La-7 (oz1934)

About this Plan

Lavochkin La-7. Scale Russian WWII fighter for Control line. Scale is 1/12, giving a wing area of 188sqin, ideal for engines from .23 to .35cu in. This plan shows the markings of the La-7 flown by Russian ace Major Ivan Kojedub in 1944.

Quote: "First flown in 1943, designer Semyon Lavochkin's La-7 fighter was probably the finest Soviet single seater of the second world war and was flown by many Russian Aces including Ivan Kojedub. This craft was a development of Lavochkin's earlier inline engined LaGG-1 and LaGG-3 designs with which he had been assisted by engineers Gudkov and Gorbunov (hence the two capital G's). The basic design was then improved through the installation of a radial engine in 1942 and became the La-5 which proved to be twenty-five miles faster than its contemporary adversary, the vaunted German Messerschmitt 109F. The La-7 was the final wartime refinement of the original design and saw extensive service all along the Eastern Front.

The entire airframe was constructed of wood except for steel tube longerons. Covering was plywood covered other than the fabric covered control surfaces which contained an aluminum framework. The 7,495 pound airplane was very strong despite its light weight and boasted exceptional maneuverability below 16,000 feet and where it normally operated.

With the 1,775 horsepower Shvetsov M-82 FN air cooled four-teen cylinder, twin row radial engine the Lavochkin La-7 attained a maximum speed of 413 miles per hour at sea level and 395 miles per hour at 16,000 feet. Armament consisted of three 20-nun Sh VAK rapid fire cannon mounted around the engine and firing through the propeller arc. Supplementary armament of six rockets or 440 pounds of bombs could also be accommodated. A few La-7 airframes were fitted with a liquid fuel rocket in the tail which increased the speed by fifteen percent for short periods of time.

Our plans show the exact markings of the La-7 flown by Kojedub in 1944. Model scale is one inch to the foot which brings the wing area to 138 square inches, ideal for engines of from .23 to .35 cubic inch dis-placement.

Construction begins with the wing. Cut two spar sections to shape and notch as shown. Firmly cement joiners to them to form the correct dihedral..."

Update 08/09/2012: replaced this plan with a much clearer scan, thanks to theshadow.

Update 13/06/2017: added article, thanks to Pit.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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