DONE +++ MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Lithuanian Air Force, 1999

[Dizzyfugu]

Since zenrat "revealed" his project, I'll announce mine, too, while eagerly watching the clock moving soooo slowly... From my bench comes a whiffy MiG-21: a MiG-21bis modernized by IAI and Aerostar of Romania in the mid-Nineties to MiG-21 2000 standard (the package that was later adopted by Romania for the LanceR conversions) and operated by the Lithuanian Air Force after the country's independence.

Basis will be a Condor MiG-21-93, which is a different MiG-21 update from the IAI package but offers some similar detail changes - and I had the kit in the pile. To be mostly built OOB, but (Naturally) with some cosmetic changes and additions and a fictional livery.

I had this earmarked for the Cold War GB, but unfortunately it fell out of the time frame - but as a one-weeker it's a good project, too.  

[Dizzyfugu]

First update, even though no kit was hurt so far. An addendum to the previous post from today:

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The build's basis is the MiG-21-93 demonstrator kit from Ukrainian manufacturer Condor, one of the many reincarnations of the venerable KP MiG-21bis, but with some updates. You get, for instance, engraved, very fine panel lines, some typical details were added like the wraparound windscreen (wrong shape, though) and the radar warning fairing on the fin as well as an extra sprue with modern Russian ordnance – apparently from some other kit!

On the downside, there's overall mediocre fit due to the molds' age, some dubious details (anything appears softened or blurred...) or the simple lack thereof (e. g. there's no ventral gun fairing at all). But there's nothing that could not be mended, and after all this is just a whiffy version.

The Lithuanian Air Force as operator for this build was chosen because the MiG-21 update by IAI would not only fit into the real world timeline (even though I doubt that there would have been any budget for this aircraft at that time, even if MiG-21s had not been upgraded at all...) and because the potential livery in grey would be very simple: contemporary L-39 trainers, C-27L Spartan as well as some L-410 and Mi-8 transporters carry a uniform, dull grey livery. Why not apply it on an air superiority fighter, too?

Sort of this here, even though with mods and adaptations:






Decals/markings come primarily from a decal sheet from Blue Rider Publishing.

Stay tuned...

[Gondor]

Those are some seriously over-scale missiles in the right hand sprue at the bottom 

Gondor

[Snowtrooper]

Those are some seriously over-scale missiles in the right hand sprue at the bottom 

Not only the missiles, but the pylons too. Someone made a practical joke and inserted a 1/32 sprue into the box?

[Weaver]

Those are some seriously over-scale missiles in the right hand sprue at the bottom  

Gondor

I suspect that those are meant to be be Kh-29T ASMs (AS-14 Kedge) rather than R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) or R-73 (AA-11 Archer) AAMs. It's made by Raduga, who also make the R-60, and it shares similar aerodynamics, in the same way that aerodynamically, a Maverick is a 'big Falcon' (both made by Hughes).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-29

[Army of One]

Agree with Weaver...........got some in a 1/72 Su 25 and Su 24 kit.........

[Dizzyfugu]

Yes, those are a pair of AS-14s, and these are HUGE things - much like a GBU-8. But the MiG-21-93 actually can carry these (but nothing much else, though...). There's also a pair of R-77/AA-12 "Adder" AAMs and two Kh-31/AS-17 "Krypton" anti-radiation missiles included, even though the 21-93 can only carry a single one under the fuselage. I guess the sprue actually belongs to a Su-27, because of the gigantic pylons (which are not needed for the kit, though). Unfortunately there are no R-73 included, which were most appropriate (and shown in the box art), just a pair of crappy Atoll AAMs and rather featureless missile launchers from the KP kit basis.

Work will commence this evening. 

[Old Wombat]

Dizzy's cheating!




He's only got one build registered for the week - he needs at least 3 to be on par with mere mortals!

[Dizzyfugu]

Nah, actually the kit is already finished, but I have to time-warp back in order not to crack whatifmodelers.com's timeline continuity. Without proper care, everything could disappear in a time vortex. And Lithuania might disappear, too! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Things started moving, and just 1 hour into the build the first major issue:

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


At first cursory glance I thought it was a modified fron fuselage with an opening for the air outlet on top of the nose - but when I held the fuselage halves together it became clear that there's material missing... Also not the sinkhole on the lower side, there are more siimilar dents to be found everywhere.

One modification I'll make and which was clear before the project start is an additional exhaust tube - OOB, there's just a bulkhead in less than 1cm down the tailpipe, it looks awful. The inserted pipe is a part of a Kangnam Yak-38 engine (which is, strangely, buried in the the kit without any opening, so there's no access and nothing to be seen when you build that kit!).

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Another, ambulant mod is a different front wheel strut. The OOB piece (right side) is SO clumsy and full of flash that I cut the wheel off and transplant it onto a front wheel strut from an OV-10 Bronco (Academy). very similar length and look, more delicate, and, at any rate, an improvement.

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[nighthunter]

Egads! I've quit models that have had that issue, bravo for not stopping

[Weaver]

Well that'll slow you down a bit... (like a couple of hours...)  

Yes, those are a pair of AS-14s, and these are HUGE things - much like a GBU-8. But the MiG-21-93 actually can carry these (but nothing much else, though...). There's also a pair of R-77/AA-12 "Adder" AAMs and two Kh-31/AS-17 "Krypton" anti-radiation missiles included, even though the 21-93 can only carry a single one under the fuselage. I guess the sprue actually belongs to a Su-27, because of the gigantic pylons (which are not needed for the kit, though). Unfortunately there are no R-73 included, which were most appropriate (and shown in the box art), just a pair of crappy Atoll AAMs and rather featureless missile launchers from the KP kit basis.

Work will commence this evening.  

Some MiG-21-93s can fire the R-77/AA-12 Adder: it all depends on what version of the Phazotron Kopyo radar is fitted. Don't know about the IAI/Aerostar ones, but since Rafael made the Derby active radar AAM, I wouldn't put it past them to have incorporated that capability.

[Dizzyfugu]

Well that'll slow you down a bit... (like a couple of hours...)  

Minutes, actually. What's 2C putty for, and actually this flaw does not compromise the kits's overall quality much... 

The MiG-21 2000 was, from the start, able to operate BVR missiles from both Western and Eastern provenance, it had a very capable system. AA-11 and AA-12 were possible, not certain about AIM-120 AMRAAMs, but I think that these could be carried, too. The system was also compatible with Israeli weapons, so that my build will carry a pair of Python IIIs.

BTW, yesterday evening's progress:

The additional tailpipe in place. Normally, you are to place a bulkhead where the rim runs along the donation part - just 5mm into the fuselage!

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


With the added exhaust pipe, things look somewhat better than OOB?

The cockpit tub after basic painting and decals. The latter are (naturally) too big, everything is rather vague - it's a bit of "hit and hope" that parts belong together, and, moreover, that sub-assemblies somehow match up with the rest of the kit...

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Cockpit tub in place, as well as the intake's shock cone, plus some lead for a stable stance.

Final stage after day #1: fuselage "closed", but there's a lot of body work to do due to the many sinkholes and inaccuracies:

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Next: wings (with lowered flaps as additional detail), putty work and mating of fuselage with wings. 

[Dizzyfugu]

From late last evening: Wings and stabilizers are taken OOB, I just lower the flaps for a more lively apprearance - and because it is easy to realize.

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Wings in place, but nothing actually fits together (as expected, though - just check the gap at the left wing! The rest of the kit is similar...). Starts to look like a late MiG-21!

[Dizzyfugu]

Day #3's progress from this day.

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 2000 "Globėjas", '02 Blue' of the Naikintuvu Eskadra, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos (LK KOP/Lithuanian Air Force); Zokniai airfield, 1999 (Whif/modified MiG-21-93 Condor kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Basic assembly has been finished, and now more deliacte things like the landing gear, gun pod (from an Academy MiG-23, the OOB piece is rubbish...), blast plates, air scoops, antennae, chaff/flare dispensers or the windscreen (which, as a total surprise, actually fits!) have been added.

Painting is about to commence.