Rodney Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Back in December, Waco put on a Christmas spirit trivia quiz where the participants who correctly answered questions were put in for a drawing for some great models. First, I learned that my Christmas trivia is not up to par but ended up still getting lucky and was drawn for the grand prize. Mike Reeves donated a Trumpeter Mig-23MF with Resin Cockpit and Linden Hill Decals. Zactoman pitched in the gorgeous resin splitter plate, pylons, and missiles. I promised myself that I'd build the kit this year with my goal being it has to be done before next Christmas. This GB is a good reason to get started. While waiting for the kit to arrive, I ended up purchasing every Aires resin set made for this kit. I did not know at the time that Mike was including a resin cockpit already. With so much resin and photoetch, I really expect this project to challenge my skills and time. Onto the starting point: Aftermarket from Mike and Chris: Aires sets I bought: The Aires exhaust is especially unbelievable. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Cool set of AM products! I can see how you are anticipating a challenge. Will be watching this one for sure! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Floggerman Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I took the Zacto splitter plates for my ML and of course they look good and are correct in side view (much better than Trumpy's parts) but for my next I would take Eduard as the Zacto parts have a wrong cross section. Will follow your build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Thanks guys. I've started getting the ball rolling. I've butchered the inside of the fuselage halves to fit the resin cockpit. I've done some clean up on the outside of the fuselage halved. There is a raised seam where is appears pieces of the mold come together. I've sanded those down and put some putty in the depressions. To feel like I'm making progress, I put the wings together. The only part that doesn't have resin, so I thought they'd be easy. The fit is not the greatest and required plenty of test fitting and sanding. Also, I'm filling in the holes for the wing pylons. Most of the photos show the glove pylons and under fuselage ones being used. I've primed the resin cockpit and photoetch pieces in preparation for painting. We are going to visit family for the day, so hopefully I'll get time at the bench tomorrow. The detail is unbelievable. I hope my painting is up to the task. I'm experimenting with using my I am a spammer, please report this post. to take pics and uploading them. If I have to use our camera and laptop, then I'm generally pretty bad about taking in-progress pictures. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Ok, progress has been slow. I got the Aires wheel wells installed and primed with Surfacer 1200. Been looking at some photos to use for paint references. Many of the online photoessays appear to be of museum or static aircraft where the entire well was painted gray, including the normally black lines and metal areas. Sorry, using my I am a spammer, please report this post. for pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) The cockpit has lots of detail. In fact, I've stopped work on it and ordered an Optivisor from Amazon. Should be here in a couple of days. Still have detail painting to do and then a wash a weathering. I used Drewe Anton's Tamiya paint mix for the interior color. While it may not be entirely accurate, it closely matches the Eduard Mig-21 pre-painted photo etch. I have a half dozen of those kits to build, so this gives me a nice bottle to use. I'm using Vallejo for the detail painting. Progress is slow but steady. Doesn't help that I'm working on a RF-4E and my sons soccer is in full tilt. Rodney Edited March 25, 2013 by Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 The cockpit has lots of detail. In fact, I've stopped work on it and ordered an Optivisor from Amazon. Should be here in a couple of days. Still have detail painting to do and then a wash a weathering. I used Drewe Anton's Tamiya paint mix for the interior color. While it may not be entirely accurate, it closely matches the Eduard Mig-21 pre-painted photo etch. I have a half dozen of those kits to build, so this gives me a nice bottle to use. I'm using Vallejo for the detail painting. Progress is slow but steady. Doesn't help that I'm working on a RF-4E and my sons soccer is in full tilt. Rodney Great looking cockpit. Having spent hours testing a MiG 29 simulator, with similar interior colours, I must say it took me back to those times. Soccer? We're just dreaming of the day we can remove the snow tires from the car... ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr B Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 great subject......I always was tempted to get one myself......but always put it back on the shelve......maye after seeing yours with all them goodies it will push me over the next time i am at the hobby shop...... great progress thus far.......like the details on the pit and all surrounding parts rgds mr b Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 Great looking cockpit. Having spent hours testing a MiG 29 simulator, with similar interior colours, I must say it took me back to those times. Soccer? We're just dreaming of the day we can remove the snow tires from the car... ALF Thanks, I enjoy painting cockpits. Snow tires... what are those? Just kidding. We get 1 in of snow here and they shut down the highways. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 great subject......I always was tempted to get one myself......but always put it back on the shelve......maye after seeing yours with all them goodies it will push me over the next time i am at the hobby shop...... great progress thus far.......like the details on the pit and all surrounding parts rgds mr b Thanks MrB. We'll see how it goes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 The cockpit assembly, so far, looks very nice. Will be following you build. Good luck with the rest of it. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Ok, very slow progress. I got my opti-visor in and scared myself! My painting wasn't nearly as neat as I thought it was. I went back over the cockpit and did some touch-ups and painted the switches. Also, started the weathering to show the primer and metal where pictures showed wearing of the paint would be. Next, I'll be shooting some gloss so I can put in a wash tomorrow. Might follow up with dry brush, we'll have to see. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Here are some pics of the front console and HUD area. I used Tamiya Nato Black for the base color and then airbrushed dark grey for high lights. Also, painted a couple of cables in grey and black. It looks to be a little to much contrast under the hobby room lights but not bad when they are off. After a gloss coat, wash, flat coat, I'm sure the contrast will almost disappear. Hopefully, it will still be seen but not stand out. With hobby lights on: Without extra lights: This took several rounds of painting. Black - fix with interior color - black - fix.... Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Youngtiger1 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Great work Rodney. I'm working on a ML version of this Mig. Watch out for the Aires exhaust...the fit will require some serious attention :bandhead2:/> The cockpit is looking great, btw :thumbsup:/> Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 Progress is moving at a glacial pace.... Finally got the photo-etch layers put together, wash done, and a little dry brushing. Now, I can glue the cockpit in and put the two halves together. Soccer and the birthday season are over. So, I should get more hobby time.... Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 That is so amazingly good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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