LaGG-3 series 1/4 cockpit
for ICM 1/48 scale kit

Vector

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Sergey from Vector certainly knows his LaGGs.

Vector released three resin LaGG-3 kits in 2006 and 2007 - an early series 1/3, a mid production series 29 and a late series 66. All three kits featured pinpoint accuracy, perfect casting, gorgeous detail and superb fit.

I had the distinct pleasure of building the Vector 1/48 scale LaGG-3 series 66 in 2007. You can find the full Construction Feature by fllowing this link. Vector's LaGG was the easiest resin kit I had built to that time. If there was a single complaint it might have been the price. At nearly USD$100, this was a serious investment.

Well, if you were reluctant back in 2007, you now have a lower price option in 2009.

Vector has released a 1/48 scale LaGG-3 series 1/4 cockpit for ICM's new LaGG-3 kit.

The cockpit comprises 36 parts in grey-green coloured resin plus a sheet of instruments printed onto a clear acetate sheet.

Casting is perfect on my sample. The detail is nothing short of spectacular. The sidewalls and seat are particularly noteworthy. The seat features backrest and harness detail cast in place.

The instrument panel is resin, with the acetate instruments designed to fit at the rear.

Most of the parts are supplied on thin casting strips, but some are trapped in a very thin wafer of resin. This will quickly melt away after some brisk sanding.

Instructions are supplied on a small sheet of paper, and include directions for thinning and removing plastic from the kit parts.

Some experience working with multimedia parts will be helpful before tackling this conversion, but the result will be well worthwhile.

Although Vector's all-resin kits remain the Gold Standard for LaGG-3 models (the ICM kit is a little small in scale and narrow in wing chord), this new cockpit will offer a new lease of life to ICM's kit interior.

Even better, with the combined cost of the kit and the cockpit being less than half of Vector's all-resin kit, price will no longer be a barrier to building this historically important and attractive aircraft.

Thanks to Sergey from Vector for the review sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 15 February, 2009
Last updated 15 February, 2009

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