MiG-21 is a Soviet Union as the Phantom is the West. This is the simple mathematical ratio that regulated the Cold War and well known to all lovers of that period. Argument MiG-21 is so vast and so vastly documented that I have neither the time nor the space nor the desire (I'm lazy, not vogliatemene!) For knowledge! Suffice it to say only that it was used on all fronts and in all conflicts that have bloodied the planet over the last fifty years, from the most known (Vietnam and Afghanistan) to those passed over in silence the most remote parts of the globe. In the hands of Vietnamese pilots proved a tenacious opponent more than valid for the Americans and were not rare in which the haughty Yankees were just going out with broken bones and hanging on a parachute! Phantom and F-105 were among the favorite victims of communist Fishbed. And not even the legendary pin had an easy time against the MiG: ask the pilots Pakistanis played properly by Fishbed Indians! Less well for our little hero went into the theater average - East. In the fighting against Israeli aircraft, superior in technology but also driven by men addestratissimi and determined to fight for the survival of their state, the MiG-21 were clearly outclassed. If you have the advent of the Mirage III is a major problem, the arrival of more modern F-15 and F-16 meant the end: During the 1982 clashes in the Bekaa MiG Arabs were annihilated without even manage to touch a plane enemy.
Notes modeling:
Always supported the thesis that the planes with more than camouflage tones were too difficult to make (never ask limits in life, but later I finally understood!), When I finally decided to make "the leap" with the MiG-15 already published on these columns, was opened to me a world! "You see," I said "that not only are not so difficult to achieve, but are also a lot of fun?"
End Office Topic, come to us!
To give a little 'color to my window, I chose a beautiful Syrian MiG-21 Bis, set precisely in 1982, most likely a victim of the Falcon and Eagle with the Star of David. The box is starting in Academy 1 / 48, that contrary to what is written on the box art, not a MF but an encore. Because I am quite ignorant on the subject, I learned from this read reviews online and a comparison with the guru of the MiG, Gianni Cassi, as usual, kind available in the avoidance of doubt, my! Since the cockpit is a bit 'thin, I have used that in resin neomega. To complete the shopping list CMK resin wheels and decals sheet of Tally-Ho "Focus on Fishbed Part 2" which offers a selection of former Yugoslav MiG monogrigio livery in all but I wanted to avoid at all costs as well as my Syrian MF and an Egyptian.
Built
For some 'time my philosophy modeling leads me to make models as well as post-box, without too many anxieties of mind, but the interior in this kit is really a joke, perhaps even for the smallest 1 / 72 . So a nice shot for goal worthy of the best Michael Jordan and the pieces are gone straight to the trash (obviously with a great shot, hit by 3 points!). neomega pieces are sublime in my own opinion and have the advantage not just to adapt perfectly to the kit destination. The secret? In practice neomega pieces are nothing but the same kit with detailed perfection and printed in resin.
Chapter coloring: the interiors of the late 21 series are in that blue turquoise to that of the pilots very relaxing (de gustibus ...): Everyone has their own recipe, in person at home while having the tint Model Master, not wanting to pollute the kitchen with miasma enamel (I tried it once, it took the gas masks and cook the fish does not become the best thing) I used the emerald green of Gunze. Too green? Too fired? Maybe, pero me gusta mucho! Tools in matte black and the subsequent drop of Future to simulate the slides, washing with Van Dyck and drybrush brown and white this first chapter we can say closed. The remainder of the installation will proceed without too many anxieties of mind: the joints are perfect, maybe the exhaust is to replace (the lucky owners of the set MF Detail, unfortunately unavailable due to the activities of the firm ceased Hungarian). Remember to weigh down the nose, or your model will assume a less than pleasant attitude sitting.
Receptacles trucks are in gray Gunze H-308 by washing with Payne's Gray, as well as trucks, while the radar cone and the wheels, as well as dielectric are green Gunze H-302.
And so in less than no time, here we come to color.
As I usually become a bit 'of time, I used Gunze acrylics, diluted as suggested in his articles in the abovementioned Gianni Cassi: in a jar of Gunze put three or four shots from fishing, then fill to the brim with alcohol pink and you're done! So I'm a real bomb and stretch that is a pleasure!
As mentioned, my choice fell on a copy of Syrian-catching camouflage painted with four tones: the sand with bands of green and gray for the tops, blue for areas below. Below the colors I used.
- Sand: H-313
- Green: H-303
- Gray: H-317
- Blue: H-67
I laid out all the colors (freehand, with the exception of the boundary between the sand and the blue that was clear), I proceeded to a slight (maybe too much ... the lenses are aligned everything! It's all experience that will be useful to the next model) post-shading: the color of already diluted basis, I added a drop of white opaque and further alcohol. Seeing is believing! Then coat of Future and dry black oil. Another mistake, which will avoid next time: before doing the washing, put the decals and then do the washing! Put a few decals (one of the virtues of those Soviet planes ... the F-15 will be much more music!) I gave it another coat of Future to seal everything, and then finally passed through an opaque Lifecolor. The assembly of small details have finished my work.
Conclusion:
A fun kit, a short work, a splash of color in my dashboard. All in all these villains are just fascinating, and in fact in less than no time on my shelf is filled with boxes of subjects of the Iron Curtain. I think you will become an issue that will pursue in parallel to my love they are and remain the aircraft of the RAF.
Good model.
Alessandro Gennari.
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