Thank you all for putting so much effort into researching this subject.
First of all, permit me two flashbacks…
Yellow or white outline and/or number? Both are probable but white is getting more and more liable in my head. While I was pondering over this (and turning some pics of modern aircraft into greyscale), I've noted something in my kitchen: while all ceramic tiles and newly installed electrical plugs (made of white plastic) are still in shiny white, older plastic plugs and white painted woodwork is quite yellow in shade, very close to natural shade of light wood. Cheap, universal white paint looses it "white" very fast, sometimes within 6 months. So, white is quite believable, but in very dark, aged shade.
Second one is about that aircraft in the background of the pic that Audrius provided. On a closer examination I noted that two stripes are painted more to the forward than on Popkov's plane. And there is a star; just a tip of it is visible (between the stripes). Still, the strange details are weird shapes on the rear of the fuselage, prominent outline of the star on the tail, and it looks like the rear edge of the tail is painted. Any thoughts on that? Could this give any clue to the details about main subject? If there is some sort of outline on the tail, this could give a clue on why they are speculations whether tails on 5 GIAP a/c were painted or not.
To return to latest info…
I have to admit that thing are getting weirder and weirder. Looks to me that we have two sources, and they are both slightly contradicting themselves? If I got it right, Milos Vestsik came in touch with the source from which a mottled scheme came from, but in his later works he opted for grey-grey scheme. Then, Erik Pilawskii in his reviews of decal sheets says that numbers should be yellow (and on La5-FN), and later on he says numbers are whiter (and on La-5F).
Let me try with a reverse approach, motivated something that Audrius quoted:
Moreover, the Guards sing and Lion head was painted actually!!! But that was made later after the war, 5giap still being in Germany. It was in Yellow. This news came from Milos who talked to Popkov.
(Question: what was in yellow?)
Is it correct to assume that at this period of time (late in the war and after) Popkov had La-7? If so, then the following is quite probable:
- Late in the war 5 GIAP received La-7
- The whole GIAP was not converted simultaneously (there may be some La-5F/FN leftovers)
- Aircraft came from the factory wearing only one shade of grey
- Various camouflaged schemes were applied in the field, most probably using paints from captured stocks (assuming that they were flying from the same airfields that Germans used)
If this is possible, then:
- The aircraft with mottled cammo scheme is in fact a La-7
- Guards badge and lions head were applied after the VE, maybe to impress Western newsmen (or simply because ground crew had more time on their hands).
- Yellow outline could be applied because white was worn out and yellow was chosen because western newsmen expected (were accustomed to?) "a communist star with golden outline", or because of politically/propaganda motivated decision ("Paint it yellow! They have color cameras and it will look great in American magazines!"). It is quite possible that some painting was done by propaganda section, not by ground crew.
- Popkov's La-5F and 5FN (most probably) had grey-grey cammo.
This irregularity is consistent with all of the debate regarding Kozhedub's La-7, as well with all of the one-grey La-7 and quite diverse two-grey schemes on La-7 (result of painting in the field, without paying proper attention to guidelines, but also in factory because they did care so much at the end?).
Also, using German paint is quite probable. I did not paint anything with the paints stated in Eduard sheet yet, but assuming that other modeler used those paints (and taking a look at their finished work)… Well, La-5FN painted like that looks quite "germanic", painted with shades of green and brown that are closer to those used on German vehicles than on Soviet aircraft.
In this case, each paint scheme is correct, but the type of the aircraft under each scheme is in question. Let me conclude with this speculation:
- La-7 after VE day: with mottled cammo scheme, Guards badge, lions head, yellow outline(s) and numbers
- La-7 before VE day: with mottled cammo scheme, no Guards badge and lions head, white outline(s) and numbers
- La-5FN: grey-grey camo, no Guards badge and lions head, white outline(s) and numbers
- La-5F: grey-grey camo, no Guards badge and lions head, white outline(s) and numbers
- Any painting on the tail is out of the game for any aircraft (?)
In each case, dates are needed as a cross-reference to the numbed of victory stars (stil working on it).
A bit long lamenting, but I hope that it's not too difficult to follow?
BR
EDIT:In another thread there is a link with following information:
129 IAP (5 GIAP)*
Type - Start of exploatation - End of exploatationI-153 - June 1941 - Autumn 1941
MiG-3 - June 1941 - Autumn 1941
LaGG-3 - August 1941 - September1942
La-5 - December 1942 - December 1944
La-7 - January 1945 - May 1945
* Formed in december 1941.
On that page there are no notes about La-5 versions ("zero", F or FN):
http://avia-hobby.ru/publ/soviaps/1_50iap.html