cylinder gasser on electronic ignition. The plane weighed about 24 pounds. Very interesting in the air....somewhat tough to takeoff straight down the runway as the big rudder really caused the tail to swerve even with minor inputs. The plane flies on the thrust of the engine....somewhat like a jet...it won't glide at all but comes down like a brick. I used to surprise people watching it fly by coming in low and fast....I would have it lined up with the runway at full throttle and at about 20 feet...I would get to midfield and pull full up elevator, right aileron and a bit of right rudder and drop the gear, flaps and pull the engine back to half throttle...the plane would do a sharp right climbing turn and I would keep the plane in the turn effectively doing a circle with half throttle and the plane would end up being aligned with the runway at about 35 feet, half throttle, gear down, flaps down and boocoo speed...at about 15 feet over the runway threshold with the plane screaming along I would chop power....people would swear I would end up overshooting the runway but that plane would settle into the nicest landing you ever saw....worked almost every time. The plane was not a beginners plane as it could stall and snap at the top of a loop or 1/2 Cuban Eight and spin into the ground....once in a spin, it was finished so I never elected to allow the plane to get too slow during flight maneuvers. It was always a crowd pleaser and very unique so people always were interested in the plane. I liked it so much that I built two of them from Smith plans...who knows, I may even build a third one....

TAZ

looking very nice so far, I will be watching this on very closly at this one

Taz

Captain_YAK

Thanks for the information La7_Flier at 24 lbs the wing loading would have been around the 42+ oz per sq inch (assuming the wing was not enlarged to improve flight stability- always like to see how others design and build models).

I will not build slats on this version as I estimate a finish wing loading between 28 - 31 oz (depending the balsa selected and used).

I hope this weekend I will do some work on the fuss and finish it off.

Then I will start work on the cockpit and the cowling.

Regards

Captain_Yak.

Captain_YAK

Did some more work today on the fuss ........... Hope to have finishe id by the end of next week.

Pelle Gris

Hello Captain

I have always wanted to build a 1:5 scale LA-7 (or LA-5FN) too, but I have had a hard time drawing plans. Have you made your own plans? If so would it be possible to get a peek at them?

Thanks

Captain_YAK

Hi Pele Gris!

Yes the La-7 I am building is a scratchbuild design of mine! I will make the drawings available when I finish the prototype and do the flight test some time in the next 6 -8 weeks. The only thing slowing me down at this stage is the retracts that need 5 -7 weeks waiting to get a set (Custom retracts in Australia).

Regards

Captain_Yak

P.S if you are interested I build a YAK_9 and which turned out to be a very good flier! do a serch under this forum for YAK_9 and you will see the work in progress. The plans are not available yet for the yak but will be the same time I finish off the LA-7

allanflowers

more trim scheme on this great site...
Allan
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2005/...lleria/la7.php

Captain_YAK

Thanks "allanflowers" nice to see more options.

Did more work today on the "Fuss"

Start to look like a La-7 fuss now!

Will finish the bottom side this week and then start work on the Cowling"

Captain_Yak

Captain_YAK

Finished off the Fuss today .. well part of it anyway!

The La-7 has a nice fuss ........... starting to show its size. I incorporated the scale exhaust at the sides. Will use this as cooling vents for the Zenoa - 26

Captain_YAK

Started work on the Cowling!

I Am using some foam! and balsa to build it up.

I will then cover the front only with glass.




Captain_Yak!

Captain_YAK

OK back to work (hand to stop work on the LA-7 for a few weeks ......... but I am back on top on it now)

Managed to finish off the Cowling and added the primer on the glass section of the cowling.

I will make the one side of the cowling so it will open (Need to be able to get to the Engine

TAZ

good to see that you havn't forgotten about this thread. I've been looking at it every couple of days to see if it is updated

keep it coming

very nice work

Captain_YAK

Did more work on the wing.

I am now waiting for the retracts to come in so I can finish off the bottom side of the wing.

I will then add the cervos, flaps and cut out the Ailerons.

After this the funn part starts of covering the fuss and wing. So I can paint it.

If is well (work, daily activities, etch, etch) I will have this project finished by the end of this month.

Regards

Captain_Yak