Migina 1 - profile by Arc3371

[Mossie]

Asymetric load out, nice!  Nearly done, not long to go....

[Weaver]

DEFENDERS OF THE REVOLUTION #3

FIAT-MIKOYAN MIF-91 "MIGINA 1"

Here it is our privilege to present another of the mighty aircraft with which the brave pilots of the PRGMDF ensure that never again shall the People's Republic of Greater Manchester labour under capitalist tyranny, the much-loved Migina-1. Supplied by our revolutionary brothers in arms from the Free City of Turin, these formidable close-support aircraft strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, even as they strike down their bodies with their unstoppable firepower.

When the glorious Turin Revolution broke out in 1960 it was a great day for International Communism, and our comrades in the Fiat aircraft factory were at the very forefront of the popular uprising which overthrew the corrupt and rotten regime. Unfortunately, their revolutionary zeal was so great that it even came to the attention of the greedy and complacent management, who conspired with traitors and fifth columnists to rob the workers of their just deserts. On the day after the glorious revolution, they discovered that the entire management and design team had fled like rats, taking with them or destroying, all the engineering drawings for the factory's principle product, the G.91 light strike fighter! These bourgeois turncoats subsequently re-surfaced in Rome, and continue to produce an inferior copy of the G.91 to this day. What's more, the venal industrialists who had been their former partners in exploitation immediately refused to sell engines and components to the factory, making it impossible to complete aircraft despite the unmatched skill of the workers.

Not downhearted for a moment, the new Factory Soviet took stock. The only engine that they did produce on-site was the small but immensely powerful Pipistrello P-12 intended for training aircraft, so it was obvious that new and superior aircraft must be designed around a pair of these engines. Fortunately, there are designers in the world who are not shackled to the political machinations of reactionary monarchy and who are willing to do an honest day's work for a noble cause for an honest day's pay. One such was the late, great Artem Mikoyan, whose design bureau is still providing honest and neutral service around the world to this day. Despite the small remuneration which the Free City could provide, Mikoyan adapted one of his very best and most powerful designs to take the Fiat engines, and so the Mighty Migina was born! The aircraft was an instant success and has been exported in enormous quantities to support the Communist cause the world over ever since. Although officially known as the MiF-91, the "Migina" nickname is a universal measure of the affection with which all free Socialist peoples regard this outstanding aircraft.

Greater Manchester has acquired several batches of MiF-91s since the first aircraft arrived, to scenes of  spontaneous jubilation, in 1968. Specialising in the Close Air Support of  our heroic ground forces, the Migina provides unparalleled speed and manoeuvrability, due to it's pair of 2,500lb thrust Fiat Pippistrello P-12 engines. The distinctive sound of these units has lead to fearful enemy troops giving it another nickname: Whistling Death.

Operating from Barton Field and a number of other, secret locations within PRGM territory, the MiF-91's small size, short take-off and landing run and benign handling allow it to provide it's firepower with unmatched flexibility, and then withdraw before the stunned opposition can mount a response. That firepower is formidable too! With two Interarms Nudelmann-Richardson 30mm cannons and four Interarms 13mm machine guns it can devastate any ground target, whilst four hardpoints carry an enormous weight of bombs, including the fragmentation and concrete-piercing types shown here, and 50mm rockets which can destroy any vehicle.

PRGMDF Miginas are now being re-painted in an subtle and highly effective camouflage, suitable to the urban nature of the territory they defend. Developed by a team at Manchester People's University, this camouflage proves once again that nothing can defeat the ingenuity of the proletariat, once freed from the capitalist yoke. Have no fear Comrades, the Miginas will be here, defending the revolution, for a long time to come!

[Logan Hartke]

Man that looks nice.  Great job, Weaver.

Logan Hartke

[Weaver]

Gawd it's hard work spouting bullsh1t!

Anyway, here's the build summary:

Scale: 1/72nd
Nose and canopy: Airfix Fiat G.91
Rest of airframe: A-Model MiG-9
Rocket pods and stand: KP MiG-19
Bombs: unknown, courtesy of B777LR. Scratchbuilt rails.
PRGM decals: own design and print, all others from the G.91, the MiG and an Airfix Hawk.






Well it is a tribute build, right?  




I've just realised that I forgot to put gun gas marks on the front of the cannon pods!  
The stand wires go through holes in the bee in the middle of the centre roundel (added because stores obscure the wing ones and blue-on-blue AAA fire is a big issue in PW)




Not a bad facsimile, I think...... That was the end of the photo session, as I'd knocked the other rocket pod off by then....


Thanks very much to Arc-3371 both for the excellent original idea and for being willing to modify it to accomodate my lack of skill. Thanks to B777LR for the bombs, and thanks to everyone who helped, advised and encouraged.  

[Ed S]

Bravo!   This one turned out great.  Good job, Weaver.



Ed

[sotoolslinger]

Really turned out beautiful Excellent job

[pyro-manic]

That is just gorgeous. Absolutely flawless.  I think you might be onto a winner here, Weaver!

[ysi_maniac]

Highest quality modelling/whiffing: inception, building, painting ...

Beautiful

[Arc3371]

It is amazing   Good backstory as well, I have really enjoyed following this build which i thought was madness when it began (much like the other MiGina build).

I am honored you choose one of my profiles and and I am delighted to see how well you were able to turn it into plastic.

[Mossie]

That's quite a stand out paint job, but the decals make it.  Fantastic!

[Weaver]

Thanks for the kind words folks - I really appreciate it. 

In all fairness though, I've got to point out that it's anything but "flawless". There's NO cockpit interior, the u/c doors are a poor fit, one of the engine nozzles dryed crooked overnight (buggered if I know how that happened, since it was straight when I left it and the plane hadn't moved  ), the paint masking is rough in places and has suffered "creep" and some of the decals are WAY over-shiney and ragged edged.

Don't get me wrong: I AM very pleased with it, but as ever, the degree to which digital photography flatters disturbs me.

[sotoolslinger]

At least yours is finished

[ChernayaAkula]

Fantastic!  The personalized tribute markings are a nice touch! 

[Brian da Basher]

Absolutely outstanding, Weaver! Love the modifications and the totally original and pro-style camo and markings! This one may not be perfect to you, but it's a winner all the way in my eyes!!!

Brian da Basher

[Weaver]

Here we see a Migina of the PRGMDF overflying the new Hall of the People on Medlock Street, shortly before it's grand opening. The building in the background that looks like a hangar is, in fact, the G-COM exhibition centre, which used to be Central Station before rail links to the city were cut following the revolution. To the left of it, the yellow radar arrays on the top of the Beetham Military Administration building can be clearly seen.