Mikey-1980 Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 Picture being a kid in the 1980's.....(that's me BTW) and movies such as Top Gun, Iron Eagle 1,2,3 and no doubt up to at least 10 more that went straight to VHS, were staple to watch in the house I grew up in. Being the youngest of 3, with my Dad being RAF, aviation was in my blood, as well as modelling. My eldest brother had built the fictitious F-19 Stealth Fighter and I absolutely loved it! I remember that "stealth" was the buzz word at the time and there were rumors of new aircraft were beginning to surface.....It wouldn't be until 1989 that a heavily airbrushed image of the F-117 "Night Hawk" emerged. At the time it was suggested that the Russians were also developing a "Stealth" Aircraft, but given the secrecy at the height of the Cold War, no one really knew if it was true? Rumors of a MiG-2000 with predictions of what it may look like? An interesting design, up until Testors threw their hat into the ring. “In the autumn of 1987, the US plastic model manufacturer Testors.. launched its model of the “MiG-37B Ferret E”- a Soviet equivalent to the Lockheed stealth fighter. Its appearance must have caused a few smiles around the Mikoyan design bureau. As its manufacturer admitted.. Its reception in the Pentagon must have been less amusing. Here in widely-distributed form was the first model to widely illustrate the use of RCS reduction technique.” I can imagine there were several intelligence officers in the CIA that were a little concerned that the technology that was being developed for the F-117 suddenly appeared on a fictitious Russian aircraft. The MiG-37B "Ferret"......Now this I loved even more that the F-19 Stealth.....the angles, the shape, the low profile....all was so futuristic to me. I even had a Micro Machine of one too! So, from looking through the stash, I have decided to actually build one......This time from Italeri... A little bit of gumph for you.....fresh from 1987. There are 2 main sprus for the kit and a clear spru for the HUGE canopy Confirmation of the mould and the Testors / Italeri link Cockpit detail is somewhat lacking. I have seen builds where people have used photoetch from an A-4M Skyhawk cut to size, but as I do not have anything like that to hand, the basic detail will have to do. Now interestingly, would the "Stealth" MiG still have the iconic Turquoise coloured cockpit? If so, I am interest to know how to mix the correct colour for it though? The decal sheet is pretty decent with 2 main options for colour scheme, though I have heard that the decal sheet is pretty thick and with some issues of silvering. Instructions are fairly basic, but straight forward. I don't foresee this build taking all that long to do, the decision for colour scheme though will be interesting to decide on, I dont fancy the plain black or winter cammo scheme that is suggested. Perhaps a more "What If" cammo scheme should this aircraft had been a reality and went into service. A few possible schemes. I do quite like the scheme for the Sukhoi though...this may work nicely. Building will begin as soon as I can.....Thoughts and any ideas for paint schemes are all welcomed as I have yet to decide which direction to go in. 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jalles Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I love those old Testors/Italeri "stealth" kits from the 80's. I built a stretched version of the ferret that blends a little bit of the Mig-2000 with the testors kit (splinter camo too). I'm super excited to see how this one turns out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 Good luck with this one. 👍🏼🍿 Fair warning: it's a terrible tail-sitter! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 23 minutes ago, alt-92 said: Good luck with this one. 👍🏼🍿 Fair warning: it's a terrible tail-sitter! I suspected this......I'll be sure to pack out the nose with plenty of weight. Any ideas on how much though? 32 minutes ago, jalles said: I love those old Testors/Italeri "stealth" kits from the 80's. I built a stretched version of the ferret that blends a little bit of the Mig-2000 with the testors kit (splinter camo too). I'm super excited to see how this one turns out. I was thinking of the splinter cammo.....but also I really like green and tan scheme too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Mikey-1980 said: Any ideas on how much though? That knowledge has been lost in the mists of time (and booze, and parties) I'm afraid.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 haha!! No worries, I suspect as much as I can pack into the nose section as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangseat Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, Mikey-1980 said: A little bit of gumph for you.....fresh from 1987. Fantastic bit of gumph! I love the flawless (ahem) Russian transliteration of 'Steh-alt-kkhhh' (probably means something completely different, like u-bend or piles). I remember flying Microprose's F-19 over Libya on a CGA monitor at about 1fps (less on landing) and having a great time. Edited May 27, 2020 by Bangseat 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 I remember that game too! Pretty sure it was on the Amiga? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sent-off Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 2 hours ago, Bangseat said: Fantastic bit of gumph! I love the flawless (ahem) Russian transliteration of 'Steh-alt-kkhhh' (probably means something completely different, like u-bend or piles). I remember flying Microprose's F-19 over Libya on a CGA monitor at about 1fps (less on landing) and having a great time. Russian transliteration for stealth is just "стелс". "Стеалтх" is something completely nonexistent and outrageous, haha I remember that game too, along with the Accolade Formula 1 and LHX 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatalbert Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I always thought that it needs some horizontal tail feathers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcguire25 Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 This kit always makes me think of the movie "Firefox" with Clint Eastwood. Looking forward to see what markings you finish her in. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelldoc Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 Italeri had this kit also in 1:72. So I made one, in a fictive East German Air Force version: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21603181@N08/17559258629/in/photolist-sKDMQr-9gHqQE BTW, the Kamov-58 helicopter is in the same league: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21603181@N08/18580015744/in/photolist-uL1Haa-uL1H9D-uiRrmG-uiRrn3-uiRro5-i5rKZY-hvDCYY-bspyLo modelldoc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 I do have the 1/72 version in the stash that is about 75% complete. Though it has been consigned to the shelf of doom at the moment. I do reeeeeally like the MiG-31 Firefox, and there is a 1/48 scale kit out there. Just have to be able to justify the cost https://www.anigrand.com/AA6015_Mig-31.htm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I think this would great in the Su-34 'Fullback' scheme of dark grey ('eggplant') topsides and blue undersides. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted May 28, 2020 Author Share Posted May 28, 2020 To be honest this isn't too bad, and potentially achievable too I think? I think I have a dark grey and light blue rattle can in the stash to do this too? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Good morning Comrades! Work on the Ferret officially was underway over the weekend. With no real guidance on what the cockpit should look like, it was pretty much swing it and see what feels right? As it was a MiG, all-be-it fictitious, I decided to go with the light blue colour for the cockpit, but also to give it a very 1980's feel to it. So lots of colourful lights that seemingly have no meaning or actual use. The actual display panel had almost no detail on there, so I went with what the USSR at the time may show as a "digital" display. The surface is pretty small and vague, but I thnk it looks OK? Inspiration for the cockpit seat was from an array of MiG cockpits so a green/grey combo was take with a light black wash applied over it. The tub itself isn't the biggest, but should be reasonably exposed to be seen once the canopy is applied to the kit. It will be a tail sitter as already been mentioned, the nose section doesn't have a lot of room for weights, so 4 steel nuts are to be glued into place, which I hope will be enough? Slow start, but getting their. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serkan Sen Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Very nice intro... Maybe you can use one of these splintered camo: I used two of them for my ongoing whatif Flanker projects Su-27FSM "Flankerstein" and Su-33UBM "Fullanker": Serkan 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Really like the suggested splinter cammo schemes. Especially the grey, grey,black in the top right corner. I would be very interested in learning how to do this though? Any hint and tips would be greatly appreciated. Especially because of your awesome paint schemes for the SU-27 & 33 there too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Lovely bit of nostalgia I built both of these in the 80s! If I remember correctly someone told me the F19 is the best ever selling model kit! Enjoying the thread 🙂 TT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Cheers @TEXANTOMCAT My elder brother had the F-19 as one of his builds back int he 80's. I'd love to know what happened to is as the build quality was pretty good too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Good idea Mickey !! I'll follow from time to time if you don't mind it !! CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serkan Sen Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 5 hours ago, Mikey-1980 said: Really like the suggested splinter cammo schemes. Especially the grey, grey,black in the top right corner. I would be very interested in learning how to do this though? Any hint and tips would be greatly appreciated. Especially because of your awesome paint schemes for the SU-27 & 33 there too You can find full build reports in the links I have added in my previous post including how to design and make masks. Please let me know if you need support at any point. Regards Serkan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Cheers @Serkan Sen I'll check them out when I get to the paint stage Welcome aboard @corsaircorp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orso Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 I think it would be a good base for a Batplane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 Interesting concept there @Orso....an American anti-hero in an adapted Russian fighter? Would be interesting to see it done though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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