Thanks to Karl and Andrew for hosting this group build.
I my choice of kit for this GB is the HobbyBoss 1/72 Lavochkin La-7 (80236), one of the range of "Easy Kits" from HobbyBoss:

The rear of the box shows four sections, A - Layout of parts, B - Painting and Decalling profiles for two machines ("White 27 & White 23"), C - Assembly Instructions Section 1, D - Assembly Instructions Section 2:

The parts are moulded in a light grey plastic and there is a one-piece cockpit transparency:

Decals are well printed and in register. There is a spindle for the propeller and like many "Easy Kits", the wings and lower fuselage come as one piece with the upper fuselage separate:

First job was to remove all parts from the runners and put aside the optional parts:

Parts have been cleaned up. I have put labels on the tailplanes to show which is port and which is starboard:

I have glued the radiator to the underside and put the basic floor and seat on the fuselage. There are five large pins on the lower fuselage, only three of which are needed, so I cut them down. Eventually, I would remove the middle pin too as it made closing the fuselage impossible. The kit has two engine covers for two and three cannon installations. Annoyingly, it doesn't say which kit version should have which engine cover. In fact, the profile shows the three cannon version on both. I am building ("White 23"), and am assuming that it does have three cannons above the engine - purely because the original "White 27" is in a Moscow museum and has two cannons. The appropriate engine cover was glued in place but unfortunately, the fit was not very good:

The interior of the cowling, fuselage and wheel bays were painted with H31 Matt Slate Grey:

View of the cockpit area:

The seat was painted and the upper fuselage attached to the lower. The cowling was fitted and a lot of filler was needed around it and along the fuselage joins which are not very good and will be impossible to make good. The spinner was glued to the propeller boss but the fit was not very good and was not symmetrical, so a lot of filler has been applied:

That is all for now.
Dave
I my choice of kit for this GB is the HobbyBoss 1/72 Lavochkin La-7 (80236), one of the range of "Easy Kits" from HobbyBoss:
The rear of the box shows four sections, A - Layout of parts, B - Painting and Decalling profiles for two machines ("White 27 & White 23"), C - Assembly Instructions Section 1, D - Assembly Instructions Section 2:
The parts are moulded in a light grey plastic and there is a one-piece cockpit transparency:
Decals are well printed and in register. There is a spindle for the propeller and like many "Easy Kits", the wings and lower fuselage come as one piece with the upper fuselage separate:
First job was to remove all parts from the runners and put aside the optional parts:
Parts have been cleaned up. I have put labels on the tailplanes to show which is port and which is starboard:
I have glued the radiator to the underside and put the basic floor and seat on the fuselage. There are five large pins on the lower fuselage, only three of which are needed, so I cut them down. Eventually, I would remove the middle pin too as it made closing the fuselage impossible. The kit has two engine covers for two and three cannon installations. Annoyingly, it doesn't say which kit version should have which engine cover. In fact, the profile shows the three cannon version on both. I am building ("White 23"), and am assuming that it does have three cannons above the engine - purely because the original "White 27" is in a Moscow museum and has two cannons. The appropriate engine cover was glued in place but unfortunately, the fit was not very good:
The interior of the cowling, fuselage and wheel bays were painted with H31 Matt Slate Grey:
View of the cockpit area:
The seat was painted and the upper fuselage attached to the lower. The cowling was fitted and a lot of filler was needed around it and along the fuselage joins which are not very good and will be impossible to make good. The spinner was glued to the propeller boss but the fit was not very good and was not symmetrical, so a lot of filler has been applied:
That is all for now.
Dave
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