Finnish Lagg-3 by LTD Models
Greetings iModeler compadres. My latest project is a captured Soviet Lagg-3. The model kit is by the limited run LTD Models, who were a subsidiary of the old mail order-retail powerhouse Squadron Shop. The model was made in the Czech Republic, and it was packaged with Microscale decals (I believe) at the Squadron Shop location in Texas.
The Kit: LTD kits are rough, not very detailed, require a lot of work, but I really like them. In the mid-90s, I thought it was great that Squadron and other companies (HobbyCraft, Classic Airframes, etc) were making kits available in 1/48 that I never thought I'd see. The decals are much better than the plastic.
I believe the only other LTD model posted to iModeler was by Bill Koppos, who posted his excellent Lagg-3 in winter camo ( https://imodeler.com/2014/09/lagg-ing-behind-the-theme-lurches-on-ltd-version/ ), which inspired me to find my Lagg-3 in the old stash. Bill accurately describes this as "one of the hottest looking of WW2 aircraft". I agree fully, and hope this Finnish version adds to the Lagg picture and knowledge base at this website, despite the model's shortcomings.
My version features a plane which was captured after a Soviet 524 IAP (fighter regiment) "White 57" crash landed in Finnish territory in late 1942 and was repaired and put in service as Finnish "LG-3". I have never done a captured plane, as I usually like to do the plane in its most 'representative' version, but this Finnish plane captured my imagination, and I had to do it. Paints were enamel Model Master Olive Green, Flanker Blue (underside), and Testor's flat black. The Axis yellow bands are generic yellows that I had merged into one bottle.
As mentioned, the Lagg-3 is an awesome looking airplane that appears to be a cross between a Dewoitine D 520 and a Spitfire. It looks like like a plane in European theater in WW2 should look. Unfortunately for its pilots, the Lagg-3 was not a great performer because its early composite frame and skin were made from plywood mixed with plastic, covered by a birch wood veneer. These materials were logical for a country short in aluminum but resulted in a plane too heavy for the 1100 hp Klimov engine. Also the factory had to relocate from Leningrad to escape advancing German forces and quality suffered greatly when they restarted production in the Urals. The difficulties were never fully solved until the Lagg airframe was mated with a 1700 hp Shvetsov radial engine as the La-5, and with the added power the heavy airframe was no longer a "show stopper" and the new plane became highly successful. Despite its numerous troubles, 6,528 were built when production ended in 1944.
That turned out very nice. You did a great job on that. I built a few of those LTD kits in the 90s I think. One was a Boomerang fighter as I recall.
Thanks, Jay! The only LTD model I haven't done is the Boomerang. Might do it after I recover from this ordeal.
Nicely done. Another "silk purse" job. Yeah looks good standing still. We know LTD's can be built, just need more time for sanding filling and thinning. My kid did a fine PZL-11 out of one.
Just picked up a Yak-7, another looker along these lines.
Thanks for the inspiration via your ground attack Lagg, Bill. I think we gave the old LTD and Squadron brands some respect for interesting kits they provided to us back in the day.
I think their PZL 11c 'hit it out of the park'. I love that kit.
Nice looking model, Bob (@bobd56az), especially in a paint scheme we don't usually see.
Great looking build! Ah, the old Squadron shops, we had one on Long Island NY.
Thanks for the comments, Robert, and check this video history of Squadron Shop, if you haven't seen it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ct1mWoVOHY
Excellent model out of the definitely challenging LTD kit, Bob!
I too love the shape of the Lagg-3, its looks are awesome and your excellent build pays great justice to it.
Congratulations!
A triumph of tenacity over plastic, @bobd56az. You turned that collection of scrap plastic into a great model.
Nice job on a not so easy build. Looks great in the Finnish Air Force scheme.
Well done Bob. My one and only attempt at an LTD kit ended up in the land-fill
Very nice result out of this kit, Bob @bobd56az
The Finnish scheme looks amazing at this aircraft.
Nice work on that old character builder of a kit.
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
Very clean and neat job Bob, looks good just as it is.
Nice work.
Very nice model Bob! ?
Nice clean build, and looks good in that scheme. Well done!