Cossack F.1-Finished!

AeroplaneDriver · July 09, 2008, 01:39:54 PM

Well chaps, I'm finally getting around to starting this one. It took ages to decide on a kit to build. When my Airfix Meteor F.8 arrived on Monday I thought "USAF Korea!", then I started eyeing a Revell Tiger as a Royal Marine gunship, then it was an Italeri Goshawk as a Royal Navy Hawk T.2, but finally I settled on the lovely little Fujimi MiG-21MF that's been sitting patiently in the stash for about 3 years. So without further delay...

On July 28, 1976 two RAF Lightnings were scrambled from RAF Gutersloh to intercept a pair of fast moving targets inbound from northwest Czechoslovakia. Intercepting the two targets just inside West German airspace there were tense moments as the RAF fighters armed their Red Top missiles. However, when interecepted the two aircraft, which turned out to be a pair of Czech Mig-21s, complied with international interception procedures and indicated a wish to defect. The two Migs were escorted to RAF Gutersloh, where under great secrecy they were studied and the pilot's debriefed. Within two weeks a Shorts Belfast arrived at Gutersloh to remove the Migs under cover of darkness. Little else was known of what happened to the Migs until they resurfaced two years later, both at Boscombe Down, one in what would be best described as "Aggressor" colors, the other in the famous Boscombe Raspberry Ripple...

Note the bread clips slowly starting to invade the bench...

Brian da Basher · July 09, 2008, 02:33:01 PM

Quote from: AeroplaneDriver on July 09, 2008, 01:39:54 PM
<snip>
Note the bread clips slowly starting to invade the bench...

Welcome to the Dark Side.

Brian da Basher

AeroplaneDriver · July 09, 2008, 06:05:23 PM

Making good progress tonight. I've just got to put another coat of paint on the radome and the fuselage halves will be ready to join together.

Here's a shot of the 'pit before gluing into the fuselage.

I've got photoetch details in an Eduard L139 kit, and may break down and put one of the beautiful pre-painted ejection seat handles in this kit. Not certain about that yet though.

AeroplaneDriver · July 09, 2008, 11:55:23 PM

Well after a late night modelling session with a nice pint of Newcastle Brown Ale and an Inspector Morse DVD, major construction is complete. THis really is a lovely little kit, with no fit issues so far. Only a couple of areas needed any filler at all, the join beteen the base of the fin and the hump, which took a little Squadron Green, and the join between the left fuselage and the hump/fin, which only took a swipe of white-out to smooth out nicely. There is also a dab of putty on the fuselage seam on the bottom aft of the nosegear, but that's it. A nice change after a Monogram Hornet last month!

The wings arent on yet, since I think I'm going to go with a Raspberry Ripple scheme, with the demarcation at the wing. Fit is really nice at the wingroot, so I'll probably paint it then fit the wings.

I was going to post another pic, but the Photobucket monkeys seem to be cleaning out their cage at the moment.

More tomorrow!

nev · July 10, 2008, 12:50:28 AM

Nick, that cockpit is OUTSTANDING!!!

I can see you are taking retaining your title seriously!

As for PB, I just loaded my last IP pics directly onto the forum.

Gary · July 10, 2008, 05:24:46 AM

That pit is amazing. 1/32nd scale, right?

AeroplaneDriver · July 10, 2008, 08:54:29 AM

Nothing exciting, but here is the progress pic from last night:

Later this afternoon I'll be jumping back in on this and hope to get most of the painting done today.

Patrick H · July 10, 2008, 10:17:06 AM

great pit you've made. looking forward to the completed model.

John Howling Mouse · July 10, 2008, 11:53:43 AM

I find it hard to believe you and I built the same kit, with your image of that cockpit. Mine came out looking like some mass-produced toy compared with yours. Wish I could watch you work and learn how to make my cockpits look that perfect. Most impressive.

ysi_maniac · July 10, 2008, 12:09:55 PM

Quote from: AeroplaneDriver on July 09, 2008, 06:05:23 PM
Making good progress tonight. I've just got to put another coat of paint on the radome and the fuselage halves will be ready to join together.

Here's a shot of the 'pit before gluing into the fuselage.

I've got photoetch details in an Eduard L139 kit, and may break down and put one of the beautiful pre-painted ejection seat handles in this kit. Not certain about that yet though.

Nice cockpit

AeroplaneDriver · July 10, 2008, 01:31:45 PM

Wel I just finished my absolute least favorite part of building a model; masking the canopy/windshield. First paint should be going on shortly.

AeroplaneDriver · July 10, 2008, 04:00:53 PM

Just sprayed a silver primer coat to check the seams and I have a problem! This airplane looks sooooo good in NMF that I dont want to paint it anymore!!

Must....stick....to....plan....must.....ignore.....voices.....

cthulhu77 · July 10, 2008, 07:09:30 PM

one thing that is fun about art, you get to change your mind in midstream. I think a bmf would look perfect on that bird!

Weaver · July 11, 2008, 01:20:07 AM

Seriously nice cockpit - I'm deeply jealous...

Diorama idea (not in time for the GB finish, obviously): In the UK, some Russian Dneiper/Ural motorcycles were imported and sold under the "Cossack" brand. Now these bikes are essentially pre-war BMW flat twins, so you MUST be able to find one in a WWII "German Recce Set" or some such thing.

So how about a publicicty shoot, with the bike (in civilian colours) posed under the MiG, in the same way that Jaguar posed one of their cars under an Anglo-French strike aircraft?

AeroplaneDriver · July 11, 2008, 02:37:20 AM

Two-thirds of the Raspbery Ripple went on last night. Got to finish the blue today, then on to decaling.

Not the best pic Im afraid, but it looks pretty decent in person.