#2 DONE (@ p.7)+++ MiG-71.2 "Fastback" prototype, a 90ies MiG-31 successor

[Dizzyfugu]

Not much progress, due to sickness. Did some more work around the nose (canopy and canard-things), and starting adding surface details. Some work was also done in the weapons bay, and an adapter in the main landing gear well for a display arm was added, too, for later in-flight scenes. This thing is so huge and offers no stable attachment points that my normal methods will not work, so I will use a firm  4mm diameter steel rod for the later pics.

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurewitsch Izdeliye 71.2 "жура́вль" (Crane); 2nd prototype at Savasleyka Air Base, 1995 (Whif/kit-bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurewitsch Izdeliye 71.2 "жура́вль" (Crane); 2nd prototype at Savasleyka Air Base, 1995 (Whif/kit-bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[zenrat]

As a matter of interest, how long is it?
Not that I want to get into a fight over who is building the longest GB entry or anything...

[Dizzyfugu]

This morning I added the afterburner fairings, and now the total size (incl. pitot) is a whopping 37.7 cm (14.8"). 27m/89' in real life. But the Tu-28 was 30m long...

Besides, after adding some small air scoops and antennae, painting has started!

[Dizzyfugu]

71209600 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

71209603 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

71209605 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Gondor]

I think the wings are too short 

Gondor

[63cpe]

ow, yes....ow, yes that's wild man...... a wicked and beautiful piece of kitbashing, PSR and perseverance.....

Now, i'll have to start my PSR too.... had some delays as daytime job took a lot of time...

David

[PR19_Kit]

That's AWESOME Thomas! Very Gerry Anderson indeed. 

It looks pretty good, albeit a tad unstable, even without the tricky tailplanes.

[Snowtrooper]

Looks totally crazy - huge engines, tiny wings, looooooong nose, crazy landing gear layout, wtfhueg size just to carry two long-range air-to-air missiles - just as a Soviet prototype should!

[jalles]

Every time I look at this I like it more and more.  It just looks sooo... Soviet.

I'm surprised about the wing comments, I wonder if the black leading edges and the dark background make the wings look smaller than they are.  I think they look great!

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you. With the main wings only, the whole thing really looks a bit wacky. But I agree that the black leading edges, as well as the slightly lighter flaps, are a little visually deceiving. And then there are also the relatively large stabilizers, which change the look completely when in place. I personally do not think that they are soo small - I was sceptical at first and considered a plug extension, but I could hardly make them deeper. Eventually, I went with them as is: The Tornado wings are also relatively small for the bulky aicraft, as well as a Su-17/22's, and this one has also such a well-blended body that one can still argue that a good amount of lift is generated through the fuselage (as is the case with the MiG-31 that has s similar performance profile). 

Anyway, good sign that this one stirs controversial comments. Seems to make people think, wonder, and maybe believe... I am already looking forward to the comments on Flickr, or when my "fans" in the Ukraine from alternathistory.org get in on their radar...  I have already plans for typical, corny/blurred beauty pics of this piece in flight... 

Last step was a dark, blue-grey radome on the nose and under the tail, and this changed the look again. Very Foxbat-ish now! With Red Stars, the "Fastback" will look very Soviet and proposeful. 

Basic paint is drying now, and this evening I'll add a black ink wash and start fine-tuning, esp. the black sections.

[zenrat]

Looking good Dizz.  Can't wait to see it all painted up.
My Brawler is 40cm long BTW & still growing...

[Dizzyfugu]

But that's a bomber, not a fighter/interceptor...   

[NARSES2]

Thank you. With the main wings only, the whole thing really looks a bit wacky. But I agree that the black leading edges, as well as the slightly lighter flaps, are a little visually deceiving.

Very much so. When I read jalles comment I went back and had another look. I saw them properly this time 

[Dizzyfugu]

Some pics from the marginal recent progress:

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurewitsch Izdeliye 71.2 "жура́вль" (Crane); 2nd prototype at Savasleyka Air Base, 1995 (Whif/kit-bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurewitsch Izdeliye 71.2 "жура́вль" (Crane); 2nd prototype at Savasleyka Air Base, 1995 (Whif/kit-bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurewitsch Izdeliye 71.2 "жура́вль" (Crane); 2nd prototype at Savasleyka Air Base, 1995 (Whif/kit-bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


...and finally with a grey radome, paint still wet and shiny. 

1:72 Mikoyan-Gurewitsch Izdeliye 71.2 "жура́вль" (Crane); 2nd prototype at Savasleyka Air Base, 1995 (Whif/kit-bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[loupgarou]

Fantastic, Dizzy. A real soviet moster.