[ page 6 ]
1/72 scale kits of the MiG-15 (NATO "fagot")
...continued from page 5....
Another few Eduard kits were made which are the best MiG-15 kits in 1/72 scale.
This is the Combo set #2113 with 2 kits for CzechoSlovakian air force MiG-15 aircraft.
In this set you will find two kits for either MiG-15 or MiG-15bis (as described on page 5....)
- resin parts like pylons and rockets for a ground-attack "SB" version
- very nice colour printed etched metal fret for the instrument consoles;
- airbrush masks
- decals for no less than 10 CzechoSlovakia Air Force aircraft:
A. MiG-15bis with a blue flash on fuselage and wing;
B. MiG-15 that shot down an American F-84 Thunderjet based in Europe on March 10, 1953 as that crossed the Iron Curtain border;
C. MiG-15 with a red scheme of the aerobatic display group of 1955 air show;
D. MiG-15 of no. 1 squadron with blue checkers;
E. MiG-15bis in standard metal scheme;
F. MiG-15bis in standard metal scheme;
G. MiG-15bis with blue bands;
H. MiG-15bis in standard metal scheme;
I. MiG-15bis "SB" ground attack version of no. 30 regiment in standard metal scheme;
J. MiG-15bis "SB" ground attack version of no. 6 regiment in standard metal scheme;
General assembly is similar as described on previous page 5.
To summarize here:
Kits
are very good with nice interior which for the MiG-15 was mostly medium
grey. The seat sits a bit "too high" so I reduced
its length at the base at part C10.
The nose intake separator has 2 options: with clear part A9 with landing light or without landing light C28 for the "bis". The optionable wing halve has an extra landing light for the "bis".
Different main wheel disks are provided but it is not clear which one should be used for which scheme.
MiG-15 "SB"
The first kit in this Combo set will be made in a scheme the initial MiG-15SB ground attack version of which some aircraft were operated by the CzechoSlovakia air force. After searching on the internet a few aircraft bort numbers/ codes were found.
The Eduard kit has also 2 schemes for the MiG-15bis "SB" but I needed the "bis" for another scheme shown below. So after some searching, an older Czechoslovakia MiG-15"SB" will be made black bort code no. "0543".
The "SB" pylons and rockets of resin are in the Combo set.
The model got after assembly the metal scheme with an ALCLAD II ALC 105 Polished Aluminium coat with the usual technique. So gloss black under coat and masking with tape at various panels for suggesting some different panels. See page 2 for more info "how to".
Only a few markings are to be applied so the landing gears, doors and various smaller parts can be installed at this stage.
The "SB" had pylons and rockets. For the rockets it is indicated by Eduard that they are khaki with yellow forward section.
The ground attack "SB" aircraft was also often fitted with JATO jettisonable bottles below the lower fuselage. That would be a nice goodie. I found a good drawing in a Czech book. The bottles were made from scratch using some parts found in the spares box. They were painted dull aluminium.
All is seen here...
This is an old MiG-15 "SB" version with the landing light (still) in the air intake splitter fairing, so not seen here. Note that one rocket brook off so needs to be re-glued.
The markings for the "Cold War" CzechoSlovakia Air Force MiG-15SB were a mix of kit decals such as the roundels (diameter 11 mm) in six positions and the "bort code number" black 0543 from spare decals. Note that the number was set on the aft fuselage, so not on the nose.
Eduard provides quite some decals for the stencilling on a separate sheet. The instructions are also a separate pages with 2 styles of stencils, very nice. I added the various Czechoslovakian stencils with the "blue texts".
Before setting each decal, the decal was "dragged" through some Johnson Future/Pledge, this will help to avoid "silvering".
Weathering was only a bit done with a pencil with grey pastel around some moving surfaces and hatches. A Johnson Future/ Pledge gloss varnish coat was finally airbrushed after decalling to get an even sheen and protect decals for years to come.
Seat got some harness straps which are in the coloured etched metal fret.
The model was completed by putting a piece of metal needle for the cannon barrel and setting the canopy.
A long antenna wire from fishing line was set in place with superglue. A pitot tube was set on the right wing half made from a metal needle. That resulted in a nice MiG-15SB model completed.
CzechoSlovakia
Note the JATO bottle, a pair is fitted
Note the flat antenna panel on the spine typical for the first MiG-15 version. The long antenna wire is hard to see.
MiG-15bis
Communist China license made the Soviet MiG-15 as the J-2 in those years at the Shenyang factory. That was before the break-up between the USSR and China later.
The second kit in the Eduard Combo set was made as a MiG-15bis of a former Communist China aircraft of which the pilot defected to Taiwan. On March 3, 1962, this pilot Liu Chengsi of the Chinese PLANAF no. 8th unit flew this MiG-15 from Luqiao air base in Zhejiang to Taoyuan County, Taiwan. Liu was rewarded 1,000 taels (approximately 50 kg) of gold and allowed to stay in Taiwan.
Look at my info page here for various old articles about defectors, awards and so on.....
In Taiwan this J-2 got Taiwanese roundels but retained the Chinese red code 1765 on the nose.
The Eduard MiG-15bis model was made as described earlier on page 5 and "straight out of the box". Below the typical extra "bis" panel and repositioned landing light are seen.
The roundels came from a Flying Party Studio set FP-001 and I used the 9 mm diameter decals set in six positions (below and up on wing tips and a pair on the vertical tail).
Code "red 1765" was composed by various spare decals. Most of the decal work were the blue stripes on the rudder. I painted the rudder white and the various blue stripes came from an Xtradecal set.
Also I added some stencils as per kit with the "black texts" though not sure if these were used on this (original) Chinese MiG. Drag each small decal through some varnish like Johnson Future/Pledge, this will help to avoid "silvering".
Model completion was done similarly as described above for the other model. On the fuselage spine the "bis" blade antenna was set in place along with the long wire antenna.
For more info about the Taiwan air force, look at the AT-3 page here...
A former Communist China J-2 aircraft of which the pilot defected to Taiwan in March 1962, red 1765.
A peculiar "defected" MiG-15bis is now in the World Air Forces in Plastic collection...
Another MiG-15bis model was made, now from an EDUARD "Weekend edition" set. In this set only the basic plastic parts are found and decals for 1 single USSR aircraft.
The assembly of the kit was done as described earlier. I wanted a camouflaged MiG-15 and these were rare in the Cold War.
The Hungary air force has some camouflaged aircraft of the MiG-15bis that were operated as late as 1971 by the no. 101 regiment at Szolnok.
This MiG-15bis has the typical characteristics such as the repositioned landing light in front of the gear bay, a bit larger exhaust pipe and a blade antenna on the spine.
The model got some spares / details from the various kits made earlier such as seat harness and cockpit consoles.
For the camouflage the following colours with the Harder Steenbeck Infinity airbrush were applied:
- lower surfaces blue with AKAN 73008 acrylic;
- dark green Gunze Sangyo 303 (approx FS34102);
- dark brown Gunze Sangyo 310 (approx FS30219;
![camo]](mig-15-hungary-15.jpg)
The soft edges were achieved by holding a paper mask during airbrushing.
The markings came the spare decal box. The stars are the typical common Hungary and Romania type that were used in the 1950s.
Many stencils as per kit with the "blue texts" were added as well though not sure these were applicable on Hungarian MiGs. Drag each small decal through some varnish like Johnson Future/Pledge, this will help to avoid "silvering".
Landing gear and so on were fitted as per kit. It is unclear what style of main wheel hubs are appropriate for this Hungary MiG-15bis, 2 types are in the Eduard kit. Well, simply picked one.
A pair of slipper wing tanks were set in place, a pitot tube from a metal needle and the usual antennas like the long wire antenna, small blade antenna on the spine and the IFF antennas.
For the remainder, the model got a semi-mat varnish applied by the usual technique through an airbrushed mix of Johnson Future/ Pledge with some 15% Tamiya matting acrylic X21 "Flat base" mixed in.
HUNGARY
For info about the Hungary air force, look at the previous MiG-15 page 3 here...
MiG-15bis "044" of Hungary Air Force ( "Magyar Légiero" ) , Szolnok 1971.
... at Szolnok
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Created this page
July 22, 2019