The Mig-21 chronicle.

This is the latest fighter that has sneaked into my workbench, Eduard´s 1/48 Mig-21 MF. This aircraft represents the essence of the Cold War Soviet air strategy. A mass production war machine designed to clutter up those ever watching airfields behind the menacing Iron Curtain.
I have chosen a bare metal scheme which best represents my vision of this machine. From the factory right to the battlefield, just enough time to paint the red stars (and plenty of lettering).
The background of the photos is a beautiful digital artwork by Gino Marcomini on Oxygino.com

The Eduard kit is really nice, though I would like a little bigger riveting. Maybe Eduard and Trumpeter should agree a midway position. :)  

I started with the detailing of the tail panels. Styrene pieces, electrical wire, adhesive tape, stretched sprue...you know, the usual stuff:

After the painting I attached the remaining elements and wires. The small decals to imitate signs -and some elements too small to be painted- look really nice (in my humble opinion...). Don´t be shy, click the pic to enlarge: 

And that´s all for now. The next step is the detailing of the avionic bays beside the cockpit. Next week.

Q

GUEST GALLERY: SBD-3 Dauntless 1/32 by TOMÁS DE LA FUENTE.

Another Navy bird. This time the Trumpeter 1/32 Dauntless by Tomás de la Fuente. Tomás is one of those few modellers with the capacity of making models of any country, age or scale and keep the same realistic touch. I admire his way of weathering with subtle but very attractive effects. Notice how Tomás superbly imitated the degraded paint effect, the exhaust staining or the characteristic chipping of the Navy aircrafts. And the detailing and paintjob of the cockpits is equally amazing.
A wonderful piece, no doubt.

Q