Mikoyan MiG 21 Matchbox 2022 Group build , Retro-modelling

Parts , decals, and the box-art.  

Amazing two colour plastic parts. Usual Matchbox quality , i.e. no flash , crispy molded parts and a mix of recessed and raised panel lines. In this case I this kit doesn't come with the usual "trenches" , a trade mark of Matchbox .. 😉 

One wing was badly scratched on both sides ... time for sanding ... 

An appropriate vintage box to hold the parts during the build. 

Retro-information .... that were the most important books about soviet aircraft that I had in the early-mid 80s ,,, and I still like to browse them from time to time 

And that too 

These too. I really like the Blandford colour series ..... Well ... the Sq Signal is a bit more recent ,,,,, but also rather vintage. 

And that from Areo... pure nostalgia 

Let's start by gluing the fuselage together. 

As I was afraid the model to be a heavy tail-sitter ... so I put an awful lot of weight and super-glue in the nose ,,,,, but ,,,,  

I messed it all .... plastic somehow has melted. It's been because of the super-glue accelerator. 

So I must wait for some days for the super-glue to fully cure, and afterwatds try to mend it with putty ... which is a stuff that I didn't want to use ,,,, Arggggg. If this doesn't work I'll have to buy another kit from evil-bay. 

Some putty 

And some filing 

Well ,,, in the end it worked quite well ... so I keep on with the project. No need to buy another kit. 

Not perfect , but that's enough for me , and also for the philosophy of the project 

Primed 

Looks fair enough to me 

Making my mind up to what decoration will suit the bird. With your aid ,mates , I'll go for the Indian tiger-striped C992. 

Center-line gun pod has been borrowed from an RV kit .... It leaves a gap, as the RV kit has the correct ventral bulge that the Matchbox kit hasn't. With the help of PVA glue and some paint the gap has been filled. 

The kit comes without missiles , but my spares-box has quite a lot ....
😉
Looking at the colour of the plastic I'm pretty sure these missiles came from another Matchbox kit. As you can see , I'm not a good figure painter ... let's see how it turns out when finished.
 

Now a brush coat of silver paint. As far as I have seen and read, this was some kind of silver coat to preserve the air-frame from the harsh Indian weather. 

I've read that this coat faded to a slight very pale greenish tinge. So the mix is about 10 Tamiya X11 + 0,5 XF76 ,,,, I found it too flat ,so added som gloss varnish. Also I tryed Gunze H8 with just a hint of XF76 for some parts of the aircraft that will look more "silvery", In the end Gunze silver looks much brighter that Tamiya Silver. 

Now time for decalling ,,, rather easy on this bird. Serial number C992 was made from Letrasett 365 Univers 10pt on clear decal. 

And let's start with the camo. First coat of olive green brushed on. Step by step. 

As far as I've read ,, green colour was brushed on at a very random pattern ... so I 'm taking some license on this. Colour is RLM70 from Gunze H65. First coat completed. 

Second coat of RLM70 brushed on. 

Just a few retouches have to be done and it will be ready for a coat of satin varnish from a Vallejo rattle can.  

I'm thinking abt repainting the flaps and elevons. Look too green to me. 

First coat of Vallejo acrylic satin varnish 28.532 rattle can. 

I think that one coat will be enough ,,,, may be a light mist of mat varnish will help..... Let's wait 24 h and see how it turns out. I've also added two missile pilons from the spare parts box. 

Calling it done. Finished in the last minute.
Yes ..... I know that the pitot tube is not in the right place ... I've put it per Matchbox instructions .... May be I'll change that ... what do you think ? 

I've taken your advice and put the pitot tube in the right place ,,, I wonder if the Matchbox Mig-21 bis/MF has the same mistake ... I'll check it.
 

To me it still counts as a 2022 build .... 😉