BIG Russian Jet Groupie GB

Here is the base so far, I have used pigments to add various colour differences to the paving I am much more happy now with it as it is getting closer to a real looking concrete surface thats heavily corroded I think.

I used the MIG-23MF as a change as it's the base.

Even if it's just a shop-sponsored contest (as mine was) enter it if you can just to see what others are doing and what they think of your model.   Looking at each others' photos online is fun, but nothing beats being able to truly peep one out on a table amongst others of its kind.

Yeah, all the way to the contest I was driving like a white-haired granny and the two models made it through unscathed but I did knock off a main gear door getting the Su-25 settled last night.  Easy fix.

Just don't drive like Eddie "Irv the Swerve" Irvine, Jr. and you should be fine.

This is the base so far I have basically lightly sprayed grey primer over it to give it a light grey appearance then I rubbed over it with Tamiya snow pigments and a bit of soot then I rubbed over the surface with a cotton bud which started to make the irregular surface stand out as the primer was rubbed off the filler. I have started with the grass as well. I have to say I am not that pleased with the base so far. I do not always make them or if I do they are usually smaller I prefer a more compact base where the model hangs over the base so its not taking up unnecessary space. Anyway see what you think. I have more grass to add I just happened to run out of super glue but I feel I have much work left on this to look real.

Thanks man, I have to say as well there are no such things as contests in Belfast with models, even in the whole of Northern Ireland there are none, I have checked because I would like to enter a competition. However in Dublin there is an IPMS there in October or November so I will head down there and see what happens that is supposing I get them there without them being smashed to pieces!

I'm certain you'll do well on the base.

That's good to have a rival I guess it could be a motivator to try at every stage and the pictures from the contest look great. Also I remember seeing the hexagonal slabs but in this instance they were rectangular so it was easier to do. I will show more images. as the base takes shape and hopefully some kind of realism.

Dean, I shared the BoS with a guy I've been battling for a few years now- his models are just that little bit cleaner in all aspects.   It's fun competing against him as I never know what he'll bring, this year he entered a 1/48 CH/HH-46 with full interior.   It was nice, obviously, but you couldn't see the interior at all so I think that's where I got the class win.   After I got setup I realized that I still need to add the static wicks to the wings!!!  oops.

That base is a good idea, I've seen hexagonal concrete slabs used by them as well.  

PB- thanks!   That's a full-on resin cockpit, the kit parts in no way achieve that level of detail.   Trumpeter's 1/32 aircraft are usually pretty good, but their cockpits always need improvement.

Okay, so here is the start of the base, I have used poly filler as I said before. I will paint it and add grass and also I want to make it look as though it was raining but it's drying up. I was thinking do any of you guys know of anything I can use to simulate puddles? Can a clear resin be used or is there something better?

I have decided to have a rough concrete surface as I remember an American historian who used to be an F-18 pilot saying that although the Russian aircraft were extremely rugged the concrete was extremely poor quality and it often started to decay and crumble. He also said that the grass growing long was not really a concern of the Russian Air Force, I think though he was there during the 90's or late 80's with the Blue Angels, so a crumbling economy was probably more of an issue than the concrete or grass as pilots were going months at a time with no pay. I want to show this dirty weather beaten mig in just that scene. Poorly maintained Airfield corroded concrete and overgrown grass.

I'm making the base for the Mig now, I decided the best thing to replicate concrete would be poly filler for cracks in walls, I hope it is a good guess. I decided to use it as it is easier to work with than plasticard and it can be manipulated in any which way possible. I have also got what should look like long yellow grass, I was going to buy woodland scenic grass but it is so expensive I could not afford to cover the area I want for a bargain price, so I will use artistic skill lol. anyway I should have some images by tonight.

Congrats, Dre!!! Both for finishing an awesome looking Frogfoot and for the awards. Well deserved. I especially like the pit detail. Any aftermarket stuff in that build, or was this straight out of the box? Assuming straight OOB since you entered it in a contest.

Anyway, I agree that the final steps suck. I'm on them now. :-)

Congratulations Dre what was the nemesis?

Although this was a small, local contest the Grach took first in class and tied for Best of Show.

Thanks mate, I'll be heading there shortly to see for myself.

Looks fantastic Dre, hope it does well in the competition! Let us know.

Well, it's quitting time in the old salt mines, so wish me luck on finishing this Su-25 because all that is left is the canopy mirrors, the two opening canopy sections and all the little AOA's, probes and such.

Did I mention that I really don't like these final steps?

Several hours later .. this Trumpeter Su-25UB Frogfoot B is finished.

and with the already finished MiG-21 from last year..

so that's pretty close to a year's worth of BIG Russian Jets for this GBand another one.

Yeah thats right, me too I have had it a few years and again the same thing lol.

Dean, the J-10 is the Trumpeter kit, right? I bought that one a few years ago. Keeps waving at me from the stash. :-)

Yeah, probably....

You know what that means? You will have to buy another!

Good looking or not, mine will be finished late Friday night for my contest Saturday.... in retrospect, there's a lot of things that I would have done differently had I thought of them at that time instead of now.

Thanks for the compliments everybody, to have people with as much skill say my models look good is a real compliment. I hope to be able to do the same justice to the 1/32 Mig-21 (trumpeter) but before I do I will make the J-10 it's 1/48th and as far as I have heard it is a well engineered kit and I think it will be made with the wheels up on a stand. I will post it on the thread and build it up. When I'm finished I will come back to this GB with the Mig-21, oh and before I forget if the 1/48 Mig-25PD is actually a reality next month I will build it on this GB. It was a lot of fun so I will be back for more! I hope to see the Frogfoots soon they were looking great the last time I saw them!

That's a great looking '29 Dean!  All your hard work sure paid off, she's a stunner.  Congratulations on a fantastic build!

Gary

Dean that came out sweet! Very nicely done Sir!

I think that the shiny/matt interplay works well on the engine panels.

Alligator75- we LOVE Sukhoi's, so jump in.

Thanks, I noticed one thing by accident, that bey giving the engines a shiny alclad finish then smearing pigments over them with my finger, that in some lights the engines look dark matt and in others they have a metallic shine i can see it on the two pictures where the plane is facing away.

Yes! Much clearer pics, thanks (more light always helps). I can even see the paint detail on the burner cans now. They look great.

What about for Sukhoi Su-27-37

O' interest?! Jet's of my country(USSR-Russia) big interested.

The J-21 is their new stealthy fighter that looks like a F-22 rip-off..   I don't know if any kits exist for it yet.

These new pics really do show the work you've put into this MiG- outstanding work, mate.

I have a few clearer images here guys I managed to a get some better lighting.

I think these are a million times better and thanks for the compliments guys. Also Dre the J-10 is a 1/48th scale model, what scale is the J-21? Even I have not heard of a J-21, also Porkbits glad to hear everything was alright for you yesterday.