AREA 88: "Blue Cheese 7" (MiG-21)

Greg Baker
How can you resist a project called "Blue Cheese 7" that features a Learjet trying to outrun 3 East German MiG-21s? Impossible. I'm still working on my other active Area 88 builds, but this one just couldn't sit still on my workbench.

Martin Oostrom
Just today Peter was bragging about Australian brie. I guess there's no outrunning him either 😄

Greg Baker
Nope... he's deceptively quick on his feet when cheese is involved, I hear...

Matthew A
Who can resist three of the world's most successful fighter planes

Greg Baker
Matthew - do you know what version of the MiG-21 would have the fuselage mounted machine guns? I'm looking to get a better picture of them so I can scratch build them up a bit in quality. I think I also need to lengthen the nose cones based on the image from the manga.

Slavo Hazucha
The F-s had them & later I think the M/MF versions, F and also MF was used by East Germany so everything seems to be OK with the kits you have. But not 100% sure... Still, the MiG-21 family allows some of the wider margins of interpretation... 🙂

Matthew A
Here's a bit to start with bredow-web.de/Luftwa..-13/mig-21_f-13.html

Greg Baker
That's helpful! Thanks! I also noticed that the MiGs in the manga have the longer nose cones, so the unneeded missiles will come to the rescue. I'm not quite sure the length is correct, but there are some physical limitations, so I'm just going to eyeball it. Does it look alright?

Matthew A
walkarounds.scalemod..21_F-13_Gatow_Kotov/
walkarounds.scalemod..g-21f-13_chkalovsky/
net-maquettes.com/pi..mig-21-f-walkaround/

Matthew A
the cone looks a tad to long to me - could be because I'm used to the real thing

Matthew A
Think the Manga has put a mid production nose cone ala MiG-21PF in it

Slavo Hazucha
The earlier (F) series had a smaller cone with only a simple rangefinder inside, later MiG-21 versions have a considerably larger one with a full (yet still relatively small) radar inside. The cone also moved during flight so at speed, it could be further out than on the ground. The short ones you have are correct, but could be further out in-flight, the long one is vastly aesthetically superior IMO but not historically correct. Area 88 decision I guess 😉

Greg Baker
I added the images from the manga (a little story bonus for those of you following along). The cones look bigger, and manga accuracy is generally more important to me than historical, so I'll extend them. But now that I've drilled them out, I have more flexibility on the exact length.

Greg Baker
I got the pilots seated, but managed to screw up one of the canopies when glueing them on... sigh.

Matthew A
Welcome to my world - I spend most of the time fixing my mistakes. Just spent four days working my Tintin seahawk conversion and have only produced a pile of blue resin dust

Greg Baker
LMAO!

Daniel Klink
Following! Of course 👍

Slavo Hazucha
The trio´s getting some shiny silver finish, great! Surely you can put the compromised canopy MiG in a position in the flight where it will not matter... Looking forward to this group coming together. Must be quite a light show when you turn all your Area 88 pieces on 👍

Greg Baker
That... and the noise of the whirring of all the propellers is deafening... 😉

This trio is coming along now, so I'm just masking in anticipation of a second coat of paint. I was able to buff out the canopy relatively well with some fine grit sandpaper and another coat of Future, but hiding it in the crowd at the back is a good idea I think. 🙂

Greg Baker
Damn... I failed on the numbers. It's just too hard for me. Sigh... I guess it's time for decals. Where can I find a sheet of 1/144 red numbers (and possibly black and white ones too)...

Spanjaard
there must be some....

Spanjaard
maybe
amazon.co.uk/Watersl..-6-3mm/dp/B01JGK2TM6
alwayshobbies.com/ma..alphabet-and-numbers

Spanjaard
or in dry transfer... Ebay.com Item - Woodland Scenics MG748 Dry Transfer Decals Numbers 45 USA Gothic Red All Scales
woodlandscenics.wood...com/show/item/MG748

Martin Oostrom
Dab some silver on the numbers with a sponge. That way it might look like the numbers weathered away.

Spanjaard
Good idea Martin

Martin Oostrom
or better yet, an uneven misting with the ol' airbrush

Greg Baker
I sanded off the red numbers and masked them for repainting... and ordered the Soviet numerals today... life's too short. 🙂 Thanks gentlemen.

Greg Baker
Still waiting for the decals to show up, but decided to get add some weathering and prep the base.

C Marques de Sá
very nice

Slavo Hazucha
A lovely looking angry mob! 🙂 The panel lines & weathering really gave them character and the decision with the long noses IMO now pays off, adds some testosterone to their appearance so they really look serious about the job of catching the poor Learjet 👍 Very nice indeed!

Daniel Klink
👍,👍,👍 just love the way you do it Greg 👍

Greg Baker
Thanks Daniel. That means a lot coming from someone of your skill level. 🙂

Anyway, it was decal night... they're all on now and the the MiG-21s are properly glued into the base. Just one little detail to add and then it's time to get serious about the Learjet 35 side of this build.

Matthew A
Cool

Greg Baker
Thanks Matthew. The decals really make it complete. Just that little splash of colour ties everything together I think.

Spanjaard
Decals looking good indeed

Bryn Crandell
Another amazing Area 88 project. Love it!

Greg Baker
Added foil to the interior to keep the LED light from shining through the plastic.

Nathan Dempsey
Please say the Larvas have something to do with this project. I'm an avid watcher since my 3 year old loves them.

Greg Baker
LMAO. They's printed on the back of the extra thin "lunch wrap" foil. I was wondering if anyone would spot them... good eyes Nathan!

Greg Baker
I actually forgot that the Learjet part of this project has its own album (AREA 88: "Blue Cheese 7" (Learjet 35) | Album by strobez (1:144)) so, since the MiG-21's are done, I've moved the action over there.

Stuart Fowle
What a very cool idea and project.

Matthew A
Nathan isn't Larva Island a bit violent for a three year old, why don't you try him on something tame like Blade Runner

Nathan Dempsey
We usually watch Deadpool after Larvas. Just kidding!

Greg the Learjet looks interesting. I'll have to follow that one to see how it goes.