Thread started by Skyhiker
Skyhikeradded a new photoalbum.
33 5 November, 23:02
Skyhiker AuthorSome KP kit are great and others are totally the opposite. Gotta love em.
1 6 November, 02:01
Ben MI've built the Su-7 and MiG-15 uti. Nobody would accuse them of fitting together. But I love them for some reason.
6 November, 02:03
Rui DI built the MiG-17 and experience very similar quality. Check out pictures 8 and 9 as well as 14 and 15
MiG-17PF Fresco D, 11 Fighter Aviation Regiment, Czechoslovak Air Force | Album by GrenadeBait (1:72)
1 6 November, 03:39
Skyhiker AuthorI hope this doesn't need weight in the nose because I forgot to put some in.
1 6 November, 08:42
Robert PodkońskiAs a kid I loved the KP kits - these were much better than the ones produced in Poland or SSSR and quite easily avaliable (contrary to Western produced ones...). I suppose it needs weight in the nose, nevertheless...
6 November, 08:59
Skyhiker AuthorI decided to test the landing gear to see if I need weight in the nose and the front landing gear fell out of my hand and is no where to be found. I don't have carpet so I can't understand why it is not here but it must have hit a time warp. It will show up again after I scratch build a new one just to taunt me.
1 6 November, 09:59
Ben MThe MiG-15 UTI required nose weight as well. I have tile floor in my hobby room so when things fall I can't blame the carpet monster but sometimes things shoot off in unexpected directions. And sometimes they teleport to an alternate dimension.
4 6 November, 12:11
Skyhiker AuthorHi Lukasz. These nostalgic kits are definitely not for beginners. It's a real challenge to get them to look good. But I'm pretty sure it's safe for you to get yours out and build it. With over 100 kits finished I think you qualify.
2 6 November, 19:43
Skyhiker AuthorFor some reason I can't manage any of my albums so it might be a while before I can change the cover image again. Still uploading images of my progress though.
2 6 November, 20:55
Łukasz GlińskiPity you haven't warned us earlier, I think I have spare Extratech PE somewhere
One for UTI as well
1 6 November, 21:39
Skyhiker AuthorThat's kind Lukasz, but I managed to build a new wheel. Hopefully this one won't fly across the room.
2 6 November, 22:05
Skyhiker AuthorRather than fight the raised rivets I decided to use them to the best of my ability. So, I have foiled the wings and I am pretty happy with the results.
2 9 November, 22:09
Skyhiker AuthorI think the foil is the best approach to these older kits with raised details. Silver paint tends to look rough unless you can sand and polish the surface. Since the Mig 15 was initially bare metal finish and wasn't painted silver until it came up to be serviced for the first time I'm still historically accurate. Unfortunately I don't have any Soviet decals for this project yet and the decals in the box are from 1979 and have yellowed beyond repair.
1 10 November, 17:43
Ben MSo MiG-15s were bare metal out of the factory and then sometimes/always painted with aluminum paint after that? If true this would explain a lot of pictures I've seen. I always thought it was just the metal oxidizing and getting dirty over time.
The wings look great.
2 10 November, 18:24
Robert PodkońskiThat's exactly the case, Ben. Soviet planes from the Cold War era never were shiny, due to the layer of aluminium paint overall.
2 10 November, 18:42
Łukasz GlińskiSkyhiker, what decals are you exactly looking for? I might have some in my stash that might fit
1 10 November, 21:07
Skyhiker AuthorLukasz I'd like to get ahold of some Soviet stars and numbers. Robert is also looking in his stash to see if he has any extras. Maybe we can scrounge together something.
1 10 November, 22:00
Łukasz GlińskiHere's what I have for Fagots and Floras in 1/72 - not interested in the Soviet markings
[img1]
2 10 November, 22:41
Skyhiker AuthorBen, it is my understanding that the early MiG-15s came out of the factory with a bare metal finish and that they were painted with a silver color named 170 when they came up to be serviced for the first time. But this 170 was not durable and tended to peel. It also required hot drying, making it difficult to repair. 170 was replaced in 1951 with a transparent varnish (9-32) that was more resistant and didn't need hot curing. Later, the varnish was mixed with 6% aluminum powder to create a more durable metallic finish (9-32Al). However some aircraft were left with the natural metal finish covered with a clear lacquer (9-32). The finish was not usually as polished as modern chrome finishes. However I have seen some mig-15s with mirror finishes.
Here is a walk around where you can clearly see the silver varnish (9-32Al),.:
Youtube Video
Here is an example of a mig-15 with a polished natural metal finish:
Youtube Video
2 10 November, 22:41
Ben MThank you, that's fascinating! When I did my MiG-15 UTI, I only did the air brakes and gun blast panel different shades because all the pics I saw didn't seem to show a lot of differentiation between panels which makes sense if it's been painted with aluminum paint overall.
1 11 November, 03:42
Skyhiker AuthorI knocked off two of the guns while putting the foil on. Right now the foil is not polished. I'm debating whether I should leave it like this or buff it up to a reflective surface. I'm not sure which would look more realistic.
1 14 November, 10:24
Łukasz GlińskiOur ones were never shiny, not sure if the Soviets spent any time on polishing, but it's very likely they didn't (and drank sth stronger instead 😉)
2 14 November, 12:03
Skyhiker AuthorMost of the MiGs were eventually painted. But I agree I doubt the Soviets would waist good cleaning fluid on cleaning.
2 14 November, 13:09
Michael KohlAn ol soviet airplane mechanic confirmed your info Skyhiker. He pointed out that you can color those planes in every imaginable silver/aluminum color shade and combination you want and always be sure you are (in)accurate. 😉
2 14 November, 19:41
Desert MarlinThere is something very Soviet about allowing a good 'ol layer of oxidation to prevail!!!
1 14 November, 19:44
Skyhiker AuthorI think the next time I do another one of these older KP kits I will put the extra work into re-scribing the panel lines and rivets. I felt like going totally old school on this one and keeping it authentic to the kit, but the anachronistic surface seems pretty busy to me. It was a fun experiment but I prefer to have them come out a little more realistic. That being said I do like the results its just I know how much better it could be if I'm not faithful to the 1979 era.
2 18 November, 09:42
Skyhiker AuthorI just need to add the decals when they arrive and the antenna wire.
2 23 November, 09:46
Skyhiker AuthorThe decals are on and the antenna is attached. I just have to paint the antenna wire and eventually I will add board numbers, but I have to order them. Thanks to Robert Podkoński and Łukasz Gliński for helping me out with the decals. Very much appreciated.
3 26 November, 11:05
Skyhiker AuthorThis took me a little bit longer than I expected, but that's because I was experimenting and waiting for decals. I used aluminum foil and gold leaf sizeing instead of the aluminum duct tape basically for practice. The tape is a lot faster and the same quality. I left the raised panel lines and rivets just to see how it would look and to have an old school feel to the model, but I prefer sanding everything off and re-scribing, because it dramaticly improves the quality. I have a few more old KP kits in my stash that I picked up cheap, so those will get a little more attention than this one did. After all there is no need for my models to look like toys. That being said I'm still pretty happy with how this little experiment came out.
1 26 November, 11:23
Łukasz GlińskiIn case you plan to pimp up you Midget, my PE fret offer is still valid. I'm going to build mine OOB.
MiG-15 UTI Midget (Extratech EX 72028, 1:72)
1 26 November, 13:12
Skyhiker AuthorI got tired of waiting for the side numbers so I'm calling this one finished. It was an interesting experience. I tried to stay faithful to the original raised details and do the best I could with them. In retrospect I think I should have rescribed them and will with my next KP mig.
1 9 December, 10:11
bughunterWhat a ride this project has been! I guess this is smaller then the photos on my monitor. You captured the look of this metal bird very well.
1 10 December, 07:27