This model was finished in
August, 2008, and was
submitted to the Japanese Aircraft Modeling Magazine "Scale
Aviation" which published it on its November,
2008 issue.
The base kit is from Zvezda,
which has many problems such as too wide panel lines, crude
details, the top line of closed canopies is off,
etc. But compared with ICM/Condor/Eastern
Express kit, it's still much better in my opinion.
Besides, Part
photo-etching parts, NeOmega resin K-36 ejection seat,
Tally-Ho! resin R-60 missiles and Begemot decal were used.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The main correction/detailing
works are as below:
1. Cockpit was assembled by Part
photo-etching parts and NeOmega resin seat. The
etching parts do not match the plastic base very well so dry-fitting and
adjusting is very important.
2. Canopies are reshaped and was
made to be openable in order to show the cockpit details while be able to enjoy
the outline of the whole aircraft when canopies closed.
3. The intake parts,
which Zvezda provides, are for the proto type.
So I scratch-built this area.
4. So do the exhaust nozzles.
Thin plastic sheet was covered on the original part and sanded to take
the shape. The inside area of the nozzles are also all
scratch-built.
5. APU-60-2 pylons are
scratch-built,
with excellent resin R-60 missiles, to show an
operational Foxhound.
6. Landing gears are all detailed
up, including using sliced masking
tapes and wiring work.
7. Tow-bar was all scratch-built
by plastic/copper rods and copper wires.
8. Figures are modified from
Preiser NATO pilots/maintenance crew into modern Russian ones.
9. Ladders and wheel chocks are
photo-etching parts from Flightpath.
The Foxhound was
painted in the scheme of 712 IAP, based at Kansk AB,
Krasnoyarsk Region. The "Fox Badge"
on the nose was applied when it visited another squadron in 2002,
and the "Eagle Badge" on the intake was the symbol of 712 IAP.
Some updated news
here. If you're willing to build a 1/72 MiG-31,
the new tooled ICM No.72151 kit is the best choice. From
the sprues, it seems to be based on the Zvezda kit but
with new canopies, nozzles, missiles,
etc.
And be attention that the OLD mold of ICM MiG-31 is also catalogued as
72151, and I don't find a good way to recognize them
from box art (they share the same box art),
so DO check the contents before you buy.
Finally,
I want to appreciate to the staff, especially
Mr.Fujii of "Scale Aviation",
Art Box, and also the great photos taken by
Mr.Uchiyama of Studio Entaniya.
Hope you
enjoy the work and feel free to contact me!
Yufei Mao
Click on
images below to see larger images
|