1/48 Revell MIG-21 FL (Kukke's MIG)

Gallery Article by Vinayak Dutt Shukla on Jan 26 2014

  India Republic Day 

 

 

Hi friends, I am here with my rendition of a Mig-21 FL of The Scorchers Aerobatic Team of Indian Air Force.  There were 5 A/C's in the Scorcher's Team, drawn from Scorpions (29 Sqn) & Archers (47 Sqn) & hence the amalgamation produced the name Scorchers.  This particular A/C was distinctively painted from the other's & was the Mount of 1971 war fame Kukke Suresh (VrC).  The difference was the checker Board Marking on the wings & a Feline Eye painted on either side of the nose.  On the internet when u check you see many Scorchers Mig-21 Models depicted in Pink ...which is entirely wrong, they were all painted in Orange over NMF.  

Now in general, Indian Air Force & MIG-21 has become synonymous with each other.  From the first day, it came to India in May 1963 until now.  This Legendary Aircraft has seen many modifications & up-grades starting from the Mig-21 F-13 (Type 74) to the Latest & quite distinctive Mig-21 Bison.  The journey going through Nine different variants in the last Fifty years, starting from 1963 to 2013, when it completed half a century of operations with the Indian Air Force.  The most numerous were the Mig-21 FL's & these particular aircraft have passed through the hands of nearly 4 generations of IAF Pilots, who Old & Young alike swear by the Grace & thrill of this Aircraft.  Sure it has a very high & unforgiving landing Speed, but once you master it,it's an absolute delight to fly.  

Moving on.....on 11th December 2013, after nearly fifty years of Wonderful Service, it was decided to Bid Adieu to the tested, relentless War Horse & Rest it Forever.  The highlight of it's career no doubt was winning the first ever Supersonic Air battle over the sub-continent & becoming & proving itself to be the pivoting point of the 1971 war in east Pakistan.  When it fired Rockets into Governor's House-Dhaka with pin-point precision & brought about an abrupt end to the war in east.  The testimony to this is that when an reporter asked General Niazi .."u spoke about fighting the war till ur Last breath yesterday only..then what made u surrender all of a sudden ..he replied simply by pointing a finger to the Pilot's wings on the chest of an Indian Air force Pilot".

 

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Now coming to the kit build, this is my first ever 48 scale model & this kit was a very sweet gift from my Friend Leonard Prakasam.  On 11th December 2013 the Mig-21 FL (Type-77), was finally rested forever by the Indian Air Force after years of yeoman Service to the Nation & for the same our modelling group *INDIAN SCALE MODELERS* decided to do a Group Build in honor & memory of our beloved A/C.  

So the idea clicked & we all got involved.  I had not much choice, coz the only Mig-21 kit I had was the Revell 1/48 Mig-21 PF/FL & I decided to go ahead with it.  Choosing the scheme was easy on a few counts.  Firstly this very paint scheme was made & posted here on ARC exactly a year ago on 26th Jan 2013 by one of biggest exponents of Modelling in India, the Great Polly Singh Sir.  Secondly I had heard about Gp Cpt Kukke Suresh Since childhood, was always an inspiration.  Thirdly the kit had no decals, so I had one more reason to go free hand.  So I started with it in anticipation of a quick build coz of the kit having just about the bare basics, but as I went along ..the paint scheme proved to b a patience tester.  Then to add to the work, I got bugged by the thought of having a tarmac & ground support accessories.  So I sat about making/scratch building the stuff & it took hours of work.  When all the things were nearly ready for just finishing touches, I was thrown off my bike & knocked out of model making for about a fortnight.  Then after rejoining, once again I worked up. & the moment I was about to call it done, the gremlins again decided to poke their Finger in my nose.  While I was away, a couple of kids of visiting guests sneaked into my room, probably tried to fly the model & in all probability couldn't handle the 320 kmph landing speed & the model ..well a wreck after the crash landing...& I was gloomy, furious,  pissed off.  Everything lost and all hopes of being in time & poured out my frustration on my forum & after that each & every one of them came out with their stories of their own tragedies & encouragement & amidst fun frolic & cheering up..I  was pushed enough to start reworking & finished it off after a two day marathon repair work. 

The kit is made OOB except for removing the raised panel lines & rescribing recessed lines & scratching up the pitot tube, standby pitot & spine antenna courtesy the Gremlins.  The decals were bright spark & the Eye was free hand painted.  The entire NMF was airbushed with Tamiya XF-16 Flat Alum & the orange was a mix & match of locally available Camel Acrylic Tubes of Light orange & blood red.  The tarmac was made from an plastic advertisement board & the ground support equipment & the light pole was made form stuff like electrical wires of varying diameter's, some scrap plastic, sprues, home made grass,  real red sand, cola can alum & ball point pen & gell pen refills etc.  The light pole has a 6V LED inside.  The Serial No would be C 991, yet to be custom made.

In the end, this is one heavily criticized kit for it's lack of details & inaccuracies, but for long this was the only show in the town.  So once completed, it is a reasonable enough rendition of a Mig-21 FL.  I have included the original reference snap.  Polly Sir's Model snap & the IAF Mig-21 FL retirement snap as well.  All in all a satisfying build.  Dedicated to Late group Captain Kukke Suresh Sir,,to the Legendary A/C itself, My People,  My family, my friends & Seniors on Indian Scale Modelers group,  especially to Line Scriber Sir, My Big Bro's & Modelling mentors Murli Rajan & Navin Bala, my American Uncle Kevin.R.Ingraham :) ... & last but not the least....to My Cousin who sacrificed his life in the service of our Nation in a very Mig-21 FL.  Though the FL is gone, but the Bis's & the Bison's continue to Guard our Skies & would do so for some more years until eventually replaced by growing numbers of Sukhoi-30 MKI's & MMRCA & FGFA.

"You may have retired from Active Service My Love (Mig-21 FL) ..but you will continue to fly in our hearts for eternity"

Submitted with Humble & Hearty Regards,

Jai Hind 

Vinayak Dutt Shukla

Indian Scale Modelers

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Photos and text © by Vinayak Dutt Shukla