1/48 MiG-21MF

[ghodges]

This is the old  '80s OEZ kit of the MiG-21MF. I built it as a companion to the recent 1/48 old '70s Revell MiG-21PF I built last month, and in NMF Russian markings in contrast to the camouflage Egyptian markings.

I did make some changes to adapt some better parts to the kit. I thinned out the nose interior so I could add the Barracuda resin intake cone at the end of the build, and did the same in the rear so I could add a deeper exhaust section after painting and decalling. I also modified the kit cockpit to accept the Eduard "Look" cockpit decals and a resin ejection seat. The rest of the model was built OOTB. On to the finished pics!

After the green antennas and the red and white bands were painted, they were masked off and the model primed with gloss black enamel. That served as the undercoat for AK Extreme Metallics Aluminum and some slightly darkened Aluminum for some panel variation. The markings came from an old Aeromaster decal sheet which worked well, though it did involve tediously positioning the red stars over their white bases.

All in all, this was just a quick build to take the stash down by one more! Comments, questions, and critiques welcome, as always!

 

Gil 

Edited July 11, 2024 by ghodges

[Mark Deliduka]

Wow, just a "quick build" he says! I am so overwhelmed at the quality of your bare metal finish! Way to go Gil!

[VMF211]

LOL! "Quick build" he says........that would take me a month or more! Love that finish!

[StuartMont]

On 7/11/2024 at 12:30 AM, ghodges said:

After the green antennas and the red and white bands were painted, they were masked off and the model primed with gloss black enamel.

Beautiful model Gil. I’d like to ask why you painted the bands first?  Also, how quick is quick?

Stuart

[ghodges]

I painted the bands first because of the way the front of the band butts up to the rear of the wing. I knew it'd be a giant pain to try to mask off that junction to protect the NMF, BUT if the bands were painted first the front masking edge runs JUST behind that wing, making it a much easier masking job. That said, masking over the adjacent fuselage scoops were a pain and took some care to avoid leaving loose tape and spaces paint could blow in.

 

As to the time.... 10-12 days....more than a week, but less than 2 weeks.

 

Gil 

[StuartMont]

Very impressed you had that kind of forethought. Thanks for the explanation.