Mikoyan MiG-17 / J-5 &
MiG-15 UTI (Conversion)
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MiG-17 & MiG-15 UTI Conversion model in 1/32 scale
Trumpeter / Hobbycraft
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Cockpits
The first area to be covered next are the cockpit areas of both kits.
The cockpit areas received bits and pieces based on looking at pictures. The kit tub is a good starting point for this. Especially the 4+ book is very useful on getting the details right. I also used pictures I made myself in various museums.
(alternatively you could use a resin cockpit set, but the cokpit is so small that you can make the detailling yourselve).
The MiG ejection seats were the first generation seats developed after the great "patriotic war" (after 1945). These seats are very simple with merely a rocket fitted to some sort of pilot carrying seat structure. I used the kit parts as starting point, added some card and strip. I drilled out the area between the headrest and backcushion.
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The cushions were painted black later on, with some straps added from tape and buckles from etched metal from the spares box.
The instrument panels were made from card, the instruments faces drilled out. The card was painted black. I than added aft of the sheet thin acetate clear sheet. Next steps was to add the instruments aft of the clear sheet. These were obtained from a home-made instrument print from which I cut out various instruments.
On the instrument panel, the white vertical line is very often seen in the MiGs.
Basically the MiG-15 and MiG-17 cockpits are quite identical. The main area to add details is aft on the side boxes on the right and adding details aft on the seat. Also, add the very prominent de-misting pipes near the cockpit edges and under the windscreen.
Also, the side controls were detailed with pieces of card and strip.
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Special attention is needed aft of the cockpit rear bulkhead. A sliding rail is present for the rear sliding canopies. (on any MiG). This was made from Slater strip. Also, there are plates with punched out weight saving holes in the canopies themselves. These were made from card.
The purchased a Squadron vacuform canopy for the MiG-15 (also useable on the MiG-17). It vastly improves the look of the model. (Part #A15 is thus than not needed).
The MiG-15UTI model got a similar treatment regarding the cockpits, but two are needed with more work on the center area. This took quite some studying as this cockpit is really well visible! Note for example the drilled out holes at the aft deck with the sliding rail.
Additional details are for example the pedals and throttles on the left sides.
and after some painting.... Also note the 2 copper coloured canopy detonation charges
Below, the MiG-15UTI rear sliding canopy can be seen (in fact a part of the FT-5 kit); it also needed some extra details, including a vertical structure made with rod.
Decalling
After these steps, the decals obtained from other kits such as the Trumpeter kit MiG-21 F13 and MiG-21 MF kits were applied.
Chinese MiG-17 / J-5
PLAAF insignia from the MiG-21 F13 were used and only a few chinese stenciiling marking. These were suggested with red paint applied with a tooth pick.
Iraqi MiG-15 UTI
Markings were obtained from the Trumpeter MiG-21 MF kit. Some smaller arabic stencilling was suggested with some black paint applied with a toothpick.
Before applying the decals, the models got a coat of gloss with Johnson Future. I also used the trick by used Future with the decals themselves to prevent silvering.
Undercarriage
The undercarriages on both kits also needed some attention. The door sink marks are filled. The tyres are from rubber and the wheelhubs are terrible representations. They are hollow at one side. I used white glue to fill the hollow sections and added some detail on the wheelhubs with a scribing tool. As the main wheels are hidden by the main doors, I did not worry to much about it.
The legs got some brake piping from thin wite and I added some detail in the main bays. These consists mainly on wires and piping with some structural stiffeners.
Also, the hinges were added on the inner doors.
Finishing
Other details that were now dealt were are:
1. The MiG-15 UTI lower trailing edge flaps (parts #B15 + B18) were added. These have some detail moulded in which is adequate. I only added some sliding rails that are needed for these flaps.
2. For the MiG-17 intake and exhaust blanking plates were made from card. This solved the problem that the exhaust area is not well detailed on the MiG-17 kit.
3. On the MiG-15 kit, the exhaust pipe was used with parts #C4+C7 with some detail added.
4. The landing light in the MiG-15UTI nose was added with its protective screen (part #D5 )
5. The guns on the MiG's noses were replaced with metal ones from hollow tubes. The UTI has only one gun/canon for training, the MiG-17 / J-5 has three guns.
Here also the UTI gun can be seen. I used a piece of hollow metal pipe to get a better result.
6. The wing tanks on the MiG-15 are usable but need some correction; first, fill the small locator gaps with white glue (and paint) as the tanks should be slightly positioned more outboard. Also, their angle relative to the wing is incorrect. Cut off 1 mm from the brace parts #C30. Add a 2 mm high piece of round rod on the rear stub; in fact this you can see on the real plane also! The tank will not be more horizontal.
(This also corrects the tank position with the drooped trailing edge flaps).
7. Two small anti-collision lights from clear sprue were added to the wingtips of both Migs (red left, green right).
8. The antennas (parts # C24 ) should have an vertical opening between the two wires. This can be cut open with some care. The positions vary on several planes, so check pictures. usually one is on the lower wing tip and one next to the left fuselage on the lower wing.
9. Pitot tubes were replaced by metal rod (paperclip); 1 is on the UTI and 2 on the MiG-17 J-5.
After completing these steps, the models got a matt coat using a combination of Johnson Future and Tamiya matting agent ; look here how....
After final finishing, add an antenna wire from thin fishing wire between the vertical fin and the forward right fuselage area. Please note that the wire ends at the fuselage (and not on the blade areal #C48).
Chinese PLAAF
Shenyang "Jian-5" J-5
number 36094
This model was kept clean with no stores or missiles parts fitted. I assume the main armament were in fact the guns with the pilot aiming using a simple gun sight...
MiG-15 UTI ,
Iraqi AF
The MiG-15 UTI was used for pilot training by the Iraqi AF as in many air forces.
Yes, it took some time and but now .... a couple of unique nice MiG models in the collection.....
The MiG-15UTI is unique as there was no existing 1/32 kit of this sub-type on the market in 1/32 scale. (nowadays there is a HPH resin kit).
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Created this page August 5, 2006