Lavochkin La-5FN
Fuel-injected radial-engine variant
Colours used
in this example.
Build the main surfaces in light layers. Keep the quiet background softer than the aircraft.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact historical paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Light overlapping strokes with open paper highlights
Gentle layering
Controlled infill
Light pressure
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
Comparison reference 1
Full-size La-5 mock-up showing overall radial-engine fighter proportions. Full-size museum La-5 mock-up with early high-backed canopy. The La-5FN has different rear-fuselage and canopy details. Display paint is not historical colour evidence. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Peer.Gynt · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Comparison reference 2
Front quarter of the mock-up showing its radial cowling and propeller. Full-size museum La-5 mock-up with early high-backed canopy. The La-5FN has different rear-fuselage and canopy details. Display paint is not historical colour evidence. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: HawkeyeUK · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Comparison reference 3
Rear quarter of the mock-up showing wing and tail geometry. Full-size museum La-5 mock-up with early high-backed canopy. The La-5FN has different rear-fuselage and canopy details. Display paint is not historical colour evidence. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: HawkeyeUK · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Comparison reference 4
Side view of the mock-up: high-backed canopy and white 15 display marking. Full-size museum La-5 mock-up with early high-backed canopy. The La-5FN has different rear-fuselage and canopy details. Display paint is not historical colour evidence. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: HawkeyeUK · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Comparison reference 5
Opposite front quarter of the mock-up showing the cowling and wing roots. Full-size museum La-5 mock-up with early high-backed canopy. The La-5FN has different rear-fuselage and canopy details. Display paint is not historical colour evidence. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: HawkeyeUK · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Historical finishes and markings
Secondary published colour research distinguishes early La-5FN green and black upper camouflage from later blue-grey and dark-grey upper finishes over light blue. The changeover was not necessarily uniform. Choose a dated airframe photograph before applying a scheme; no exact shade or transition date is certified here.
Markings: Red stars; outlines and tactical numbers require a dated aircraft reference. Candidate early scheme: AMT-4 green and AMT-6 black over AMT-7 light blue Candidate later scheme: AMT-11 blue-grey and AMT-12 dark grey over AMT-7
In the photographs
All five photographs show a full-size La-5 museum mock-up with an early high-backed canopy. They are replica comparisons, not photographs of an original La-5FN. Use neither replica paint nor dimensions as wartime evidence.
In the coloured example
This pencil interpretation uses upper camouflage: Medium grey, Dark grey; lower surfaces: Light blue; existing stars: Red; scenery: Pale blue, Muted green, Cream. It is a creative colouring example based on the book drawing. It does not reproduce a verified individual aircraft or an exact paint standard.
Make the details count.
Use thin layered greys or greens suited to one clearly labelled scheme.
Shade the radial cowling around its curve and keep the air intake dark.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.