Sovietwarplanes

Dear friends,
let me apologise myself that I was quiet for some time. We did not forget You and here we are coming with some news...

First of all - Lavochkin La-5F/FN decals in 1/72nd scale - we expect them in the half of december and we would like to distribute them in the last week of the month. A/C covered are the same as in 1/48 scale, plus "13" "Rene" of Czech pilot Kocfelda and Galchenko "black cat", see jpg... I hope there is enough "F" symbols, as somebody was asking.

(http://www.kpmct.ic.cz/Grafika1.gif)

Also in the printshop and hopefully before the end of the year are two sheets covering MiG - 3 early planes, in 1/48 and in 1/72 scales. Both sheets include 10 A/C, see it in 1/48 scale...

(http://www.kpmct.ic.cz/Mig3.gif)

and in 1/72 scale...

(http://www.kpmct.ic.cz/Mig3-72.gif)

We increased our cooperation with KOPRO and in coming weeks, also before the end of the year is coming the very first kit from "twins" series - Lavochkin - 5FN "Czechoslovak pilots" - box contains two aircraft with accessories - means two sets of plastic parts, resin and photoetched details. Decals are coming from avalon production, resin and etches are produced by Griffon (www.griffon.cz). Even if You get "old" plastic by KOPRO, thanks to details You are getting kit of high standard. LIMITED RUN ONLY... All resin and photoetched parts are prepared for this series only, no aftermarket. Boxart is here...

(http://www.kpmct.ic.cz/koproobal_1.gif)

I hope, that these news are good for You. Also in 2008 year we can expect some new releases covering soviet planes, John Thompson knows a little more...

Best regs
Jan of avalon

Hi Jan,  :)
very interesting news!
The sheet on La-5 F/FN is extremely attractive.
The sheet on MiG-3 in 1/48 looks very attractive too.
The one in 1/72 is interesting too, but only for those willing to convert a kit of late version into an early version, unless a reduction of the kit of Trumpeter will be released.
Commercially speaking, I think that a sheet including both early and late versions has more market appeal.
The box with two La-5 FNs is very interesting too. It would be nice to include pieces to convert one of them into a La-5F, not all modelers want two models of the same type in their own collection.
Massimo

"Jan of Avalon" - this title will became as important as "Karel of Bohemia" !

Man, sets are beautiful! Additions to your, already great, set for La-5 are excellent! And it looks like I'm going to wear out my exclamation mark :)
You may count 100% on me for everything in 72 scale, both for decals and renewed kits. Just send me the invoice :D
Czech Rep is land of milk and honey for us modelers. If think there is no other country with so many fine kit, decal and pimp-up parts per capita as in your country. Mine one (Croatia) is on a lower end, you can buy only few kits, and that only in some malls (Mercator, like Tesco and such), an shelves between sousages and towels.
I've just returned from Prague, and I visited only two shops, near Flek's pub - dude, I drooled for 30 minutes before I mumbled something to the guy by the counter.

Jan of Avalon, thank you!

This is fantastic news!  :D It would be impossible, once again, for me to say anything better than Renato has already said with such great enthusiasm - well, done, Renato, and Massimo, too! Regarding the conversion of the La-5FN to the La-5F, it would certainly be welcome if the necessary parts could be included in resin, but this doesn't appear to be a difficult modification, especially if anyone has a Cooperativa La-5 (LaG-5) to steal from.

For the conversion of the MiG-3 from late to early versions, and assuming the kit which we are discussing is the Hobby Boss kit, not the RPM one, the way the HB kit is designed does pose a bit of a problem, with its solid fuselage. Maybe the best proposal would be for Griffon to design a complete replacement of the nose section, which would be sold separately from the Avalon decals. The late MiG-3 kit nose could just be sawed off and replaced with a resin part, which would cover all of the main differences between late and early types - upper cowling details, exhausts, etc. I just hope that, if Griffon does this, *many* of us will buy the new nose to make it profitable for them. Future availabiility of the Hobby Boss kit might also be a problem (no point designing this nose replacement if the kit it's designed for can't be purchased) - I don't know how committed HB is to continuing the availability of older releases. Some of these (including the MiG-3) appear on the HobbyLink Japan site as "Discontinued", and it seems to be impossible to get any answers from Hobby Boss themselves.

Having said all that, the main problem with the RPM kit is that the nose is too long. Maybe a replacement nose for the Hobby Boss MiG-3 could also work with this kit; however, again, availability of the RPM kit itself is problematic. I wouldn't like to see Griffon create a resin conversion part that very few people would buy just because they can't get a kit to use it with. I hope this doesn't discourage Jan from releasing his MiG-3 decals in 1/72 scale!!!

Maybe the best solution is that we all send messages to Trumpeter begging for a 1/72 *early* MiG-3!  ;)

Since Jan has been kind enough to mention me, I hope this means I am not revealing any secrets by saying that the KP Il-10 and Po-2 are being seriously considered for the same treatment as the KP La-5FN, which I know will be good news to others on this forum!

John

Hi John, hi all,  :)


What a pity! I've bought only five of them! :'(


Have you tried to adapt the canopy to the rear fuselage? It's terryble. I hope that advanced Hobbyboss canopies could help.


Right. Early and late, I hope.

Good! But why double kits? They will be a bit difficult to be built, even with aftermarket pieces. Single kits should be better and cheaper, in my opinion.

Massimo

Hi all - just to keep you informed - we started to pack our new decals, both (or all three), we will send it to the customers at the start of January. all of You who was asking for some, we will contact via personal emails with invoicing datas etc...

KOPRO TWINS Lavochkin can be awaited in January/February, decals and instructions are ready, photoetches are ready, PUR parts are in production. Some more details - PE parts will contain instrument panel, cockpit details, carriage covers, harnesses, armour plate behind the seat, mirrors, gun breech handles and cooler grills.
PUR parts will contain seat, cockpit floor and sides, control stick.
NO ONE OF THIS PUR OR PE PARTS WILL BE AFTERMARKETED, these detail parts will be included in limited run only. KOPRO TWINS Lavochkin La-5FN is possible to order at avalon decals via e-mail at the price of producer. Feel free to ask for, remeber, that it is limited run only.

And MiG - 3 now -  versions covered are here...


boxart for 1/72 scale...


boxart for 1/48 scale...


Many thanks to Massimo for his great work on MiGs, we were using his work when creating the decals. Thank You Massimo.

What about decals for PO-2 in both scales boys? Any suggestions?

Bye for now,
Jan of avalon

Totally awesome! My credit card is READY!!!

John

I agree.  Where can we find Avalon Decals?  Google doesn't seem to give a good reference.

Clare

Go here, although these newer items haven't been added to the site yet:
http://www.avalon-decals.eu/

John

Merry Xmas and all the best in 2008 year.

Really great stuff, but I am having trouble acquiring any Avalon decals!  When I try to contact you through your website, I only get an error message.

I'm dying to get ahold of the La-5F/FN sheet!  Help!

 ;)

Dear friends,
decals for MiG - 3 both scales and 1/72 La - 5F/FN were just released, those of You who want to buy directly from us, please send mail to info@avalon-decals.eu because I have lost all datas during PC crash, that is why I lost my emails. We will send it to You, payment is possible via credit card or paypal. Prices including postage on request.

If You have any ideas what to release in the future, if You want some decals, give us a tip... Soviet planes are not bestsellers, but sales are not so much bad.

Jan of avalon

And here - first look on the boxart of new MPM/Special Hobby 1/48 scale kit of Ilyushin IL-10/Avia B-33, due to release in February. Box with soviet cammo schemes will follow a little bit later.

Thanks, Jan, for the excellent news regarding the 1/72 decal sheets - I sent you two messages at the address in your post with my order!  :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D

Regarding the possibility of other decals in 1/72 scale, my first though was for the Yak-1/Yak-1b, but unfortunately we do not have a good 1/72 Yak-1b kit. The old ZTS/Mikro 72 kit was reissued a few years ago by KoPro, but it is not a very good kit, and I think not even Griffon can do enough magic with resin parts to solve the problems - but I'm willing to be proven wrong!  ;)

The best kit to provide decals for might be the ICM 1/72 I-16 series (types 18, 24, and 28). These kits are accurate and easily available, and there are lots of possible markings that could be printed. Maybe you could also consider a "package" with Griffon to make an I-16 type 5 resin conversion with decals, with a new resin cowling and a vacuformed type 5 canopy for the ICM kit. Maybe type 10, too!

The other possible kit is the Roden 1/72 LaGG-3 - again, this kit is easily available and is very accurate, and there are many possible markings and camouflage schemes.

Thanks again!

John  :D

Hi Jan, :)


Very interesting! Let's see to find ome ideas...


Hi John, :)

About I-16 type 5/6, we have to take into account that there is already an Amodel kit available, that looks accurate and with a large decals sheet. Probably it could need for a nicer landing gear and vacuformed canopy of both types, but the conversion from ICM would require the replacing of the whole wing because it has more extended ailerons. The type 10 is more feasible from ICM, and there is no any kit of this on the market, as far as I know.
The ICM type 24 kit would require the replacing of the windshield because its angulation is not accurate.
About the LaGG-3: this looks interesting for an improved kit. I would suggest a new vacuformed canopy, a big higher than the original, and a resin ski set.

Massimo

Hmmm..., I- 16 You say, Lagg - 3, everything with Griffon resins....., sleepless nights are in front of me.... Well, I am not sure so much, but I think that AML has some decals for Lagg-3 in this scale, not sure. I - 16 looks very interesting to. There is a question, how looks like the availability of ICM kit worldwide. I have to write to Nigel Hannant and ask him for.

Well, I was very close to produce another sheets - Yak - 3, Pe - 2, Po - 2, IL - 10..., Your comments? Some of them in both scales..., some only in braille scale 1/72nd.

Back to Griffon - well, we have technology to produce very thin and clear vac canopies, maybe You know company Taurus, who is our supplier. Griffon makes excellent resin parts, using hi-tech resin and vacuum pump technology. My private opinion is, that Griffon and Aires produce the best resin parts worldwide. There is a propblem of capacity, as owner/pattern maker is working at pharmaceutical company and is very busy. Preparing the parts for KOPRO twins took him a lot of time, because being prepared only during evenings. I can ask Pavel for close cooperation, but I am afraid, that his current project (complete resin interior for Type VII U-Boot) takes him all his capacity. We will see.

Back to decal sheets - Okay, we will choose some of the types and as avalon is usually doing, we will discuss with You or some of You cammo schemes included not to make mistakes and produce decals as accurate as possible..., do You hear me Massimo?  ;D

Jan of Avalon

Hi Jan, :)
I've heard.
About Yak-3: this is interesting, as for decals and correction parts.  For Hasegawa the most needed pieces seem to be a better spinner and exhaust pipes, where, for the Hobby boss, we could add to this a new rudder (copied from Hasegawa) and canopy (that could be good for hasegawa too if one loves vacu); some details of cockpit and landing gear could be welcome too. No problems to find interesting profiles.
Massimo

Hi,

First of all…? 1/48 scale kit of Ilyushin IL-10? :o
Man, I screamed so loud my wife thought I was playing Flaming Cliffs again? ::). I have to admit, no matter how much I admire IL2, but IL-10 if by far the one of the most graceful looking Soviet aircraft. Also, KOPRO's IL-10 was one of my first kits, built loooong time ago. I'll sell my kidney for one of those!

Some time ago I privately discussed about ideas for new decals with Jan. I wanted to explore my suggestion a bit more and to present some pics, but I was to busy for a serious approach.

However, in light of fast development of Jan's great work, I would like to give few (general) suggestions.

1 - B-25, A-20 and DC-3/Li-2 - This 2-engined beauties had quite colorful decorations.

2- Civilian marking - Letterings CCCP and other Cyrillic letters, especially in white, for civilian aircraft of Deruflot, Aeroflot and Polarnaya Aviatsiya , like Junkers F-13, Polikarpov R-5 (passenger version), Siebel S-204D (Avia C-3A), FW-200 (OK, the last two were used as a post-war loot, but still...), and many more.... There is real gap in civilian aircraft used by or created by USSR, and even if the kits are sill missing, few could be done with little conversioning effort.

3 - General support to previous suggestion by other members? :)

And, as addition to decals, I'm also interested into vacu nose for A-20G's and Russian-made turrets for both A-20 and DC-3.

Cheers and keep up the good work!

If you really want to do 1/72 decals for the I-16, it might be best to keep things simple, at least to begin with! Following Massimo's comments, the main problem with both the Amodel and ICM kits is the canopy. The ICM canopy (windscreen) is just *wrong*. The Amodel type 5/6 canopy is okay, but thick and badly molded. Therefore, one suggestion is simply to do a range of decals, create a vacuformed canopy package with (for example) 6 late windscreens for the later types (10, 18, 24, and 28), and maybe 3 full canopies for the early type (5/6), and forget the resin for now.

For the 1/72 Yak-3, Massimo has a good point - new exhausts in resin would be very helpful.

And on that subject, another group of kits to consider are the Amodel 1/72 Yak-9U/Yak-9P/Yak-3-VK-107A! These aircraft have some excellent decal sheet possibilities, but also need new resin exhaust stacks! Moskit was working on this project in metal, but nothing seems to have happened on this for about two years. Here's the Moskit home page - note the two top items under "Projects" in the left corner:
http://www.moskittech.ru/eng/glav.php
These aircraft are unusual because (as you can see) they appear to have *seven* stacks on each side, not six; however, I think the extra one on each side must be a blow-off stack for a mechanical boost-limiting device on the supercharger. As far as I know, the VK-107 was a V-12, not a V-14!? ;) There is also an excellent "walkaround" of a Yak-9U/P elsewhere on the Moskit site.

On the subject of the AML LaGG-3 decals, go here to see what's on this sheet, called "Red Devils in the LaGG-3, Part 1":
http://www.modelimex.com/detail/aml-cz/decals/1-72-decals-red-devils-in-the-laggs-3-part-i

Thanks again for considering these possibilities - I hope we will not drive you crazy with all our eager suggestions! You might not become wealthy, but you will have lots of friends!? :D

John

To Dark Green Man: Well, MiG - 3 decals in 1/48 scale are just printed, see "MILITARY A/C 1/48" on our web site www.avalon-decals.eu , this week it is under process of packaging and in few days it will be available from sellers. We were discussing this distempered winter cammo of "white 40" with Massimo, if it is early or late type plane, in the end, as there is no photo of the nose we considered that it depends on you. Massimo thinks it is late because of the fact other planes of the regiment were late types.

Petlyakov - 2 - if You have any ideas, photos profiles comments, send me an e-mail, we are company driven by modelers producing for modelers, that is why we are not keeping our future products in secret as others do...
Jan of Avalon

I agree completely with DGM - some Yak-3's in something other than Normandie Regiment markings would be good. I've noticed the same thing - many 1/72 kits and existing decal sheets already include these aircraft, and "standard" Yak-3's would be more useful.

Yes, decals for the Il-2! With clear instructions as to what wing type, etc.! (We want *everything*, don't we!  ;) )

Re the AML decals for the Su-2, this is kind of an odd situation - as DGM implies, you have to buy the resin conversions in order to use the AML decals for the M-82 and M-88B versions!

John

Hi John, :)


I would add windscreens for the two seater too.




They could be welcome, but the originals are not so horrible. The first stack should be nearly completely hidden by the front fairing.
What is this strange stack? I suppose that it's the outlet for an intercooler whose intake is over the nose. I've read two further hypothesis too, that were referring to inlet/outlet valves, but I was not fully convinced. Some photos of the engine are available, thanks to Christian; I'll upload them soon on the Yak-3vk107 page, maybe they could make things clear.
About decals of Yak-3vk-107: all the photos are referred to two-three prototypes without codes. They should have built 50 of them, but none photo is available, unfortunately.

hi DGM,
to tell the truth, I researched for photos of Su-2, but nothing particularly attractive, relative to the version of the kit, came under my eyes.

Massimo

To all from Canada and United States - avalon is very close to finish agreement with Flight Decs, Canada, about carrying our range of military A/C decals. So also for You living "over the ocean" there will be much more easier to buy our decals.

Other countries covered - GB - Hannants, Finland - Martti Kuivalainen, Italy - Misterkit, Rest of the world - Modelimex.com, also retail.

If You have contacts with some hobby shops in Your please let me know. It will be very helpful.

Ha all, I would like to express our thanks to everybody of You, who sent me references, pictures and profiles of the aiircraft they want to included on decal sheets by avalon. All this help is welcomed.

Hi Jan, :)
I've sent to you photos and profiles of two silver/red Yak-3s.
Did you receive them?
Massimo

Thanks to DGM and Massimo, all arrived OK, now "under testing".....

A suggested "bonus" for the sheet of 1/72 red stars in various types you're considering - how about adding some Yak fuel gauges? Go here for details:
http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/Research/Yakovlev/FuelGauges/index.php

Thanks for considering it!

John

Here are two images from the IPMS Deutschland site, taken at the Nuremberg 2008 trade fair, showing Jan's "KoPro Twins" 1/72 La-5FN kit:
http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2008/slides/Kopro_72_La-5FN_01.html
http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2008/slides/Kopro_72_La-5FN_02.html

John

As decals for MiG - 3 in both scales are ready, packed and next week we will start distribution, let me show you one picture of "blue 9". Make the cammo is realy a hard days night.... Decals are of course avalon, kit is Trumpeter.

Hi, :)
Beautiful model. Would you publish some photos on the MiG-3 page?
By the way, for an eventual future sheet on MiG-3, I would suggest the MiG-3s of 148 IAP.
According to recent interpretations, it looks that they have "za stalina" on one side and "za rodinu" on the other side, and unusual camos on white background.
I'll modify my profiles of them according to this interpretation.
Massimo

Dear Massimo, thanks for Your compliment on MiG - 3... :) Actally it is not mine one, it was built by Mr. Petr Vacek, who is our "test shot" builder. And thanks to the fact it was built with some EDUARD add ons, which he got from MODELAR magazine, it can not be published before it will be published in the magazine. Of course, later You will get these photos to place them on the web. You must wait a little bit. Later it is not a problem.

OK. No hurry. My compliments to the modeler. :)
Massimo

To DGM, as we faced some mailing probs - I have got Your comments, thanks. My answer is in Your mailbox, I hope. I am working very hard to present You some surprises...

Jan of Avalon

I have checked several times...no reply.
what do you suppose is the problem ?

[/color]

To DGM - Trying again, from my personal mailbox. Please check if my address is not on Your spam list - it can be generated automatically without notice... I will ask my IT friends. Anyway no problem, I am working on another schemes. Please try to find me smth on this year Academy new kit in 1/72..., ruours says that it is Accurate molds...

As there is a lot of decal sheets full of swastikas in various shapes, we decided to fill another gap on the market and our next release are two decal sheets with Red Stars - Part 1 includes stars without and with black outline, as a bonus there are "GUARDIA" badges in three sizes and kill markings in three variants. Part two includes the stars with white, yellow and white-red outline, with bonus - RED FLAG badge in three sizes, kill markings are again included.

Nice!
I suggest to make sheets of white numbers of different sizes and shapes. Unfortunately the shape for Soviet planes is not standardized, at least in the early part of GPW, but such sheets should be extremely cheap, being in one color, so one can include many ones in a pack.
Massimo

to DGM - I just made another try to contact You via e-mail, pls let me know...

Jan,

how about plain victory stars without the white background.
To my eyes we see more of these kind of stars than with the white background.

All the best.


Jean

Jan,

I too have been trying to contact you via email to no avail.  Maybe the same problem?

An alternate email address you can use is tbittners(at)cox.net.

Thanks.


Matt Bittner
Software Engineer/Assistant Editor
Internet Modeler
http://www.internetmodeler.com/

You've forgotten about Techmod sets in 1/72 and 1/48 :).
For example: http://www.hobbysta.pl/kalkomania-radzieckie-gwiazdy-p-8117.html

More details on the Avalon/KoPro La-5FN "Twins" kit from Modelimex, apparently not in stock yet, though:
http://www.modelimex.com/ShowProduct.aspx?ProductId=409356653&CategoryID=268

John