2nd GAIP La-5FN, Need some VVS experts help

[JadehawkII]

Howdy all http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

While waiting for UBI to fix boontybox thingy so I can download the new addon, I went back to creating more skins from my new La-5FN template.
Here is my latest work showing White 52 of 2nd GIAP. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif
I need to know if the description on the side of the fuselage was on BOTH sides? http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/blink.gif
Also, I believe the cowl and nose yellow color were on all the 2nd GIAP La-5FN's am I correct?
If so, then I'll create another skinpack for 2nd GIAP with that in mind. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif
Thanks in advance fellas! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Onyxwing2004USA/La-5FN_50.jpg

For thoes who don't know, there is mirroring of the antenna, hence why it looks as it does. Nothing I can do about it unless I do not wish to make as close to 100% Historical skins for this plane. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

[JadehawkII]

Howdy all http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

While waiting for UBI to fix boontybox thingy so I can download the new addon, I went back to creating more skins from my new La-5FN template.
Here is my latest work showing White 52 of 2nd GIAP. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif
I need to know if the description on the side of the fuselage was on BOTH sides? http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/blink.gif
Also, I believe the cowl and nose yellow color were on all the 2nd GIAP La-5FN's am I correct?
If so, then I'll create another skinpack for 2nd GIAP with that in mind. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif
Thanks in advance fellas! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Onyxwing2004USA/La-5FN_50.jpg

For thoes who don't know, there is mirroring of the antenna, hence why it looks as it does. Nothing I can do about it unless I do not wish to make as close to 100% Historical skins for this plane. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

[-HH- Beebop]

Too bad about the antenna. Even so this is top-notch work!

[mandrill7]

Nice skin; but I wonder if the yellow shouldn't be a little more subdued.

[JadehawkII]

Glad you asked about the yellow http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Yeah I debated this shade as well as others too. But this shade was along with the other colors for WWII Russian colors seen at the Simmers Paintshop website. It's why I asked here for some input in hopes some VVS people in the know can give their opinions. I can try another yellow I felt MIGHT be a better choice if I dont get any responce. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif

[mandrill7]

There's an Osprey re Lavochkin Aces at 1 of the local book stores which I've glanced over and toyed with buying. It features Mongolskiy Arat and next time I stop by I'll check out your 2 ?'s. I did notice 1 of the other captions stating that coloured cowls and spinners could distinguish eskadrilyas within certain Regiments. Yellow is such an odd colour for a VVS a/c, that it might be a unit distinguisher and the other eskadrilyas would mark in different colours.

Hard to figure why else a VVS unit would mark in yellow, which was notoriously the Luftwaffe's distinctive colour. Russian a/c normally marked in red or white.

[JadehawkII]

All good points! To be honest, I have no idea why they are yellow. It could be there is some special attachment to the color Yellow with this Mongolian Heardsmen unit?

[tomtheyak]

Hello Jadehawk!

I have that osprey book mandrills talking about, with the colour profile of this very skin!
Profile Details:

1) Spinner is red, similar tone to the nose of the La-5 in ur sig.

2) Noseband is yellow, but I personally would add the faintest hint of brown/grey to subdue it a tad.

3) 52 is NOT outlined in red. just plain white.

4) Both grey tone are slightly darker in the profile, as is the red of the stars. i'd try and make them a little more subdued also.

Hint, a faint translucent grey texture layer over the top of the rest helps to 'key' everything together, make it look more unified. At the moment something seems a little unnatural, I cant place it.

No critiscm on a well made skin, just some advicefor finishing; nice work.

[mandrill7]

Didn't check out the Osprey yet. Wondering re Tom's post what the Osprey pic is based on. Lots of WW2 fighter profiles - and this goes double for VVS profiles - are based on B&W shots, sometimes not the best of photos either.

It's sometimes guesswork as to some of the colours and detail and the artist just does his best.

At the vvs.hobbyterra modeling site, there was a major war over whether some plane's numbers were marked in silver or white. No real answer based on the photo sources. But the guys concerned really got into the argument.

[JadehawkII]

Thanks for the info guys! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif
As for making skins off profiles, sometimes that's all we got to work from. But in my case for this one, I do have a photo that shows a whole line up of La-5FNs of this unit.
Careful examination shows several machines with different colored spinners, but most in this pic have the same tonal range as the cowl color. So I went with this yellow. The released skinpack I did has this yellow toned down some so it's not all that bright. As for the numbers, White 52 is too far away to determiine of it's a plain White number. So it could go either way http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Intresting stuff fellas http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[F19Gladiator]

Interpreting and debating colours from black/white photographs can go on until hell freezes over. My first reaction when I saw one photograph of the machine which has been published in several books (1) that it could just as well be light grey or light blue. I then found that in the very early Number 2 (1976?)of Air Enthusiast Quarterly, there is a colour profile by John Weal of this aircraft, not with yellow but with a very light grey cowling band. Spinner is red.
The use of yellow as identification colour is interesting and not completely logic as pointed out in postings above. Source a) below claim that some La-5s got yellow spinner and rudder to distinguish them from Fw 190s and at the same time points out the oddness relative to the German use of yellow E.F.theater markings.

Anyone who can point towards more photographs of this specific a/c, or who knows more about the use of Yellow with La-5s ???

(1) Photograph of Maj A.I.Majorov shoving this a/c in the background.
a)La5/7 Fighters in Action, No.169, Squadron/Signal publications, P.22
b)LaGG & Lavochkin Aces of WW2, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 56, P.61


A good site for more on VVS camo and a lot more is:
http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/

Erik Pilawsskii's book 'Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-1945' is the best source on the subject I have found so far. On this site you can find a wealth of information as well as corrections and comments to his book.
Unfortunately I do not have my book copy within reach here and now.

[JadehawkII]

Thanks for the info F19Gladiator! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif
It's everyone cominig out with information and helping the community that helps in more ways than we realize. I always felt it somewhat odd they used yellow too, but knowing exactly what the Russians used to paint their planes, when it was done, etc. is still something of a learning curve for most of us. having color pics is a great boost, but if you ever visit modeling forums such as Hyperscale or Missing links you will see how much of a headache things can get! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/53.gif

Thanks again! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif