discussion Chris' F-Toys 1/144 MiG-21 F conversion

[Steve-the-Duck]

Well, this time around, not a prototype (though there's more of them to come), not a Chinese licence built -21 development. but an actual, proper, MiG-21
Okay, so it's the initial limited pre-production prototype, but there you go





F-Toys have a huge range of 1/144 aircraft, released in limited run, blind box format. Bought sealed, you're never sure which of that particular series you might get, including a couple of hidden specials. Bought in cartons, you're guaranteed to get at least one of each of the series

The MiG-21F was the earliest of the service models, of which probably only around 30 were built, before the mass produced F-13 appeared. There are a few small differences, notably a narrower tail
Cutting time, again. And yes, it is another silver MiG. I really ought to do some in camo schemes, as there are, literally, hundreds to chose from across the -21s service

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

And here we go, almost the only major difference between the F and the F-13, unmodified at top, narrowed at bottom. The F still had both cannon, so that's to be added next

The F-13 is so-called because it was specifically built to take the K-13 AtoA missile (the one known as Atoll in the West). The port side cannon was deleted to save weight, for the missile pylons. Apparently

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

And now, to give you nightmares, the completed, three part (bucket, seat, panel) cockpit

Just need to add some belts and some switch detail! Ha ha!
Can't tell if there are actually dials on that panel!

Goddess, I hope not

 

[flyjoe180]

I do not know how you do this scale Chris, my eyes hurt thinking about it

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I do not know how you do this scale Chris, my eyes hurt thinking about it

Ah, you see, I have this shrink-ray, that reduces the full-sized objects to this scale

Or is it a very good magnifier?

One or the other. I forget which

 

[Neil]

The magnifier is one thing; the sausage fingers are my problem. That and my complete lack of any musical talent explain why I am not a pianist, I guess.

How many variants are you planning?

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

How many variants are you planning?

All of them.

Well, not all the Ye-4 and Ye-6 sub-variants (which is 2-3 of each)

Thirty-three, or therabouts!

Hopefully, also, without going back over ones I've already 'finished'

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Actually, it's thirty-eight, and does include the Chinese ones.
It includes a fair number of unusual prototypes, all of which are, in some shape or form, a MiG-21

I'm tempted to some multiples of particular types, as there are some pretty / odd / pretty odd schemes out there. Like '007' the Israelis 'acquired' and then gave to the Yanks. There's a blue Cuban one, as checkerboard Croatian UM, plus any number of obscure users in Africa and Asia. Indian air force schemes would keep me in MF and Bis schemes for the next ten years, even with my current production rate!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

And on to the next steps
There are, indeed, straps moulded onto the seat. But no dials on the instrument panel (praise Athena!). Just a few spots of colour to mimic what's there

The model does, just about have one gun bulge, but it's practically invisible, more of which later. So, these started life a s a pair of 'Atolls' from the Trumpeter J-7. Still going to need a I more shaping. The F and F-13 have a prominent for'ard airbrake fitted to the gun bulges, but I'll probablyadd that with colour rather than an overlay or scribing

Put a bit of weight in the fore part, just in case it doesn't sit right. Might get some of that Liquid Gravity stuff, but for now I've plenty of bits of white metal off-cuts. And a pack of heads that fit too..

Fuselage halves together. The cockpit detail is practically invisible with the canopy on, but the hole behind the seat is still obvious. I have no pictures of what's actually there on the F and F-13, right under the canopy rear, so I've been faking it with shapes so far. It's not obvious from this picture but there's a gap around the whole cockpit bucket when it sits dead centre. Invisible with the black surround, so good job none of these have a blue cockpit!

Wings on, and minorly gappy, but a run over with putty, and on the fuselage seam, should be okay. The model is very slightly undersize in a few places, and maybe even be 1/150th. My calculator tends to confirm that. The ventral strake is definitely undersize, so that'll get a a strip added. The ventral tank doesn't seem to have been fitted to the F, so those middle mounting point holes need filling

So, they're still visible even in this poor pic, but there's a prominent intake for'ard of the tail planes, and a bulge where the earlier prototypes had the tail planes mounted. I'm probably going to add something there to make them more visible

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I've had this a while, and it may get built for this GB, but I'm adding this little beauty to my stack of reference material!

 

[flyjoe180]

1/72 will seem huge after those tiny kits

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

1/72 will seem huge after those tiny kits

Nah, it's fine, especially after the last 'plane I finished was that 1/72 scratchbuilt Avro Aldershot biplane, with a 28cm wingspan. The 'big' MiG won't look that large next to that

So it'll go in a different cabinet