Battle Damaged MiG-21

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Spaceowl
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Spaceowl »

Beautiful work so far...I can hear the gnashing of model collectors' teeth from here! I salute you, sir! :)
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Tim Reynaga
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Tim Reynaga »

Spaceowl wrote:Beautiful work so far...I can hear the gnashing of model collectors' teeth from here! I salute you, sir! :)
LOL! I guess I’m something of a collector too - although every model I buy I intend to build! Sometimes it just takes a while to get to them...

I couldn’t decide which of the two pilot figures provided in the kit to use, so I painted them both up and test fit each of them in the cockpit.

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The first one looked ok, but he seemed too calm given the massive damage to his aircraft, so I went with the one who is just about to punch out.

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With basic construction finished, all that remained was to attach the PVD air data boom in front of the nose and the blade antenna on the spine.

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The kit came with a molded boom, but it was thick and out of round; I made a new one from 1mm and .6mm telescoping brass tubes. The blade was rescued from the spare fuselage part.

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MarkyM607
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by MarkyM607 »

You're not going to do him half out of the cockpit like the box then?.... :grin:
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Tim Reynaga
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Tim Reynaga »

MarkyM607 wrote:You're not going to do him half out of the cockpit like the box then?.... :grin:
I thought about it, but the lines of the MiG 21 were so nice, it seemed a shame to mess with it too much!

So here she is, in all her battered glory:

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Even shot up, the MiG 21 was a beautiful aircraft!

:pilot:
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PropWash
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by PropWash »

Your build came out rather nice, TR. I like it!
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by IronMan129 »

Absolutely superb mate well done!
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DavidWomby
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by DavidWomby »

Very nicely done.

David
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skypirate
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by skypirate »

I have always been fascinated by these kits since I was a teenager. Never seen one in the flesh; only in advertisements.
Great to see one being brought to life!

Cheers,

David
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Tim Reynaga
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Tim Reynaga »

Thanks for your comments, guys! I too first came across these kits as a kid; I actually built the F-4 back then, but screwed it up royally by trying "enhance" the provided battle damage with my grandfather's cigarette lighter!
:boom:
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CementNotGlue
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by CementNotGlue »

A very nice Mig-21pf (early) if I'm not mistaken.
Glad you invested in the replacement decals.
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Tarkas
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Tarkas »

Tim Reynaga wrote:Even shot up, the MiG 21 was a beautiful aircraft!
Yes, it was/is, but the Fishbed has always been a prime example of contrast that way -- beautiful lines, but those same lines gave so little internal space that, right from the start, there were loads of lumps and bumps that broke them up, as the designers tried to shoehorn more and more equipment into the airframe, so that the overall effect made the aircraft look like it had a bad case of acne! Then the fin and spine grew (in stages), and the canopy changed, etc., etc., all of which gradually robbed the design of its original elegance, though it did give the aircraft a rather pugnacious look which suited it. Compare a MiG-21F-13 to a MiG-21bis (Fishbed-C to Fishbed-L/N) and you'll see what I mean.

Nonetheless, as CementNotGlue said, you have produced a very nice model of an early MiG-21PF, most easily distinguishable from the later version of the Fishbed-D by the narrow-chord fin.
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Dazzled »

Very nice indeed Tim. 8-)
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FAAMAN
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by FAAMAN »

Distraught collectors will be seeking counseling upon seeing this :-D :-D
Very well done, great work and a real pleasure to see an "old collectable" kit actually built and done well :beer: :beer:
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Tim Reynaga
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by Tim Reynaga »

FAAMAN wrote:Distraught collectors will be seeking counseling upon seeing this :-D :-D
Very well done, great work and a real pleasure to see an "old collectable" kit actually built and done well :beer: :beer:
LOL! All my best to the collectors - my own mental health maintenance comes in the form of paint and plastic...

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:lol:
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Re: Battle Damaged MiG-21

Post by ShaunW »

Wow that is a great job, Tim and I also salute you for building a collector's favourite! I agree that the MiG-21 is a great looker but especially in its earlier guises IMHO.
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