BIG Russian Jet Groupie GB

Dre, yes, it isn't the best naturally fitting kit ever. Often times I wonder whether it is the kit that has fit problems or if its just my lack of skill at correcting the problems that is the issue...In the past I've been to impatient at correcting deficiencies in kits and the finished product is marred by gaps, and seams or sloppy filling/sanding. I'm trying to change that mind set...its not a race.

So far I've been lucky with those little antennae (didn't even know what they were so thanks for that!) There are several more on the tail, which I thought might represent static dischargers but again, I don't know. I've never been lucky with keeping those sorts of things attached through out the span of a build so I might take your advice...

I think that they're IFF's, but they could be something else entirely!   I think (again) that static wicks are found on the outermost trailing edge of the main wings and stabs of more modern Russian aircraft (at least the ones in my stash have them in those locations).

Impatience is a kit-killer, no doubt about that.   That MiG of mine was actually a fast build for me, but it was also a fairly simple kit with good alignment throughout.  There was a minimum of filling and sanding and most of that was the tail section join to the rest of the fuselage...  lots of wet sanding was done there.  

I'm slowly learning the benefit of dry fitting, and modifying the kit parts PRIOR to gluing them in place. My MO had always been to glue it, despite the fit, and fill/sand after words. However, I'm seeing that if I can shape the part better when it isn't attached, it will reduce the amount of work I must put into it after gluing it down. I did that for the ventral air brake on the MiG-21and the other main landing gear door (the one I hadn't glued down yet in the picture above). We'll see how it goes.

Wait, what?   Are you applying common sense to this hobby?

I guess it beats applying too much glue and filler

Well I'm ALMOST done with my MiG, then I will get to proceed on with my Flanker.  I have literally just a few parts to paint and add on and then this MiG will be done.  I can't remember if this is the MF or the PF, but in my mind it's the "MF" if you know what I mean.  The wing fits this time around have been ok, but the spine this time around didn't fit, the steps are as good as I've ever gotten, but the paint, well.............................  I've rarely had a paint job screw up this badly.  I'm just gonna weather the living wee out of it I think and call it good.  My skills have not gotten to the point to be capable of stripping paint off a kit this far along and be able to save it.  So here are the progress photo's so far, I don't know if it's me or what, but I see flaws in the coverage of the paint from the bottom up close but not in the camera shots.  Can't figure it out.  It's not due to resolution of the camera either, it's a Canon T2i, which is a pretty darn good camera to say the least.  Either that or I'm a better photographer then I gave myself credit for.  Yeah I think we'll go with that.  LOL  'Nuff ramblin here are the almost done progress pics.

Yes I did take a little bit of artistic license in some of the colors but I'm happy how it turned out.

Nice a white MIG21 also it's an MF the easiest way to tell the difference is the PF had a single piece canopy.

MF just gives the designation of the MIG having been modernised with a newer engine and upgraded avionics.

Interesting...what's that BIG missile slung under the wing?

PS:  you can put more than one pic in a post...just sayin'...

That's a good looking MiG!   Navalized no less.   I love how those Russians tile their hanger decks.  Well done indeed!

Fantacmet- nice and clean, I like it!

Dean27-  Good looking ship-killer.  

Ha ha thanks that if I remember is a KH23 Kitchen missile, it is so fast we are talking mach 5 at sea level, it's basically unstoppable, when I was in the Navy I had to learn all about the weapons on Soviet ships, there is no RADAR powerful enough to track it, it's too quick. These are also carried on Sovremenny class cruisers.

Thanks Dre, glad you guys like it. I will get more pics another time with a good camera and you will be able to see the detail more clearly.

LOL Texgunner yes the Russians like to keep the ship hangers clean by putting up giant tiles, cleanliness is next to godliness like they say lol!!

Also I think the giant red switch is for the hangar lights!

Ya'll MUGS need to get back to work...

Heh, the main thing with the MF is this build was a MF.  LOL

Ok here's some on the ground shots.  Decided the pics couldn't wait until I got the last few parts on.

Hmmmmmmmmm...interesting....and nice.  Were there really solid white 21's?  And how did you replicate the wooden hanger floor?

Always kept their aircraft in unusually decorated hangars the Soviets. Wonder if they had Kashmir rugs under the su 27?

Inspired by the huge graphic on here.  www.jplanes.com/mig-21%20page.html

The "hanger deck" is the floor in my home.  Ancient hand layed parkay.  Late 50's early 60's.  Original flooring in my 1958 Anderson cusotm floor plan mobile.

Okay, enough with the Home Depot/Lowe's Home Improvement infomercials----ya'll mugs need to get back to work...

Manstein's revenge

Okay, enough with the Home Depot/Lowe's Home Improvement infomercials----ya'll mugs need to get back to work...

Hey, how long could it really take to build a simple ol' MiG-17?   In my case, about 6 months...

bada bing!!

Very nice, Fantacmet! Never seen a white MiG-21, unusual but very well done!

As far as my MiG-21 goes, its pretty much all together. I will have to put some shims or something around the cockpit, otherwise there will be a huge step behind the canopy and the dorsal portion of the fuselage. Once that is done, time to paint...but I have to hit up the LHS for some Tamiya acrylics before I can start that up. Moving a bit slower than I'd, ahem, than YOU, would like but its a lot faster than I had been building in the past...

Well, you know that one can't rush an artist when he's involved in his "art".  Great art takes time; sort of like fine wine.   How long do you think it takes to "create" a bottle of Boone's Farm?   Now, please excuse me while I get back to the Strawberry Hill...