TonyW Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Earyl Airfix plastic can get a bit confusing. The first issue MIG 15 had a cross hatched pattern cast at the wing roots on both wings. Later isues had just a raised outline in its place. On some kits the early versions were a whole lot cleaner than the later ones when Airfix first employed their famous riveter The Spitfire, Ju87, Typhoon and Hurricane all come to mind here. All had much more restrained detailing than the later ones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 25, 2018 Author Share Posted June 25, 2018 Yes Tony. Restrained is a good word. Sparse, too...very few rivets here, which is good. I have constructed some new landing gear. We'll see. I'll post some pictures when the glue dries fully. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Hello John ... looking forward to seeing this one get built. The DDR Markings sound a great idea as they had some very good camouflage. Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 26, 2018 Author Share Posted June 26, 2018 Ok...I have made a decision after sleeping on it. I'm going to save this photo etch for the new tool Mig-15. I tried my hand at scratching the gear and they didn't work out well. I'm not happy with it. I'l stick to OOB as much as I can. Sorry if this disappoints anyone. As for the DDR camo, this one is a silver job. I picked up some new colour at the LHS in Athens that I want to try out. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 By the gods...what will it take for me to build this thing? So many false starts, "will I?" "won't I"...I finally made up my mind and just started. The kit looks pretty good and even the decals are alright--no yellowing, no cracks. This was a properly stored vintage box for sure. In fact, as I write this, I am tempted to use the Polish markings as 346 and keep it as OOB as possible...hmmm...well, lets get cracking! Primer first! The plastic is quite thin, especially along the leading and trailing edges. The lack of detail in some areas (air brakes, cockpit, landing gear) will allow for a certain amount of detailing that will, I hope, fill in the visual gaps in this very rudimentary, Level 1, kit. Tak, moi drodzy...Podjąłem decyzję! Srebrny Polski ptak! Zdrowie! -John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 On might think a small charge has gone off on the desk...This happens occasionally. I suddenly realize that I have used 15 different tools and not put them back in their jars. Chaos! I have been trying to fit some Evergreen into the spaces fore and aft of the cockpit. I will need a place to mount the gunsight in front and fill in the glaringly large hole behind the headrest. You can just see them, in yellow, attached to one half of the fuselage. In the end these will not be the right size but will serve as support for something more slick. I hope. Next...the pilot's seat gets an upgrade from this... ...to this. It's not perfect, but it will certainly look better beneath the canopy. 'Nuff for tonight... --John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Hello John, świetny wybór na polski samolot! great choice going with the polish plane ! Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 Thanks Dennis. Keep it simple is my philosophy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 Oh Evergreen, oh Evergreen, what I do without you...🎶 I have built this kit before, but not like this. I blame all of you, Moa especially...😉 Exhaust tube, air brakes and cockpit doo-dads... The opening for the non-existent exhaust tube measures 5mm. The diameter of a common drinking straw is 6.5mm. So I snipped off a bit of straw, cut it lengthwise and it actually rolled up into smaller diameter! Guess what size? Yes...5.5mm. This means it fits loosely, but snug right inside the opening. Air brakes. Yuck. The kit supplied units are horrible. Thick with two large sinkholes. What shall I do? That's better! Not perfect, but better. The 'hinges' will be scrapped for something little more realistic looking. The cockpit details are important, but I have no idea what any of these dials and knobs do. Visually, it think it will work. The two rectangular pieces will go on either side of the inside fuselage, next to the seat, facing slightly downwards. That solves my bathtub conundrum. I've already measured and they will all fit. Next up...seatbelts; support structure for the inside of the canopy; nose weight; put together the cockpit, close her up and then figure out what to about the terrible fit of the nose ring. --John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSH Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 Very nice detailing John, I built the little Mig several times and always enjoyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Ready to close it all up...didn't forget the nose weight! And the support structure for the rear of the canopy. A test fit shows that the canopy itself fits poorly. There are big gaps that will have to be filled. --John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Note: Since I have abandoned the GDR look, I have retitled the thread. We apologize for the inconvenience. --John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 The landing gear issue had to be addressed. I re-built the rear gear using the kit piece as a template for the gear doors. A kit piece is next to them for context. The nose gear has been adapted from the kit supplied gear. Also shown is the canopy with the support installed, and some small detail work on the interior bay of the air brakes. In fixing, i.e.. sanding down a lot, the nose ring (and puttying, and sanding, and puttying some more) I removed the off-set gun-camera. I have replaced that with a slice of Evergreen rod cut on a bias. Looking alright, I think. Tonight the wings go on; I'll mask the canopy and attach that; maybe get it all together if I have couple of hours to do so--gun pods, etc.... Tomorrow I'll hit it with Vallejo Glossy Surface Primer and wait until Sunday to Aluminize. --John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 Wings on and the gaps in the wing roots filled. Same for the gun pods. Canopy masked and attached. So... And on with the new primer. This is a new way for me...black primer beneath aluminum... And it airbrushed brilliantly! I really will have to let that dry for many hours before attempting anything else. Thankfully we have cool, dry air today, so I am hoping by 10PM or so I can handle the aircraft without worrying about any tackiness. If that is not so, then tomorrow morning the aluminum goes on. --John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Lovely! I remember building this as part of the dog-fight double with the Mirage. I'm sure it will look a whole lot better with your upgrades! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 Thanks Ian. I missed out on a dogfight double on the big auction site. So sad...That would be a fun build for this GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 They aluminum went on late last night and dried very quickly. I hand painted the anti-glare black on the nose as well as the walkways on the wing roots. Next time I'll airbrush these as well. I was pleased with the White Aluminum from Vallejo. Very shiny. The guys at the LHS in Athens told me some people have actually been able to buff this to a higher shine. Hmmm...we'll see. I'll get the landing gear in and the decals on today. Radio antennae, some little details I have seen on other build, etc... give it a light acrylic coat and then some light weathering. Pretty close to being finished here. --John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 You've certainly tamed this kit John,great reading the thread to get this far,looking forward to the rest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Thanks Steve...I am not sure 'tamed' is the right word. I have certainly had to make it a bit more interesting. It's coming together. I have certainly learned a lot from building it and taken some educated chances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Ok...pitot tube, assorted radio antennae, landing gear, air brakes, some paint touch-ups and decals...phew! One of the nice things about summer here is that it can be very dry, so everything dries very quickly--paint, decals, etc...which can also be a drawback if one is not careful! I should have scribed some access panels on the nose so I could paint those little red clasps...next time. Not a perfect landing gear re-build, but much better than what Airfix offered me. Now...I'll let that dry for a couple of hours and then seal it all with some clear acrylic. I'm happy with the kit decals. No silvering and they slid on without a hitch! Then a bit of pin washing in some strategic spots, the radio wire from the tail...almost there! --John 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Beautiful 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 Well Comrades...it's time to break out the Luksazova and the pierogis... It started out as a GDR Mig-15 and ended up a Lim-2...who'd a thunk it? Actually it started out as a bag of warped plastic that held no future. I am grateful that I was able to pick a better one up on the Big Online Auction Site. So I present, Lim-2, Black 346. I think there are too many markings, but it is an Airfix and they are so very enthusiastic! The rest are in the gallery... -John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Superb! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Another great addition to the GB John Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 Thank you Cliff and Lawzer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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