Mig-23 MLA 1/32 trumpeter (red-39)

Thank mates, for the nice comments !

Beautiful finish to this kit!   Also, I can't believe how fast you work.

Mig-23 MLA. red 39.
corps of Moscov air defence.(28 th.guard fighter regiment ) 1983.

Outstanding, you've really done this kit justice!

And we're good to go!

surface treatment was done using acrylic color models Vallejo paints mixed to match the actual Soviet aircraft, and sealed using clear gloss varnish Vallejo.

Red 39 now has its coat of paint:

preparation for painting:

The masking has begun with lights and probes on the underbelly.

intakes and gear bays were blanked off with sponge. The hole is where the twin guns are located

You can see a close up of the new canopy framing here

The gear bay doors are improved:

while raised detail was added to the auxiliary fuel tank

R-60 missile:

The cover is shaped wheel set wrong, too right. A change had to be made of bits and pieces that included an F-4 Phantom auxiliary tank.

Thanks Dre !

Fantastic work going on in here!

The parts were then primed.

The main gear has two components that need to be modified so that the aircraft sits right. 5 (five) millimeters need to be removed from the axle beam assembly and the piston that actuates the retraction/extension of the gear should be lengthened by 4 millimeters. The gear legs were then improved.

The main gear is provided in two versions, both wrong, both too extended: for the ML and for the MF even worse, protrudes to the rear by one third , it cannot be retracted into the bay. The landing gear as is provided is simply unacceptable.

That's some fantastic work! You make the kit makers look as if they didn't bother doing a good job lol, you know lucianmillo there's a Mig GB on the GB forums which ends at the end of April, this is probably too far along to be able to join in but if you've any more you're making before then I think you should join.

The detail work you're putting into this is amazing, Lucian.   Those landing gear and wheels look great- far better than what Trumpeter supplied in the box.

Thanks  wing_nut ! :)

While I like anything that flies I am not usually drawn tot he fast mover threads.  This one pulled me in for some reason and am I ever glad it did.  Beautiful detailing.  This will be a sight to see when done.

This would be the end result, the actuator is a resin part provided in the Aires bay set:

Here you can see the main axle being fabricated from a missile body:

For the correct ground stance the front landing leg in 1:32nd should extend to 42 millimeters from the bottom of the fuselage (as opposed to 47 provided by the kit), while the lowest point of the burner can should be at 26 millimeters from the ground. The legs as provided in the kit are in the extended position as if the aircraft would be airborne, coming in for a landing.
The front leg was totally reconstructed, the only kit parts used were the rotation actuator and axle beam assembly.
The axle beam assembly being improved with styrene and the scissors taken from the Trumpeter MiG 29 (the kit has them overly simplified):
Edit: the metal reinforcing part shows the extended position, the angle is wrong.

Nice work so far!

I'm sure you've seen Zacto Models website......and jeez.....if you're into Russian fighters, these guys have AMAZING mods and improvements.  Their patternmaking and casting is astounding - stunning stuff.

Can't wait to see more, mate!

The end result would look like this: