Amerikan MiGs, or.....Red Eagles over Nevada.

[seadude]

For the last few months, I've been building up a small 1/144 collection of Soviet MiG aircraft. These include:
Eduard MiG-15 Dual Combo Pack (2 kits in one box)
Minicraft MiG-21
Academy MiG-23
Academy MiG-29
Academy Su-22
Trumpeter Su-27
CyberHobby Jian Ji-5 (MiG-17) in 1/72 scale cause I couldn't find a 1/144 scale weeks ago.

My plan is to create another collection display similar to what I did here:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/650/22704003151_911002aa59_b.jpg
...........but it will instead be based on the activities based on this unit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4477th_Test_and_Evaluation_Squadron

All the aircraft designations I listed above have actually (or supposedly) been tested/flown at Area 51 (Groom Lake) and/or Tonopah Test Range.
So I have a few questions to ask before I start on this project.
1. Are there any other aircraft I should include?
2. Should most aircraft be painted Silver, Camouflage, or 50/50 (Half of the collection silver, the other half camo) ?
3. Give all the aircraft Soviet markings, USAF markings, or 50/50?

[nighthunter]

How about USSSAF (United Soviet Socialist States Air Force) markings? Red star and bars?

[seadude]

How about USSSAF (United Soviet Socialist States Air Force) markings? Red star and bars?

That's only if Obama or the next President turns this country even more upside down than it already is. 

[sandiego89]

For the last few months, I've been building up a small 1/144 collection of Soviet MiG aircraft. These include:
Eduard MiG-15 Dual Combo Pack (2 kits in one box)
Minicraft MiG-21
Academy MiG-23
Academy MiG-29
Academy Su-22
Trumpeter Su-27
CyberHobby Jian Ji-5 (MiG-17) in 1/72 scale cause I couldn't find a 1/144 scale weeks ago.

My plan is to create another collection display similar to what I did here:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/650/22704003151_911002aa59_b.jpg
...........but it will instead be based on the activities based on this unit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4477th_Test_and_Evaluation_Squadron

All the aircraft designations I listed above have actually (or supposedly) been tested/flown at Area 51 (Groom Lake) and/or Tonopah Test Range.
So I have a few questions to ask before I start on this project.
1. Are there any other aircraft I should include?
2. Should most aircraft be painted Silver, Camouflage, or 50/50 (Half of the collection silver, the other half camo) ?
3. Give all the aircraft Soviet markings, USAF markings, or 50/50?

Great idea.  The Red Hats out of Groom were a mix of technical exploitation and adversary, while the Red Eagles out of Tonopah TTR were mostly aggressor aircraft. A variety of code words were used at various times and on various programs:

Have Drill: MiG 17
Have Donut: MiG 21
Have Ferry, spare MiG-17
Have Idea- and overall program code
Red Hats: Technical Exploitation, mostly out of Groom
Red Eagles: Adversary- mostly out of Tonopah.
Constant Peg
4477 test and evaluation squadron
Det 3

Paint jobs seemed to vary by the source they came from and the role you are portraying them in.  Natural metal might be a better choice for technical exploitation, camo for the adversary role.  I vote half and half for more interest.

Some choices:
MiG 15, as defected to South Korea, natural metal
MiG 17, Have Drill, Cammo
MiG 21, Have Doughnut.  Natural metal, with some simple US markings- arguably the most famous MiG flown in the US.  Those sourced from Indonesia wore a greenish two tone overall, later a green and gray two tone. A few white ones and a few multi brown ones later.     
MiG-23. A wide variety of schemes to choose from.  The gray version might be a nice contrast to the others. 
MiG 29. Ex Moldavian wore a tan/brown/green upper, gray underside. 
Su-27 ?

A 1/144 Mig 17 would be nice to complete the set. 

Like this idea.

Highly recommend books for anyone interested:
Red Eagles, Americas Secret MiGs, Steve Davies.
America's Secret Mig Squadron, Gaillard Peck

[seadude]

A 1/144 Mig 17 would be nice to complete the set.

Like this idea.

Highly recommend books for anyone interested:
Red Eagles, Americas Secret MiGs, Steve Davies.
America's Secret Mig Squadron, Gaillard Peck

I do have the MiG-17, but it's actually 1/72 and is a Ji-5. I'll have to make do with what I got. And I just recently bought on Amazon a 1/100 Tamiya MiG-19. Not sure if a MiG-19 was ever tested/flown out of Groom or Tonopah, but I'm willing to bet there was. You also missed a book too. There's also this that I have:
http://www.amazon.com/MiGs-Over-Nevada-Exploitation-Projects/dp/1499551657/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Olyv641xL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR124%2C160_&refRID=0PHJ8P4PF2W4XV2M8V2S

[KiwiZac]

I did a MiG-25 of the 4477th - what if the US held onto Belenko's machine and initiated Have Juniper and the YF-115: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,40134.0

There's a great website with a lot of period photos of real 4477th airframes, I wish I could remember where I saw it...all in B&W, though.

[seadude]

There's a great website with a lot of period photos of real 4477th airframes, I wish I could remember where I saw it...all in B&W, though.

If you do eventually remember it, please let me know.

[Spey_Phantom]

im looking forward to see those little birds 

[KiwiZac]

Found it! http://area51specialprojects.com/migs.html