discussion Chris's 1/144 Ye-2 Conversion

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, the Ye-2 (X-2) was one of several prototypes leading to the MiG-21. The Ye-4 was the first delta-wing prototype, and both flew at a Victory Day parade, resulting in the Ye-2 getting the reporting name 'Faceplate', and the Ye-4 'Fishbed'

'Fishbed'
Really

There are a number of detail differences between the -21 and the Ye-2, though basically it's a -21 with MiG-19 wings, so...


The Trumpeter F7-II is widely available, and, usually, cheap. I've got a stack of them to do various early -21 prototypes. I just need to start making full-length canopies
The Attack MiG-19 has two kits in the box, which is nice
On top is a Gashapon 'Area-88' MiG-21F-13, which is accurate enough, with chunky details, which will be providing the canopy.

If you're unaware of it, 'Area-88' is a manga and anime series about the civil war in an east African desert nation, the two sides of which are rich enough to hire mercenary pilots and buy any jet from around the world to fight and die for them. There's an old set of ten 1/100 kits of some of the stand-out 'planes, some of which were later re-issues by Revell

 

[Neil]

A very interesting choice.

 

[yak face]

Excellent stuff steve - cold war soviet , tick - obscure prototype , tick - kit bash , tick
This is everything right up my street , cant wait to watch this one , cheers tony

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Are we at the start yet?


All these parts for one little 'plane. Okay, there's three full kits here...

Lots of plans. none of which are actually relevant to the build!

And a bit of light reading for reference material!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

So, the plan is:
Fuselage of the F7-II mated to the wings of the MiG-19. That's the easy bit

But there's a lot of small alterations to make:
Narrower chord tail fin
Higher mounted tailplanes
New airbrakes under tailplanes
Two ventral fins
Leading edge slats on wings
Re-positioned guns
Shorter nose

So, completely straightforward!

 

[Neil]

It's August 1st, so of course. Starting mine tomorrow.

 

[Neil]

So, the plan is:
Fuselage of the F7-II mated to the wings of the MiG-19. That's the easy bit

But there's a lot of small alterations to make:
Narrower chord tail fin
Higher mounted tailplanes
New airbrakes under tailplanes
Two ventral fins
Leading edge slats on wings
Re-positioned guns
Shorter nose

So, completely straightforward!

Good thing you're working in a scale that makes that easier... oh wait, in 1/144. zhelayu udachi (according to google anyway).

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Good thing you're working in a scale that makes that easier... oh wait, in 1/144. zhelayu udachi (according to google anyway).

Just wait till I get to the paint stage and have to mask all the different metal shades like the source photo!