1/32 Trumpeter MiG-17 Indonesian Airforce

[dmminiatures]

Hi Jim, this kit will fight you to the bitter end. its dirt cheap though. haahaa.

my biggest challenge was reshaping the hapless front windshield. Totally screwd.



major surgery with PE saw. sliced it like a salami



cut and fix a clear plastic card from tamiya. cut and shaped to size. glue using extra thin cement.



dipped in Future, masking and painting, and its finished! looks better dont you think?

[LyleW]

[dmminiatures]

Thanks Guys. I was just frustrated building this kit. but you gotta what you gotta do. not sure I posted this before but the other part that got my attention was the cockpit. real plain vanilla. just wont do for a 1/32 with big canopy.



added a few wirings and knobs



then just basic washing and drybrushing to get some of the details out, like a busy cockpit.

[mlp]

Wow thats a realy good looking Mig and some great scratch building - like it a lot

[Thomas_M]

Just back here on SPAModeler and Monty gives fantastic lessons of his art! Awesome!

[Stikpusher]

That is gorgeous work. I built one of these kits while I was on deployment 10 years ago and know how rough it is. I bought another to do one day at home with all the tools and such that I have at home to make it shine. But I will definitely refer to your cockpit work here when I do tackle mine. Outstanding job sir!

[dmminiatures]

thanks guys. its been tough modeling in the new place with limited tooling and resources. I think the decision to build this kit was based on my curiosity to know what is it like to build a 1/32 aircraft models. this is my first ever. plus, with my public outreach events, I needed a show-stopper. And i thought this kit will do just that.

the only other things that I could help make a better build is the engine.the original piece from the box is really simple.



I didnt do much to it. just some bolts and a bit of wiring with stretched sprues



I added more wiring with stretched sprues. I learned that makinf these out of trumpeter sprue trees gives you the smoothest and most elastic wires. others from Italeri, Hasegawa, Academy performed less. they are too stiff and breaks easily.



So when I mated the engine to the fuselage, it was easy for me to bend and move the wires in and out of the cramped space without beaking it.



the final part was to give it a very convincing paint job.