discussion Chris' 1/144 Ye-50 'Not another -21 prototype!)

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, decided on the next mini-MiG, as this one is going to need the most work

The Ye-50 was a rmixed-power interceptor, based on the Ye-2, with an added rocket motor. It turned out to have the highest performance of the early family, but was very short-ranged
Modifications will be the usual shortening of the undercarriage, and also a heavily modified tail, and a nose extended half-a-metre
Oh and the wings. Which gives me another spare pair to go with a spare MF fuselage...

I really ought to do some later service types, of actual MiGs rather than F-7s, but there are just so many fun prototypes. Even if the GB ends first, I'll still do a PD (VTPL) and a Ye-8

 

[Neil]

This really is the perfect GB for you. So many Migs, and as much time as you want.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

This really is the perfect GB for you. So many Migs, and as much time as you want.

Well, I could spice it up with a -15 or a -29!

Or finish my half-built -3. Not that that would count for the GB!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, this is the bird I'm doing here

So: nose extension; new wings; new tail fin with rocket motor; modified tailplanes; new small strakes mounted on pipes

Using my new sandwich method for the wings, but now I'm leaving off the extra lower pane, as on the Ye-2 replacement wings, and cutting the undercarriage bay directly into the main 30 thou piece. Clamping on the 10 thou skin does require a bit of sanding and filling extra
On the left, without the skin, on the right complete so far wit filling

I'm seriously thinking about re-doing the fuselage of my Ye-2 when I do the Ye-2A, cannibaliosing what went right with the initial build

But that's another story

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay so, tail adjustments first

Chord shortened, and the rocket exhaust added - which is out of a SNEB rocket pod in the kit. Lot's more work on the base needed, pit of edge thinned and shaped plasticard probably, plus the rudder to re-scribe

The various ports and rail have to be filled, and shaped, plus the airbrake position

Added a lot of weight to the nose, what with all the additions going into the tail

Bad pic sorry. Fuselage halves together, and spine behind the cockpit removed for when the extra canopy piece is added (I have a cunning plan for that this time). Added a small shim in the nose to fill around, but nit's going to need an extra 2mm added

And the black line, just ahead of the canopy, is where the extra will be added. That should save me having to shape the extra to the right angle (which did not go so well on the Ye-2)
Although the J/F-7 has a long nose, it's still not quite as long as the Ye-50 extension, as is only really obvious when the thing is together
I'll have to be cutting through the nose weight though
Fortunately, my cutting back the nose wheel bay has put the back of that in the right place

Lot's more shimming and filling to go now. So, happy birthday to me!

 

[flyjoe180]

Modifications are looking good Chris