1/48 Trumpeter MiG-21F-13 - 4/10 Update - Struts Installed

[robbo]

Very nice shape to this plane remind's me of a Lightning. Good work on that cockpit Matt, it looks great mate

Think I'd like to do a plane next or better still finish one I've already started

[doogsatx/]

Main construction is more or less wrapped.



I still have one or two small things to add, but those won't be going on until I can get to some sanding work.

One nice surprise...2015 does not appear to have had the chin-mounted pitot tube. At all. Ever. So that's one fragile bit I just don't have to worry about!

[doogsatx/]

Primer is down. The usual Gunze Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black.



It went down a bit rough in a few places - mainly around the fuselage spine, so I need to hit it with some fine grit. Then it's on to what promises to be a crazy-involved painting process.

[bbd468]

Lookin fine brother Doogs!!!

[Deleted]

Looks good in black, I know it's an undercoat but still 

BTW the pitot tube was on the starboard wing tip, if you look at the shadow from the '21 next to 2015 you'll see it, next to the aux air ground trolley 

[JimD]

Looking forward to the painting process. That's going to be a fun finish to reproduce.

[doogsatx/]

Mar 13, 2014 13:31:36 GMT -5 @stevem said:

Looks good in black, I know it's an undercoat but still 

BTW the pitot tube was on the starboard wing tip, if you look at the shadow from the '21 next to 2015 you'll see it, next to the aux air ground trolley 

99% sure that's not a MiG-21 next to it. The wing looks too rounded (and low). Maybe a MiG-19 or -17? Either way, from other pics I can see at least the shadow of the starboard wing. No pitot that I can see...

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2014 14:03:18 GMT -5 doogsatx/ said:

Mar 13, 2014 13:31:36 GMT -5 @stevem said:

Looks good in black, I know it's an undercoat but still 

BTW the pitot tube was on the starboard wing tip, if you look at the shadow from the '21 next to 2015 you'll see it, next to the aux air ground trolley 

99% sure that's not a MiG-21 next to it. The wing looks too rounded (and low). Maybe a MiG-19 or -17? Either way, from other pics I can see at least the shadow of the starboard wing. No pitot that I can see...

Yup, checked my references now, it would have been on the nose, but just not present on this airframe at the time the picture/s was taken. Apparently as they presented a major hazard to those walking around the plane they were nearly always removed it it was to be parked up for any length of time.
It must have had one if it ever left the ground, without it it won't stay in the air long! It's a critical flight instrument  

[doogsatx/]

Got the underside painted up last night!

First, an application of Mig's new Chipping color. If this stuff is indicative of the rest of his acrylics, I'll be using them a lot in the future. Simply excellent spray characteristics, nothing like the tip dry nightmares I have with Vallejo. Hard to see in the picture (thanks, phone camera), but it's a dark red-brownish color.



After some light application of salt, I painted the undersides with a bastard mix of Tamiya paints.

[doogsatx/]

Top surfaces got their start - base coat of Alclad Aluminum...

[doogsatx/]

Tonight I topped the Alclad with whatever the gray paint is that shows so prominently on White 2015. Not sure if it's primer or just really faded paint. Whatever...it's there.

The pictures show that it has a somewhat purplish tinge to it, so I added a few drops of purple to Tamiya's Light Grey. All over some AK Worn Effects. After the paint went down a stiff brush and some water activated the chipping fluid to scuff down to the Alclad in a few places.

[Deleted]

Comming along nicely, the colours / weathering look good too

[Leon]

Great work on the paint and chipping Doog.Looking good.

[thug626]

Outstanding work on the colors and weathering.

Dave

[doogsatx/]

Big night last night! After agonizing for a few days on how to handle camoflage AND chipping, I decided to just do it all in one go.

Instead of getting all bent out of shape about the colors, I decided to play the FICE (F*** It, Close Enough) card and did some by-eye mixes.



First thing to go down was the AK Worn Effects, thinned 1:1 with tap water cut with a few drops of an acrylic surface tension breaker I picked up at an art supply store last week.

After that dried, I started in on the paint. Very thin, very patchy.



Gradually got the whole thing done.



Next came the chipping. Next time, if I'm chipping in layers, I will be sure to seal between them. Was told I didn't, but the chipping took away a LOT of the purple-gray with it. Oh well. After weathering and flatcoating it'll all blend a bit better I think.

Apologies for the quality of the pics. It was WAY too late by this point, and I didn't want to go through the whole DSLR rigamarole, so this is just the camera on my phone, which has some metering issues...

[Deleted]

Now,that is one sorry looking MiG,right there!!!!(In a good way).Whether by design,or accident,that does look neglected!
I never like seeing A/C in this condition,but S&%£ happens.....

[dupes]

Hahaha...that MiG is beat UP!

[doogsatx/]

The MiG went quiet for a little while...for good reason. I was waiting on masks. They arrived late last week, and last night I clear coated with some Gaia Clear. Tonight, it was all about the masks. Still have to finish off the red portion of the underside insignias, but all the topside stuff is done.

[doogsatx/]

Underside insignia masks are finished:



And...the stabilators are mounted. The pics show them slanted forward at various degrees, so I just guessed.

[deafpanzer]

BEAUTIFUL!!! Chipping job is just amazing...

[Leon]

Great work on the camo and chipping Doogs.

[doogsatx/]

So I've been dragging on the MiG. Lots going on with the T-80 and a brain fart as far as how I want to proceed, step-wise, with the weathering. The super-wobbliness of the main gear struts also has me freaked out.

But I gave the ball a slight nudge last night, painting up the wheel hubs. These are Eduard's Brassin wheels - MASSIVE improvement over the kit parts. Green is Tamiya XF-5, which is completely accurate according to FICE (F- It, Close Enough) rules.

[doogsatx/]

Gear struts are glued in place! After stressing about it due to the very loose fit of the mounts, some thick CA and luck saw everything line up just so. Also applied an overall Vallejo Gray Wash. It's very subtle, but helps sort of calm everything down a bit. And finally added the bare metal starboard flap (dirtied with some Vallejo Dark Gray wash applied with a sponge).