1/48 Academy Mig-21MF

[Fishbed-N] Type 75 - Indian Air Force

by Leonard Prakasam

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India - Indian Air Force Day 2008

 

The kit is by Academy unlike most kits, fail to display the different decal options on the cover, and my joy knew no bounds when I found decals to build my Mig 21 in the Indian Air Force service. The decals supplied with the kit were for one of the Migs from No. 26 Squadron based at Palam and the color scheme for this particular aircraft [C2281] was of the low visibility grey.

Wanting to add more challenge to the build, and with the only photo references from Bharat Rakshak.com (a very informative site about the Indian Armed Services), I decided to build the three tone camouflaged Mig-21 bis- Type 75 aircraft [C2776]. This aircraft was built  at the Mig complex in Nasik  and was one of 220 built in the this configuration.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

The build was fairly easy and the part fit up was good. To add more realism to the model, I added the Aires cockpit set. This greatly improved the detail inside and made it possible to display the model with the canopy in the open position. The landing gear was spruced up with wire of different diameters to simulate hydraulic lines. The boundary layer exhaust port and the fuselage auxiliary air inlets were also covered, complete with the 'Remove before Flight' tags.

The painting of the camo posed the biggest challenge and I tried different methods before using normal glue to form patterns. The reference photos depict a weather beaten aircraft and I was unable to recreate that.....I consoled myself thinking that my model depicts that aircraft when it was freshly painted ;-)) Decal application was a breeze and the model was oil washed to bring out the panel lines and surface details. It was finally sealed off with Dull cote.

The canopy was coated with  Future to bring out the shine. Small strips of yellow decal were also cut and pasted on the canopy.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this build and appreciate my wife's patience with me trying to get it right.......

I dedicate this model to all the Airmen who serve in the Indian Air Force.

Leonard

Photos and text © by Leonard Prakasam