Iain Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Place holder while I finish the F-84G - but this is one I've wanted to do for a few years after a flying club expedition to Peenemünde, in the former East Germany, a few years ago. Will cover more of the background in a subsequent post, but for now here's the kit, along with a cockpit I stashed away for it a long time ago: This will be another 'go for it' build - not worrying too much about any corrective work, but concentrating on a neat build and nice finish. Have fun! Iain Alain Gadbois, LSP_Kevin, Daniel Leduc and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted March 20, 2020 Author Share Posted March 20, 2020 OK - reason behind the build. Our club Exped was in 2014 - an RAF flying club - so most of the crews were either serving, or retired, along with some ex. reserves and civilians. Most had a connection with/memories of the Cold War - either through the military, or working in the aviation industry. For most of us it was the first time crossing the old border between West and East Germany - something many at one time would have thought would be impossible in the future. Our boss was ex. fast jets of the period - Phantom and Tornado F3. This had been the enemy... Flying around Europe the borders are invisible - but one afternoon we crossed the former border/Iron Curtain at relatively low level heading for our first overnight stop-over in the former East Germany, Neubrandenburg. One of the first things we spotted was an old, disused, airfield with solar panels over where the runways had been: this was Wittstock - a former Soviet MiG-23/MiG-29 base. We were told later that day after we landed at the next airfield, of which more in a moment, that in 1994, when the Russians finally left, they left the gates to the base wide open. When we overflew, the hangars and accommodation blocks had been overtaken by nature in the preceding 20 years - you can see the trees growing through the buildings in the above photo. Wittstock before the MiGs departed: Our stop-over airfield was Flughafen Neubrandenburg EDBN - Trollenhagen - a former MiG-21 airbase, once operated by the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (East German Air Force): What we didn't realise, until we shut down, was that the marshallers/refuelers/resident flying club staff were mostly all ex. Luftstreitkräfte - they were particularly taken with the RAF marked Bulldog that my friend Chris and I were in (aeroplane belongs to Chris) - and it sparked up some good banter and, after a very short while - quite a collection of spotters at the fence. Anyway - the airfield was formerly home to Jagdfliegergeschwader 2 "Juri Gargarin" - flying MiG-21MF (amongst other types) and I was fortunate to be able to purchase a wonderful hardback history of the until, covering the aircraft, operations, training and home lives of the unit. They seemed surprised that I wanted to buy a copy - but I've had it in mind ever since to build a model of one of 'their' MiGs. The people we met, without exception were hugely friendly and accommodating - and wanted to show us some of their 'toys' - my favourite has to be the Trabant that they'd converted as an airfield emergency vehicle: And a former Luftstreitkräfte crash truck: We stayed in a hotel in Neubrandenburg - and had an absolutely wonderful stay - if only for one night. Anyway - a bit of a ramble - but happy memories of a fantastic trip - and, hopefully, explains my choice of subject. May start building over the weekend - and will post some images of that book... Iain MikeC, Smokey, thierry laurent and 11 others 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 It is very interesting to learn about the story behind your choice of subject. Very cool trip in the former DDR! The Trump kit has some flaws but still looks nice OOB. The Black Box cockpit fits well, but I found that the angle of the section at the fuselage spine is a bit different from the kit part but this is very easy to correct. Alain Daniel Leduc and Iain 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted March 21, 2020 Author Share Posted March 21, 2020 Thanks Alain, useful info on the Black Box 'pit - forewarned is forearmed! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ade rowlands Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Will watch this one closely. Quite fancy a 1/32 MiG-21 myself. Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 I'll be watching your WIP as well. I thought about getting the MF instead of the PF, but I couldn't find any applicable Cold War decals. What will you be using, if I may ask? Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 I've got quite a large stash of decals - so should be able to cobble together what I need. I haven't looked at the kit decals - but if usable that should cover the stencils - and I should have some Luftstreitkräfte national markings somewhere. If I go over to my workshop at some point I can cut masks for the aircraft number... Iain Dragon and Stevepd 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 References: The German language book is brilliant - although my schoolboy German can't really keep up I can get the gist of things - but the photos and background documents are fascinating... The Verlinden book is getting on a little now (1993) - but has some great detail coverage: Iain Troy Molitor, John1, Landrotten Highlander and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Was the cockpit really light turquoise Iain!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Absolutely Max - it's a great colour, isn't it!? Just about to send you a PM... Iain mozart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Molitor Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Great subject and awesome history behind the build. Looking forward to this one. Troy Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Side cutters at the ready: And a sprue I'd forgotten about - included with the kit are some ground crew figures - rearming and replacing the brake chute - not sure if I'll use them yet, but a nice thought! Tomorrow I start sticking stuff together, in between other ongoing projects... Have fun! Iain BradG, mozart and Landrotten Highlander 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 I think those guys are loading the ammo, which is why there is an opening on the left side of the fuselage at the rear of the cockpit. The colour of the cockpit is a turquoise/green and has variations. It is typical of the soviet jets of the 60s and 70s. I always liked it! Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Resin cockpit set all prepped - and base colours on ready for detail painting: Blue skies... Iain Out2gtcha, Dutch Man, Alain Gadbois and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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