The
Fujimi series of the ubiquitous Mig-21 series has been released some years ago
now. Although some concerns have been expressed about their accuracy they are
amongst the best engineered models of the Mig-21 family and once built they have
the look of the real machine.
My
model is built as a late Mig-21 bis of the Angolan Air Force. This aircraft is
well known because its pilot defected to Namibia. It was damaged during its
landing when it overran the runway and its front gear collapsed. Damage was
minimal and the aircraft was restored and used in South Africa for evaluation
and then for display purpose. I know photographs of this Mig from at least two
different publications : the "Mig-21" issue of the Aerofax series and
issue nr 19 of the World Air Power Journal series.
I
am lucky I bought some HAD (Hungarian Armour Decals) sheets in Budapest some
years ago, long before I started construction of my model. One of these sheets
was for Mig-21s and this Angolan machine was enclosed. To my knowledge Angolan
aircraft are not available from other sources in the 1/72nd scale, although this
aircraft decals were printed by Aeromaster in the 1/48th scale.
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The
model
Model
is well engineered, parts are sharp, panel lines are recessed and the whole is
moulded in a light grey plastic. Some have complained about the kit accuracy and
a quick test with line drawings confirms that the model is not absolutely
accurate. Still I believe if you rate accuracy/engineering/sharpness it is quite
a decent start to build a 1/72nd scale Mig-21. With a change of spine and fin
mostly, Fujimi released a line of Mig-21 models, starting from the PF series,
through the PFM, MF, RF, SMT an Bis series. The most obvious error in the series
concerns Mig-21 MF and RF boxes that share the same plastic as their Mig-21bis.
As is the MF or RF versions cannot be built from the Fujimi series as the Mig-21
MF/RF spines should be thinner than the Bis spine.
Building
Cockpit
has some details. It is decent but it does not correctly depict a late Mig-21
cockpit. Mig cockpits are busy and their walls are covered with switches and
fuse boxes. I used a PAVLA resin cockpit instead and a white metal ejection seat
by Aeroclub. Overall colour is the famous turquoise blue (or is it turquoise
green) common to Russian machines of the period. My paint is from the Xtracolour
range (X629).
The
second sub-assembly I wanted to detail was the landing gear. A mix of stretched
sprue, thin metal wire and photo etched parts did the job conveniently. A
minimal level of detailing was incorporated in the landing gear bays with thin
wire.
Le
last part one has to build before assembling main fuselage is the small jet
engine; just four parts make the job. Inner walls are a mix of dark grey and the
odd apple green that portrays the heat resisting paint the covers the hot end of
Mig-21s engines.
From
then on construction proceeds easily. There are relatively few parts, they are
sharp and any filling was minimal.
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Painting
The
decal instruction sheet was printed in colour and this plus the World Air Power
Journal photographs were used to determine camo colours. No FS or BS references
were available. If finally made my mind about which colours l'd use. I chose the
JASDF dark green (H320) and JASDF light tan (H321) from the Gunze acrylic range
for upper surfaces. Lower colour was a mix of white and RLM65 light blue also
from Gunze (H67).
I
used a very thin black permanent ink marker to depict the rivets that cover the
skin of Migs
Decals
and Finishing
I
was very prudent with decals. I had no spares and although very are sharply
printed they were kind of the same type as Hi Decals : sharp and thin but dry
and matt in aspect and I feared silvering.
Still
I wanted all the subtle tonal changes of my overall camo painting to show. I
therefore elected not to gloss varnish surfaces before decaling. With patience
and good use of softening products I managed to obtain the desired effect. Matt
varnishing was very limited and I used just a very light layer on and around
decals and on some parts of the aircraft. This gave a varied sheen to the model
much like a real machine that never has an even finish.
The
best known photographs of the aircraft show its side numbers and cockades were
severely worn at the time it defected. Although I wanted a weathered model I
elected to show its identification markings in a better shape, say in earlier
days in Angolan service.
This
model was a pleasure to build. It looks like a Mig-21 to me and I completely
forget about its inaccuracies. I believe I will build more of the series and I
already have a PF and a SMT in hand.
Add
to this that it is very exotic in my collection, being the first Angolan/African
aircraft I ever built.
Eric
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