1/72 Eastern Express Mig 21-93

by Rupesh Santoshi

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  India Republic day 2005 

 

Eastern Express's Mig-21-93 in 1/72 scale is a good rendition of a less known, and even lesser modeled, subject. The MiG-21-93 of RAC MiG / SOKOL (Russia), is one of three ongoing upgrade programs to improve the avionics, weapons delivery and electronic counter measures of existing Mig-21bis aircraft.

The MiG-21-93 upgrade program is supposed to extend the life of the MiG-21bis and upgrade the avionic capabilities of the existing aircraft. A key element of the upgrade is the incorporation of the formidable Phazatron Kopyo (Spear) lightweight multi-mode radar. The four most optically prominent changes to the Bison aircraft from the Bis version are the expanded nose section to house a new Phazatron Kopyo radar, the “bubble” canopy, the vertical tail fin with the Radar Warning Receiver Antennae, and the distinctive over-wing Conformal ECM Dispensers (for chaff and flares).

Indian Air Force Mig-21bis’ upgraded to the -93 standard are called “Bison”, and take on the suffix “CU” before the aircraft serial numbers (the “U” indicates upgraded). This particular aircraft, C2777, was one of two undergoing trials in 2000 at the Sokol Plant in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (the other was C2769). It sports unique markings that include the IAF crest and the nose serial “001” suggesting it was the first of the two upgraded aircraft. The spectacular tricolor scheme based on the colors of the Indian flag was the main reason I decided to make this model.

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I began with the cockpit, which was devoid of any detail. The kit provides decals for the main and side control panels, which are totally different from those of the Bison. Therefore, I used thin plastic card and decals to fashion a Bison control panel. I also had to scratch-build the head-up-display with bent wire (regular staples) and clear-plastic card tinted yellow (acrylic yellow and Future® floor wax). I added the starboard angle-of-attach indicator from styrene, and reshaped the over-wing ECM dispensers. The Bison dispensers have a hump at the rear of the dispensing unit that I molded from Squadron® putty. Again, reference material was instrumental in capturing the shape of the dispensers. The bubble canopy, though accurate, does not fit properly over the coaming. I used putty to smooth the fuselage-to-windshield surface and posed the canopy open because of the poor fit. In addition, the windshield is molded from a milky plastic that did not respond well to sanding and treatment with Future®. I also added some antennas that are unique to the IAF Bison.

The kit came with accurately formed R-77 RVV-AE air-to-air missiles, Kh-29T TV-guided air-to-surface missiles, Kh-31/P2 air-to-surface anti-radar missile, a pair of fuel tanks, and missile pylons/rails. I did not use these for my model to match the reference photos I was using. Finally, the decals are my own (except for the roundels and fin flash) as the kit comes with two sets of Russian decals.

The paint scheme of C2777 required some planning and considerable masking. I used three reference photos on bharat-rakshak to map out the tricolor paint scheme (this is an awesome site on all matters related to the Indian military). But, there were several areas (over wing and under wing) where it was unclear exactly how the paint scheme was applied; so I guessed. I used Tamiya masking tape for the first time, and was impressed by how well they conform to difficult contours and how easily they come off after painting. To airbrush the model, I used Model Master Acrylics and Enamels. I used flat white (A), international orange (A), dark ghost grey (A), and medium dark green (E). I had to repaint and touch-up several areas of the fuselage where paint had bled through the masking tape.  Everything was sealed with Future®. Decals were applied and sealed with future, too.  An acrylic matt finish was applied to reduce the glossy shine of the black anti-glare panel and wheels. I left the remainder of the aircraft in gloss, since it looked better that way. Since the original aircraft was not weathered, I did not apply any weathering.

My wife really loved the C2777 paint scheme so I made this model for her. Hope you like the model, too!

(I built the Bison along with a M.D. 450 Ouragan of the IAF to juxtapose the old and the new)

References:

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/Bison/index.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/MiG-21d.html

http://www.mig-21.de/Bilder/Modernisierung/ProspektHAL_2.jpg

Rupesh

Click on images below to see larger images

Photos and text © by Rupesh Santoshi