Here is a review of South Front''s first step into the plastic model world: kit number 48001 wich represents a long awaited LaGG-3 in 1/48 scale!

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi Jean-Luc

It's going to be really interesting to see how your kit differs from mine, 'cause I reckon there's a fair degree of variance in quality control. But it's a really exciting kit ! Could I, should I, even THINK of building it back-to-back with Vector's La-5?

All the best

Rowan

Hi Jean-Luc

nice review .. seems this was the kit that ICM has announced ....

I especially like the blood and sweat part ... I instantly felt all my cuts and stitches I got over the years ... especially when I cut myself with the motor tool ... right through my thumb

cheers

Steffen

Hi Steffen

That's my hunch too... some folks are saying they'll wait for the ICM kit, but I'm not holding my breath, 'cause I reckon this is it.

All the best

Rowan

And OUCH! I don't want to know the details - I'm squeamish!

Hi all!

I personnaly don't think it is the ICM kit. They would have definitely made a step back in such case. The kit's accuracy is overall good but the molding isn't up to mainstream standard!

Jean-Luc

Hi Jean-Luc

I hope you are right, because if this is the ICM and they could not afford to pay the molds the new figure sets will also not become reality and I really like their 1/48 figures (esp. Luftwaffe)

also: I am waiting for the ICM kit ... except I run into the SF kit at a shop or show .. which is not very likely

best wishes

Steffen

Hi again Steffen!

I noticed the kit was sold out at Hannants! Probably because Rowan and I bought the two boxes they had! :-) But I saw the kit on e-Bay before it was available there

Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc, That's just great ! :-) I won an LTD 1/48 kit on ebay several days ago It has not arrived yet. Have you had an experience with the LTD kit or know someone who has? I don't want to make a of myself.



Brian

Hi Brian!

No, I never built a LTD kit but I've read some reviews and the modeler always said they were dogs! What LTD kit have you won on e-Bay? Don't tell me it's the IAR 80!

Jean-Luc

Hi Brian

I haven't got the LTD LaGG, but I have got the IAR 80 that Lean-Luc mentions. I was looking at it again a few weeks ago - it's certainly "short-run" in the fullest sense of the word! It'll take a lot of building, but the potential is there for a really neat model - and it has a fantastic set of decal options!

All the best

Rowan

Hello Merlin & Jean-Luc,

The kit I 'Won' Please tell me I did not do something I'll regret is the 1/48th LaGG 3. I have never built a LTD kit much less ever heard of one. Dang that E-Bay !

If its not the greatest kit that's okay I'm to the point in modeling where I need to start doing more than just OOB if it needs it (started down that road with the Hobby Craft P-36 for FUMS) but I'm no rivet counter my any means.

I've read some reviews where guys say what garbage this and that is and 'Chucked it in the trash' Something I do appreciate about both of you and everyone else here is we talk about whats good as well as the not so good and how to overcome the not so good.

I eagerly await the LaGG 3 to see what it's really about. Since the kit is somewhat of a mystery I wouldn't mind sharing with everyone what I discover along the way. Speaking of the review, I wonder if any of these South Front LaGGs will make it over to the US? or is there even a distributor here?
Thanks for taking time out to talk with me.

Sincerely,
Brian

Hi Brian

the Ltd LaGG is o.k. not worse than one of thos highly praised Classic Airframes kits ... maybe it is just me, but all CA kits I tried to build were very restive ... and then tell 'em "resistance is futile" .. hope the Buffalo and Bf 109A will be better (still battling a F-5B ... since about 2 years!)

I have started one of my LaGGs, but I lost motivation and put it back in the box. Just recently I bought a True Details La-5 cockpit set, which was recommended somwhere.

Here is an article by Peter Vill about the kit and what can be done with it:

Lots of Alterations, Gradual Gestation

modelling is fun ....

best wishes

Steffen

Hi Steffen

As far as I can judge by the style of moulding, Classic Airframes seem to get their parts from two sub-contractors - the MPM group and Sword. So, just like you noted with MPM's He 177, the quality of CA kits has shot up over recent years. The only down-point for me is that, whereas they used to include superb Falcon vacuformed transparent parts, now they have injected canopies. To me it seems an odd decision, as their kits are aimed at experienced modellers, but you can't argue with the market...

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan and Brian

as I pointed out, the failure might be between the chair and the knife but I had bad experiences ... still I stand to my comment about MPM. Here are two of my tries (you see I did not finish much):




o.k. this is actually a sh kit (that is no 4letter word but special hobby ) , but it is one of the CA kit makers .. also took me over a year on and off

Still in the stash somewhere: Regianne 2000 (a swine of a kit), Northrop F-5B (ditto), Brewster Buffalo (looks pretty good in the box) ... the Messerschmitt Bf 109A (too)

Actually what disappoints me is the hype about CA when their quality is substandard (but improving) and at the same time e.g. the eduard I-16 is smashed and trampled down. I've seen few cheers for Revell trying to keep /draw the youth into modelling again or for issuing their great kits: 1/72: MiG-21F-13, Hawker Hunter, Ju 290, Bv 222 or larger 1/48 Ju 52 and Do 217 ... just to name a few...

As for LTD LaGG-3 I think it is slightly better than the A5M and as good as the Macchi (but has no resin, so it is a little less detailed). Take your time, dryfit often and keep putty and sandpaper at hand ( the more you concentrate on the first two the less you need the other stuff)

best wishes

Steffen

Hi Steffen

Is it that bad? I've got one shashed away and have looked forward to building it one day. I only examined it briefly when I bought it, but I thought it seemed very promising. It looks like I'll be in for the long haul when I finally get 'round to tackling it! :-)

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan

"Wat den Een sin Uhl, is den Annern sin Nachtigal." or suum cuique .... I just tell you how I feel about that kit ... maybe yours build like a charm ... and you build Fonderie Miniature kits

(I have a Mystere somewhere deep down in the dark areas of my stash ... I once clipped a few parts and held them together .... )

cheers

Steffen

Hi Steffen

I'm definitely going to have to dig the Re 2000 out of the stash for a proper look now! I don't know about owls and nightingales, but it wouldn't be the first time I've bought a turkey!... not bad for a vegetarian! :-)

All the best

Rowan

Hello Stephen,

I wanted to thank you for the reference help for the LaGG 3 I like the look of the LaGG, there is something about it that....You know, I kinda see it as the Russian opposite of the P-40.

Brian

Hi Steffen

I realise we've rather hijacked this thread , but I couldn't resist a test-fit on the poor, much maligned Classic Airframes Re 2000:



Maybe there really is a lot of variation between examples, but mine is fine - it looks like it'll be a nice build. (There's famous last words! )

All the best

Rowan

Hi Stefan and Rowan!

No problem for hijacking the thread

Stefan, if you don't like the R2000 made by Classic Airframes, we could make a deal! I have the Smer R2000 if you want! :-)



Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc - that's cruel! :-) :-)

But somehow I know it'll still turn out to be a stunner when you're finished with it!

All the best

Rowan