Hi all,

I am coming back with my latest project, which is in an advanced building stage.

I have decided to make a MiG 21MF of FARSR - Romanian Socialist Republic Air Force. I was not quite sure if I am to post it here, but what the heck, now I will keep it The plane I will try to depict is present in the first picture, copyright of Airliners.net.

This is 9806 of Regimentul 81 Aviatie, Fetesti, photo was taken in the early 90's but it kept the same Air Superiority Grey of Communist ages.

So I chose Academy's 1/48 Mig-21 MF kit (which portrays an elegant BIS version, but unfortunately we didn't had those) and mated it with the CMK resin set. MY opinion is that CMK could have done better, or they should changet their mold. Because it is getting older!
Anyhow, assembly went relatively fair, cockpit in place, will be closed - to hide the imperfections - wings, pylons and so on. Miliput was widely used as the replacement spine needs serious filling ans sanding, not to mention some additional engraving.
One minor adjustement was that I put some hydraulic lines to the undercarriage. For me they seem OK, but I will let you shoot your suggestions for more detailing because I really need them.

In general terms I can say that the "beast" is coming arround quite OK. I usually do warbirds pre 1950, but this being my first jet, I hope it will look at least decent.

However, a fellow modeller from our forum - CARTULA - pointed out that the exahust is a little longer than it should be. So checking against plans, i found out that he was right

So here is the little surgery I will have to perform. Cut along the red line and add some more miliput under the braking chute container...

Looks good, Gabriel. I think you could have posted in the cold war forum, but this is probably also fine.

You are really adding some fine details to the Academy kit and CMK set looks good to me.

Looking forward to see more

Thanks Jesper, I am trying my best since my normal build scenario hangs around WWII...

So here I am trying to correct the "beast" and I did some chopping and the result looks quite decent to me, hope you will enjoy it as well.

Basically I have cut the surplus, sculpted and thinned down the walls for a more realistic appearance, and added some milliput to the brake chute container. Tomorrow after a good dry, I will adapt it and hopefully it will be ready for the primer coat of silver.

Enjoy!

What is that nipple doing on the photo? It's not womans nipple...

I'm going to build that model too so I'm watching your project with great attention. Keep on rollin'.

Arghhhhh.... Everyone hangs on to that picture...I will ask the admin to remove it from the photo...before it turns into a ma...niple! But you are missing the obvious, I like to work naked

Jokes aside, it was really hot last night in my workshop so...I had to adapt.

Great work on this Mig, like to see some more.

Nice build.

I am getting things together for the Trumpeter 1/32 MiG 21-UM. I will come back to this to check on things once I get going.

Is that too-long-exhaust issue just for making an MF, or is the kit exhaust also incorrect for the BIS version?

He he, good one with the nipple.

On a serious note, looks good. Some nice surgery that will make the details just right.

Looking forward to see more.

Well, Vance I have never tried with the BIS spine and rudder. Basically, you just have to see for yourself, although a felllow modeller from Constanta, Romania did complain about the same thing. I took for granted the shape of the exhaust, compared to the plans and pics I had.

Thanks Jesper for the support!!!

Unless something unexpected (god forbid!!!) happens, I think my surgical days are over, since I have reshaped the braking chute container and now it looks at least decent. The pic with the whole plane is posted to search for flaws, so please, consider it OPEN SEASON!!!

Now, I am searching for another pair of R-13 and another one of RS-1U to complete the model. if nothing will be available, I am back to the manufacturing business...

I am a slow worker, I have discovered that is better not to go hectic with building. After all, I do this ro relax.

Looks good, and I like the rework on the exhaust! It's always nice to see another 21 on the workbench.

The Academy kit isn't perfect, but it is certainly a decent starting point. The CMK spine seems to need a little work, as you said. Overall, things are looking very tasty.

-YL

Thanks Lev. Unfortunately I will be going on holiday w/ the kids so any work is to be postponed.

Meanwhile, sine on the 20th was the National Airforce's Day, here are some photos from the events that took place there

http://romanian-spotters.forumer.ro/demonstratii-aeriene-f10/campia-turzii-2008-t486.htm


Enjoy!!!

Very interesting pictures, Gabriel. The differences in camouflages and the wear and tear of each aircraft really give some weathering inspiration. Some of them have a lot of bare metal.

Thanks for sharing

That was very good enjoyed your build and the link also. Thanks

Great link, cool pics. Thanks for sharing!

-YL

OK Gentlemen, on with the build I go, as the progress is slow, but I have managed to add some extra details.

I have painted the wheel wells, re-scribed some panels that Academy got wrong - under fuselage forward, just behind front wheel. Scribed fuel cap on the backspine and added some hooks for removing the aft section.

Now comes the nice part. I have redone the pitot and the forward antenna using syringe needles. The photos speak for themselves, and I must say I got a nicer and far better looking pitot that the one supplied in the kit.

Enjoy!

Nice work on the pitot tube! That's a pretty nifty piece of scratchbuilding.

-YL

Nice work, Gabriel. You are really improving this kit in many areas.

Thanks for sharing your work

Nice work! The Mig 21 is one of the few "modern" subjects i really like- along with Mirages. I'd like to build one, but think i'll wait for the Eduard versions which i think are coming in 2009. Hopefully they won't need as much work as the Academy kit.

Andrew

Thank you gentlemen, it is nice to see that someone else likes the subject.

I am waiting too for the Eduard edition of the Fishbed, and hopefully I will build a second and a third one...
Given the fact that this is the most produced fighter of all times and the most popular, and all the variants, there is a whole lot of room for improvement, not to mention the modernizations, such as the Romanian LanceR versions....

I'm a bit of a sucker for Academy's MiG-21 kits. I do like them - enough to have built a few - and although they're far from perfect they make a good starting point for many of the Fishbed variants.

Eduard's new kit sounds promising, and will hopefully be worth the wait. We shall see.

-YL