4 July 1989, Russian MIG 23MF Flogger-B crash in Belgium.

[Jasta 14 addict]

HI Guy's, with my little Corsair diorama closing to an end, i want to present you guy's my next project.

 

4th of July, 1989, is the day that a un-manned and out of control MIG 23 crashed into a farm house in Belgium. I think lot's of us guy's remembered that day, but for those who didn't know, here's the whole story.

 

https://theaviationist.com/2012/10/03/mig23-belgium/

 

I know that it was a MIG 23MF Flogger-B, and i know that it served with the 871e Fighter Regiment, based at Kolobrezg in Polen. The number under the cockpit was 29. That number was clearly called by the lead F-15 pilot who intercepted the MIG. What i don't know is, which color it was. A fellow modeler who manned that fatal day the Dutch Command & Control Station BANDBOX told me it could be yellow 29, but still we are not sure. If anyone can shed light on this, please, any help is greatly appreciated.  

 

I know, this build will be partially a what if scheme, because, there was not much left of the crashed jet. And, those day's where cold war day's, so not much info was given about the crashed airplane. But i will do my best to create a realistic possible appearance.

 

My goal is, to build the MIG 23, still at his base in Polen, with the pilot next to the aircraft, ready to board. One little extra will be added to the base-plate, and that's a piece of the cockpit of the ill-fated MIG.

 

 

For my build i bought some goodies, to give the Trumpeter kit the extra detail.

 

 

It consist of an Aires Cockpit, Aires exhaust and Aires wheelbay's.

 

 

Linden Hill decals, Eduard pe weapons set and Eduard pe cockpit.

 

 

Master pitot tube, Quickboost air scoops, Profimodeler Static electricity poles, Montex minimask and a Aerobonus Sovjet Pilot.

 

 

The only detail set i'm missing are the Zactomodels splitter plates, but these will be soon delivered.

 

For now, i have some questions according the research fase of this project :

 

1). like i said before, what color is the number 29 under the cockpit?

2). Do any of you guy's have photo's of a MIG 23MF in service with the 871e Fighter Regiment?

3). Are there walk around sites, with clear pic's of the MIG 23 cockpit. I have a few but they do not depict all area's.

4). What kind of helmet was use by the Sovjet's in those day's (1989). I have two types of helmets in my possession, modern an old style.

 

Greetz

 

Danny

[dutik]

"If I trim an aircraft, it got trimmed!"

 

Famous words of the pilot after learning it stayed on track after his ejection.

 

 

Now I've learned why it crashed:

 

Danny teared parts of the cockpit off

 

Regards

- dutik

[Martinnfb]

Cool subject! I remember that , seems so surreal .

[Martinnfb]

Edited January 26, 2017 by Martinnfb

[Martinnfb]

[reconspit]

...great idea..., really cool...

[ClumsyDude]

Cool concept - plus, we don't see enough MiG-23s. Good stuff!

 

Jim

[alaninaustria]

I remember that!! Great idea! Happy modelling and please post as you go!!

Cheers

Alan

[Jasta 14 addict]

Thank's Guy's for the encouraging words.

 

 

"If I trim an aircraft, it got trimmed!"

 

Famous words of the pilot after learning it stayed on track after his ejection.

 

 

Now I've learned why it crashed:

 

Danny teared parts of the cockpit off 

 

Regards

- dutik

Common Dutik.....now everybody know's      

 

Greetz

 

Danny

[Ilya]

Hello, Danny!

 

I have found some information about this plane.

Here are photos of MiG-23M from 871 Fighter Regiment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

and in soviet documents number 29 was yellow with white border.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best regards,

Ilya

[Ilya]

And some photo of cockpit you can find here and here.

[Guest Airfixer]

Great project, Danny.

 

Ilya,

You do realise that the pictures posted above are mainly depicting MiG-23MLDs and a MiG-23UB?

Compared to the M/MF variants, the ML/P/MLDs are compeletely different beasts. On the other hand, those pictures can be well used to give an impression of the tactical camouflage.

 

Cockpit pictures, link #2:

Heads-up! PVO MiG-23P...a dedicated interceptor variant based on the ML's airframe. The MiG-23P cockpit features some stuff you won't find in any other MiG-23 variant. Even the headline clearly states so.

 

Helmet:

Most likely a ZSh-5 helmet.

http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FHL&Product_Code=25122&Category_Code=FFHS

 

Bort number:

Yellow 29 with white outline.

 

 

Erik

 

 

[Ilya]

Ilya,

You do realise that the pictures posted above are mainly depicting MiG-23MLDs and a MiG-23UB?

Compared to the M/MF variants, the ML/P/MLDs are compeletely different beasts. On the other hand, those pictures can be well used to give an impression of the tactical camouflage.

 

Of course yes. This photos just illustrates the numbers and camouflage. 

 

Cockpit pictures, link #2:

Heads-up! PVO MiG-23P...a dedicated interceptor variant based on the ML's airframe. The MiG-23P cockpit features some stuff you won't find in any other MiG-23 variant. Even the headline clearly states so.

 

 Yes, this is the MiG-23P, but also alot of panels there shows close-up. And it could be helpful for similar panels in MiG-23M. 

 

[Jasta 14 addict]

 

I have found some information about this plane.

Here are photos of MiG-23M from 871 Fighter Regiment.

Wow thank's very much Ilya, this is just fabulous info you gave me. Not just only the number, but now i have also a visual about the used camo.    

 

 

 

And some photo of cockpit you can find here and here.

That's what i'm looking for thanks mate   

 

 

 

those pictures can be well used to give an impression of the tactical camouflage.

The most important to me is the evidence regarding the bort number, and the camo patern.

 

 

Helmet:

Most likely a ZSh-5 helmet.

http://www.flighthel...egory_Code=FFHS

Great Erik, i will use this on. Thank's mate  

 

 

Airfixer, on 27 Jan 2017 - 08:47 AM, said:

Ilya,

You do realise that the pictures posted above are mainly depicting MiG-23MLDs and a MiG-23UB?

Compared to the M/MF variants, the ML/P/MLDs are compeletely different beasts. On the other hand, those pictures can be well used to give an impression of the tactical camouflage.

 

Of course yes. This photos just illustrates the numbers and camouflage. 

 

Airfixer, on 27 Jan 2017 - 08:47 AM, said:

Cockpit pictures, link #2:

Heads-up! PVO MiG-23P...a dedicated interceptor variant based on the ML's airframe. The MiG-23P cockpit features some stuff you won't find in any other MiG-23 variant. Even the headline clearly states so.

 

 Yes, this is the MiG-23P, but also alot of panels there shows close-up. And it could be helpful for similar panels in MiG-23M. 

No matter what kind of type, for me the most important is that i have clear photo's of the set up of the cockpit. I can use these together with my own reference stuff to get it as close as possible.

 

The photo's of the MIG 23 in Ilya's first post giving me a good view about the use of the tactical Camo and most important, the yellow bort numbers.

 

For now, i noticed one important detail. At first i didn't see it, but it was given to me by a Dutch colleague modeler. Look at the star of the crashed plane, the two bottom tip's of the star aren't aligned with the underside of the rudder.

 

source : Belgische Luchtmacht / Sectie Vliegveiligheid

m.m.v. Lt.Kol. Vlieger M. d'Espallier

(Archief Dhr. Corstens, R.S.)

 

In the photo's provided by Ilya, the stars seems to be aligned.

 

For now, my next question, are there masks for Sovjet numbers, i need the yellow number 29 but i didn't managed to find decals for this particular plane.

 

Greetz

 

Danny

[Ilya]

I am glad, that it was helpful.

 

For now, i noticed one important detail. At first i didn't see it, but it was given to me by a Dutch colleague modeler. Look at the star of the crashed plane, the two bottom tip's of the star aren't aligned with the underside of the rudder.

 

I found information about this in WIP theme on scalemodels. They say, that on MiG-23M and MiG-23UB the star was with angle (usually). It explained by different parking angle of MiG-23M and MiG-23MLD. The parking angle of MiG-23M was bigger.

 

Best regards,

Ilya