ICM Mig-25PD

[dylan]

well I decided to take another shot at the ICM Mig-25 kit. I had previously tried to build the RBT kit but it was not to be.

the biggest challenge you face is with the instructions, they have you follow a sequence that will result in NOTHING lining up at all.

I highly recommend that the main bulkheads are attached to the lower fuselage piece before anything else.



I used the Master models pitot tube





so far all the major bits fit perfectly.

[Leon]

Off to a good start Dylan!

[dierk]

Hope you have better luck this time!

[joelsmith]

Looking very nice, keep it up!

[dylan]

thanks guys.
the upper and aft fuselage pieces are a different story. they required liberal applications of glue, clamping, and profanity. when that failed I relied on my aircraft mechanic training and resorted to brute force and ignorance.
here we are now, it is roughly Mig-25 shaped

[Leon]

Looks like its cooperating now!

[wbill76]

It's always good when you can apply real-life experience to a model project and it still remains intact!

[dylan]

starting to get paint on now. I am going to black base this one, I have done a few tanks like this but no aircraft kits yet.



the lower aft fuselage is painted silver on the real thing. I used Tamiya flat aluminum. sooo much overspray





the preshading cant really be seen on the  radome but its there

[dylan]

as this was my first attempt with black basing an aircraft kit, I think it turned out fairly well.




and after all the masking is removed.. I'll let you be the judge

[Leon]

Looks really good from where i'm sitting Dylan!

[dylan]

thanks Leon

[dylan]

I have had a fairly productive weekend, but this is where it all comes to a halt.
the decals for the stencils shattered into a million pieces as soon as they touched water, so for now I have only these on the kit. I have to decide whether I want to find some aftermarket stencil decals or just continue with what I have.

the Ukrainian markings are from Foxbot decals. they are well printed but have a matt finish. I learned many years ago that matt finish decals are usually crap. these are no exception, they did not react well to setting solutions and did not sink into the recessed panel lines at all.

[dierk]

Microscale do a product called 'Liquid Decal Film' that stops decals disintegrating - might be worth a try?
Wingy's looking good!

[dylan]

thanks Dierk. I'll drop by the lhs tomorrow and pick some up.

[dylan]

I tried the liquid decal film route, but even that didnt work.
but I got the wash applied, so I have that going for me . which is nice

[dylan]

getting close

[joelsmith]

Very Nice Sir!

[mrversatile]

Yes Dylan, it came out killer!

[Tojo72]

Thats a real beauty you got there

[Leon]

Very nicely done!