DDR MiG-21MF Build

Initial basecoat of the internal areas. 

Interior finished ready for assembly. Although the kit came with photoetch I think it looks too flat in 1/72. 3D Decals are better for this but I settled for the plastic parts with the decals. Various Ammo and AK enamel washes used. Details and highlights were picked out with Vallejo, AK 3rd Gen Acrylics and Citadel paints. 

Closer look at the finished cockpit tub. I was quite happy with how the decals settled down onto the console detail. 

The finished instrument panel. It's certainly not perfect (especially with the positioning of the lower right dials being off!) but from a distance it looks fine. I added the photoetch handle and gunsight detail as well. Doesn't show well here but the dials also received a gloss coat to make them pop from the flat panel. 

Main airframe complete. The fit was excellent and it very quickly fell together. I've left off the exhaust nozzles as it'll be easier to add them after painting than masking them up now. I've also cut the pitot arm off as I will be using the Master aftermarket.

Masked up everything else. For the canopy I used spares from the kit and copious amounts of masking fluid. I will paint the actual canopies I'll be using separately. I'll spot prime the seams to see if they need any additional work and then it'll be on to applying black MS1500 for the black-basing. 

Seams were cleaned up and some of the panel lines rescribed. I always love this stage of the build when the black MS1500 primer goes on for the black-basing. Makes it look like something Darth Vader would be flying around in. 

The marble coat of the lower Grey-Blue colour. I used a mixture of free-hand marbling along with some airbrush stencils. 

The lower blend coat applied. I thinned the MRP a little with Mr Levelling Thinner so I could really control the final blend layer. Black basing is supposed to be quite subtle as much of the contrast is emphasised with later weathering. In person you can just about see the differences in opacity and saturation but it doesn't show as well on camera.