flyinghorse Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 (edited) I am getting ready to build Academy's 1/72 MiG-23S Flogger B, and am going to paint it in North Korean air force markings. The NKPAF is a rare topic among model builders and am wanting to try my hand at one with spare decals I have in my decals collection. However, due to the secretive nature of North Korea, it is quite hard to find decent photos to look at for reference. I have found a couple of videos and pictures online on NK MiG-23's. I'm interested in the Cold War era, and if you think its hard finding info on North Korea today, then man, good luck finding anything pre 1990's on the subject, especially on the NKPAF!! I'm actually thinking of painting my MiG in silver, judging from pictures Ive seen, although I wanted some confirmation from someone because I would like to be as accurate as possible, and because I have heard that there were no such things as silver painted MiG-23's Edited June 30, 2021 by flyinghorse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiampieroSilvestri Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 North Korea airforce Mig-23 are painted in the same camouflage of two different greys like the Mig-21 and Mig-29. Here are a some pictures. Saluti Giampiero 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyinghorse Posted June 29, 2021 Author Share Posted June 29, 2021 Interesting camo scheme. These look a bit recent. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyinghorse Posted June 29, 2021 Author Share Posted June 29, 2021 (edited) This is the MiG I'm going to try to model, need help identifying the color however [Bad eyes and bad image from propaganda video ] Edited June 30, 2021 by flyinghorse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fukuryu Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Hello and welcome, @flyinghorse. This book may help you (don't have it so I am not endorsing, just sharing information): https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/the-armed-forces-of-north-korea-on-the-path-of-songun.php?sid=ca80bdd3ecd83e3db622d4e9a439506f BTW, the links in your original post didn't come through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyinghorse Posted June 30, 2021 Author Share Posted June 30, 2021 3 hours ago, flyinghorse said: Bad eyes and poor picture quality make it hard to distinguish this color. Looks metallic but this is the MiG I intend to try to replicate in 1/72. Help in identifying the color would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orso Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 To me it doesn't look like silver. I think it is the same sand/brown as the other picture with the MiG29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Hothersall Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Also remember the North Korean aircraft are later model MiG-23ML which are different to early MiG-23s that the academy kit is based on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 another one in this thread: http://web.humoruniv.com/board/humor/read.html?table=pds&number=981237 and here you have another rather grey and recent one: https://eurasiantimes.com/can-north-korean-blazingly-fast-mig-23-outgun-f-16-fighter-jets-of-south-korea-in-an-aerial-battle/ https://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10044&num=199171 and a nice video, even including aerobatics! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyinghorse Posted July 1, 2021 Author Share Posted July 1, 2021 Any visual differences between MiG-23S and MiG-23ML? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehammer Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 First of all, the fin on the later models does not extend forward as much. The radome is larger - I cannot remember if this affects the overall length. The nosewheel are larger, with a different mudguard. MiG-29 nosewheels look the part. I think in 1/72 scale those are the most noticeable issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyinghorse Posted July 1, 2021 Author Share Posted July 1, 2021 Ah, I see. Thanks Picture did not show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 (edited) I'm going with an overall silver/metallic finish, predating the multi-tone grey. http://forums.airforce.ru/attachments/matchast/82161d1510988021-downloadfile-19.jpeg/ and http://forums.airforce.ru/attachments/matchast/82162d1510988048-korea-1985_01-1-.jpg/ From here (via Google Translate): http://forums.airforce.ru/matchast/4178-reestr-mig-23-sozdadim-vmeste-53/ "In April 1985, a telegram from the Air Force General Staff came to the regiment (234 GIAP), according to which the task was set to ferry 10 MiG-23ML aircraft from 121 ARZ in Kubinka to the Pukchang airfield in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. These aircraft were painted silver and bore the markings of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - a red star in a circle. Six pilots of 234 GIAP (mainly from 4 aircrafts) and four pilots from 32 GIAP were supposed to participate in the stretch." Edited July 1, 2021 by Blimpyboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petetasker Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Hi I see someone has already mentioned the North Korean Armed Forces book. For info its not a modelling reference book at all and this is the only colour plate in there of the Mig 23. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyinghorse Posted July 2, 2021 Author Share Posted July 2, 2021 Thanks to all! Amazing what google translate can do these days, seems like only the former Soviet Union knew enough about North Korea before 1991. Today, North Korea is a black hole regarding visual information on its armed forces, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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