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MiG-29A missile and reference questions


ladder4boy

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hi guys. I've never really built much in the way of Russian stuff (or modern stuff for that matter) but I recently opened my mouth at a local model club meeting and accidently offended a modeling friend of mine by saying something as harmless as "that's a great kit, but it would still look better if it was 32nd scale". who knew people take offense to stuff like that? anyhow, i'm planning on building a MiG 29A 9-12 airframe and i need info on what's good reference and what's not. i've heard that the

 

Mikoyan MiG-29 (Famous Russian Aircraft) by E. Gordon book is pretty much the bible on this aircraft, but since i can't take out a second mortgage on my house just for the book, it's a no-go. Gordon did another book "mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum" and it looks pretty comprehensive and all.. was just wondering if it had good walk-around pics and drawings in it. Also, any info on the Lock on No. 19, Janes MiG-29: at the controls, or the warbird tech vol. 41 would be mucho apreciated. I'm planning on having to scratch-build the cockpit and wheel wells on this baby, plus attempt to fix the LEX.. LERX.. whatever those things are called, so info on books with decent drawings would be helpful-ish as well.

 

 

 

Another big question is what kind of missiles would this thing be carrying in say, oh, 1986 and on which station? I'm getting ready to make a big order to an awesome resin guy in Idaho and i'd like to get the missiles when i get the other 15lbs of resin corrections that go with this thing!

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Jerry

Edited by ladder4boy
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You can't really go wrong with the Kagero book either,... great color detail shots, but not a lot on weapons I'm afraid. The Famous Russian Aircraft book is great too.

 

AG-Topshots06-Mig-29.jpg

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hi guys. I've never really built much in the way of Russian stuff (or modern stuff for that matter) but I recently opened my mouth at a local model club meeting and accidently offended a modeling friend of mine by saying something as harmless as "that's a great kit, but it would still look better if it was 32nd scale". who knew people take offense to stuff like that?

Jerry

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

A few of the most sensitive little girls make plastic model airplanes and they get into such a snit if anyone says anything critical of their magnificent efforts. Even I have been knows to put together a model or two and on occasion I, too, have been quite offended by the statement of some ignorant philistine whose knuckles were dragging on the ground.. No problem. I just hit him with my purse and he quieted right down. Of course the bricks within the purse might have had some effect on his ability to utter such offensive words again. :whistle:

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If you can find it, this is very useful book http://umm-usa.com/o...t9lb1468qnqnct4

 

Regards weapons you're better starting with the aircraft you wish to depict first. I'm going to be doing a Ukrainian plane and the two outboard pylons are the same, unlike the combination set from Zacto, so it will pay to do your research first.

 

A few items out there http://www.hannants....00&currency_id= & http://www.hannants....oduct/QAB320014 the two Eduard sets for the Revell kit are worth buying as is the Quickboost seat, though says is for the Trumpeter kit, is applicable for the Revell.

Edited by Kagemusha
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The 4+ book is indeed nice. I just did a search through my database, and discovered these titles/publishers. Of these, my favorites are Kagero, Famous Russian Aircraft, & 4+

 

AirDoc

Janes how to fly and fight

4+

Aerofax

Verlinden

Waffen Arsenal

Warbird Tech

Mig 29 in action

Kagero

Famous Russian Aircraft

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Kevin.. didn't even think of checking the Kagero list.. i pretty much just did the cursory amazon search.. That's why i ask YOU guys.. cuz you're all in the know.

 

Stephen.. the sad thing was, no effort had even been made yet! brand new in the box academy mig 29.. I would never say anything less than nice about somebody's efforts on a model.. even if there's a cheeto and some dryer lint stuck to the outside (don't ask.. and yes, it did happen at a local contest).. i use "constructive criticism".. as in.. "wow.. nice paint scheme... good job on filling those seams.. i like the use of the dryer lint to depict your p-47 breaking the sound barrier there.. what's the cheeto for?".. y'know.. constructive!

 

Kage.. if i can get my hand on the Begemont sheet i'm gonna do the shark-mouth from the training squadron.. which is the one on the cover of the Eduard/academy 48th scale kit. It's a trainer so the weapons load-out will be semi-fictitious, but i'll just use artistic license and say it's a "red dawn, what if". If i can't get the Begemont sheet, i'll just see if i can send a photo-copy of the eduard decal sheet to Ian and see if he can blow it up and make some masks for me. I'll still need the stencil stuff tho. Planning on using the eduard PE stuff and the QB seat..as long as the seat is correct for the 9-12 model. I'm sure someone makes one if not correct. Also, all of Zacto's stuff. Haven't seen his resin for this kit personally yet, but i know Karl (blackbetty) used it on his UB build and it looked fan-freakin'-tastic. The finished model did too, but that was all Karl. And i've got his su-27 resin and it's beautiful.. and the easiest resin i've ever used as far as fit/complexity/instructions goes.

 

I'm gonna go look for the +4 book and see if i can find it anywhere, but i think i'm gonna go with the kagero, lock on, and other Gordon book as i can get them all at a reasonable rate! my biggest problem right now is finding out what version of what missile was used when so i can order them with the other stuff. I'm gonna google.. but google is a strange mistress.. she's let me down so many times before.

 

Cheers guys, and thanks for the help so far!

Jerry

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Thanks Andy! the first link had the sharkmouth aggressor i was lookin' for at the bottom. I checked the Linden Hill site the other day but couldn't find any of the begemont stuff on there.. i shall have to check again!

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Hi,

 

Try to find the Zlinek magazine issue dedicated to the 9-12 & 9-13. It is quite cheap and the plans are very useful and far better than the 4+ ones. There're also many walkarounds on the web (Prime Portal has at least four different ones).

 

If you want to build an accurate 9-12, relying on a Trumpeter MIG-29M is an expensive option but the best idea. I won't recommend the MIG-29K as the LG and wings will be useless. Zacto goodies are highly recommended as the most accurate aftermarket sets for the MIG-29. However, they do not cover everything. For the cockpit, the TAC scale/CAM pit is good but quite difficult to find. An Aires K36DM seat and Eduard parts may already spruce up the area.

 

However, you're on your own to correct one of the most inaccurate sections of the kit: the landing gear...

 

I've started a MIG-29 some time ago and realized that the Trumpy kit is an excellent source of parts:

 

- landing gear with metal core

- landing gear wells and doors

- correctly sized exhausts (but the zacto ones are far better)

- far better nose (ditto)

- far better pylons (ditto)

- far better stabilators articulation (ditto)

- wings with separate flaps and slats, correct panel lines and pylon location (but you shall modify the parts a little bit to get the earlier configuration)

- correct belly with double curve, correct panels and correctly sized engine covers

- better shaped upper fuselage (but obviously without the "steroid" spine).

- correctly shaped fins but you shall modify them a little bit and possibly add the flare launchers

- metal pitot (but asks for a lot of work as it is clearly oversized)

- correct rear canopy area. Moreover, the canopy profile is quite good for a 9-12!

- additional stencils (more particularly for the weapons).

- a choice of external tanks

- better missiles (but the Zacto ones are again far more accurate).

 

So globally, if you use a Trumpy kit and Zacto goodies, you'll only use the following items from the Revell kit:

 

- The back spine and front fuselage section with the LERX but without the nose. But you still have to correct the fat LERX and the convex spine!

- The stabilators (easier to modify than the Trumpy ones)

- The windshield

- The central tank (combined with a section from the Trumpy one, you'll get an accurate result)

- Some antennae

 

You understand quickly that according to this approach you're rather using parts from the Revell kit to convert the Trumpeter one rather than the opposite...! This is not for the faint at heart as this implies very heavy surgery.

 

In fact, it is a pity Trumpeter released prototypes as their MIG-29s are quite good without useless features (no gimmicks such as gun or engine here!).

 

To build an Aggressor plane, take care as the 1521st used very different airframes in Maryy AB: very early modernized 9-12 ones (keeping the ventral fins, early type of air intake shutters and no flare launchers), modernized mid/late production 9-12 (using wing drop tanks) and 9-13 ones in the same squadron!

 

Note that you may use captive or training missiles (UZR-47/60/73) but you'll be on your own to modify plastic or resin ones...

 

HTH

 

Thierry

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Hi,

 

Try to find the Zlinek magazine issue dedicated to the 9-12 & 9-13. It is quite cheap and the plans are very useful and far better than the 4+ ones. There're also many walkarounds on the web (Prime Portal has at least four different ones).

 

If you want to build an accurate 9-12, relying on a Trumpeter MIG-29M is an expensive option but the best idea. I won't recommend the MIG-29K as the LG and wings will be useless. Zacto goodies are highly recommended as the most accurate aftermarket sets for the MIG-29. However, they do not cover everything. For the cockpit, the TAC scale/CAM pit is good but quite difficult to find. An Aires K36DM seat and Eduard parts may already spruce up the area.

 

However, you're on your own to correct one of the most inaccurate sections of the kit: the landing gear...

 

I've started a MIG-29 some time ago and realized that the Trumpy kit is an excellent source of parts:

 

- landing gear with metal core

- landing gear wells and doors

- correctly sized exhausts (but the zacto ones are far better)

- far better nose (ditto)

- far better pylons (ditto)

- far better stabilators articulation (ditto)

- wings with separate flaps and slats, correct panel lines and pylon location (but you shall modify the parts a little bit to get the earlier configuration)

- correct belly with double curve, correct panels and correctly sized engine covers

- better shaped upper fuselage (but obviously without the "steroid" spine).

- correctly shaped fins but you shall modify them a little bit and possibly add the flare launchers

- metal pitot (but asks for a lot of work as it is clearly oversized)

- correct rear canopy area. Moreover, the canopy profile is quite good for a 9-12!

- additional stencils (more particularly for the weapons).

- a choice of external tanks

- better missiles (but the Zacto ones are again far more accurate).

 

So globally, if you use a Trumpy kit and Zacto goodies, you'll only use the following items from the Revell kit:

 

- The back spine and front fuselage section with the LERX but without the nose. But you still have to correct the fat LERX and the convex spine!

- The stabilators (easier to modify than the Trumpy ones)

- The windshield

- The central tank (combined with a section from the Trumpy one, you'll get an accurate result)

- Some antennae

 

You understand quickly that according to this approach you're rather using parts from the Revell kit to convert the Trumpeter one rather than the opposite...! This is not for the faint at heart as this implies very heavy surgery.

 

In fact, it is a pity Trumpeter released prototypes as their MIG-29s are quite good without useless features (no gimmicks such as gun or engine here!).

 

To build an Aggressor plane, take care as the 1521st used very different airframes in Maryy AB: very early modernized 9-12 ones (keeping the ventral fins, early type of air intake shutters and no flare launchers), modernized mid/late production 9-12 (using wing drop tanks) and 9-13 ones in the same squadron!

 

Note that you may use captive or training missiles (UZR-47/60/73) but you'll be on your own to modify plastic or resin ones...

 

HTH

 

Thierry

 

Mmm.. that's certainly food for thought Thierry, and many thanks for the information, I do have the Revell, and Trumpeter M kits as well as the Zactogoodies, and just bought the CAM pit, sans instructions - can you help? - where on the Trumpeter kit would you make the cut to add the Revell forward fuselage - I'm going to do a Ukrainian 9-13 so the spine isn't an issue I assume?

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Thanks Thierry! I didn't think you'd done a tweak on this one since it would be several pages long! I've thought about kit bashing the two, but i've kind of just decided to see what i can do with the Revell kit on it's own. I've had my feelers out for a TAC/Cam pit, but it ain't lookin good... the one's i've found are quite expensive now. Usually, when i find something to build i don't have a subject in mind... i just know i want to build a Swordfish or something. I got the eduard/academy 48th boxing of the MiG from a friend and saw this scheme and i really liked it, and as a child of tcademyhe 80's i've kinda always been fascinated with the "big bad MiG" so this is gonna be kind of a "passionate" build for me. We'll see how it goes!

 

On a side note, does anyone know about the accuracy of the eduard brassin stuff for their boxing of the 48th scale MiG? I know the academy kit has issues but was thinking of using the brassin cockpit and aires wheel bays for this kit as a loose reference.

 

Thanks again Theirry.. gonna go hunt down that magazine issue.

 

Cheers

Jerry

 

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