The Mig-21 chronicle (8).

Ok, a final update with photos of the finished quick diorama. Just some elements to put the Mig into context.
I used a Soviet Hex Airfield from Uschi Van Der Rosten, an Ural fuel tanker from Balaton Models, a soviet weapons loading cart by Aerobonus, photoetched wheel chocks from Brengun and a photoetched ladder from Eduard.
The gorgeous photos were shooted by Ricardo Rodríguez.

Here is the link for the whole aircraft photos: Mig-21

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The Mig-21 chronicle (7).

Back in business. Eduard´s Brassin landing gear is finally assembled. The end is near...

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The Mig-21 chronicle (6).

Ok, the painting&weathering process is almost finished. Only some weathering in the green areas is needed to fade and stain them.
Now a summer break to make other things... a winter tank maybe.  :)

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The Mig-21 chronicle (5).

Ok, this is the last effort before beggin with the exterior painting. These are Eduard´s brassin wells, they have a really nice detail.

The fitting is perfect. There are still some wires and details that I will add later.

With the wings and fuselage assembled, the model is ready for painting. At last!

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The Mig-21 chronicle (4).

A new update on this project. The avionics compartment behind the cockpit fitted much better than the cockpit, both from Aires. I only added some wires.

The windshield and canopy detailed and painted only in the inner side, so far. I used Eduard photoetched sheet and some scratch pieces.

At this point the model is ready to paint the main landing gear wells and assemble the wings.

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The Mig-21 chronicle (3).

Cockpit done and fuselage closed! This step has been hard. Not an easy thing to fit an Aires resin inside an Eduard kit, especially if the resin is for the Academy Kit. But there is hardly anything that a motivated modeller cannot fit with files and putty. The McGiver School.

I also used Eduard´s pre-painted photoetched for the control panel and some clocks. To save some effort. :)

I think it looks really nice so far. There are still some wires to be added in the front part before gluing the windshield, along with the HUD screen. 

Now I can add the windshield and canopy, as well as the final avionics panel behind the cockpit (also from Aires). But that´s another story...

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The Mig-21 chronicle (2).

Some update on this project. These are the avionics bays next to the cockpit. The only difference with the fin panels detailing is that here I had to build not only the avionics but also the bays. It was not difficult anyway.

I used Verlinden´s Lock On Nº21 and Mig-21 in detail by Wings and Wheels Publications to detail this zone. Terrific books both of them. Maybe I will add some unplugged wires hanging down from the panels...but that would be after painting the fuselage. The frames of the panels need some scratches and weathering but that will be later.

Now I´m trying to fit the Aires cockpit for the Academy kit inside this Eduard model, wish me luck.

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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.

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