1/48 Tamiya MiG-15bis (Lim-2)

[IanG]

This will be my next build, Tamiya's MiG-15bis, and I'm building it to represent a Polish Air Force Lim-2.
Aftermarket consists of:-
White Eagle decals
Aires MiG-15 resin detailing set, which includes a highly detailed VK-1 engine, machine gun housing, battery bay, control surfaces, cockpit and seat.
Various figures, to represent some ground crew, which are on order.
A couple of very good pieces of reference literature.
The cherry on the cake is that there is a nose-weight included in the kit!

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

This is the cockpit completed, using the Aires MiG-15bis resin cockpit set. It's an absolutely brilliant set (as is the rest of the detail set), and although it was costly, it is worth it.
There's PE belts and instrument panel, an acetate film for the instrument dials.
Main colour airbrushed, dials and switches picked out using a pick.
Before anyone "comments" on the cockpit colour, I know a lot of Mig-15's cockpits were a blue grey, and Lim-2's seemed to be exclusively blue grey, there were also some in the interior turquoise too.
So, having been painting cockpits either black or grey, I went with the "stand-out" option, so nah!!
Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Work on the resin battery compartment now finished. This worked out well. Had to cut out the top panel of the nose section, which is a simple job. Fit of the whole assembly is very good. I've also added some lead wire, to represent cabling in the compartment. There is a resin cover, which I will fit at the end of the build. The forward nose intake ring has also been added, and the rear canopy assembled, ready for masking. Next job is the resin gun/canon bay and assembly, and front wheel bay. [smile]

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Avgas]

Looking great so far!

[GarethCrossland]

Looks awesome! Really nice cockpit detail.

[IanG]

Undercarriage legs detailed with some lead wire and 0.7mm masking tape.

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Detail work for the canon/machine gun bay is now underway, starting with the removed gun covers.

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Resin canon/machine gun assembly. First 2 photo's without the PE & lead wire detailing. Last 3 photo's with detailing added.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Tonights second update.
I've also assembled the resin engine. Again, I've added some extra lead wire detailing, in addition to the small amount of PE.
The kit engine will be installed in the MiG-15 itself (with just a small amount showing as the rear fuselage is moved back), and the Aires engine will be on a trolley, in readiness for an engine swap.

All those lovely little resin parts for the engine.

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This is what happens when you assemble all those resin parts (and extra wire)....you get a VK-1 engine!

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr


And just for comparison, here's the Aires & Tamiya side by side.

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[Kevthemodeller]

Lovely detail great build so far mate the first kit I ever made was the 1/72 Airfix version nothing like the detail of the Tamiya.

[IanG]

Lovely detail great build so far mate the first kit I ever made was the 1/72 Airfix version nothing like the detail of the Tamiya.

Thanks Kev. It's a brilliant kit, everything fits, and no issues. The Aires resin is also very good too.

[IanG]

Started to paint the "display" Aires resin KV-1 engine this morning. Dead chuffed! This is the initial colours applied....all airbrushed, no masking! Took the plunge to see how my close airbrush work would go. What do you reckon?
Just the detailing to pick out, and it's done.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Well that's the Aires engine finished!
After a gloss coat, the exhaust was given a dark dirt Flory wash, the Tamiya Weathering System Burnt Blue applied, and then dry brushed all over.

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Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

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Fuselage has been black primed. I'm experimenting with lightening some panels with mid-grey and white. The hope is when the main colour goes on, it'll have a similar effect that dark pre-shading has on grey primer, but in reverse. We'll see.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Kevthemodeller]

Amazing work on the engine

[IanG]

Paint on!
The "pre-shading" over the black primer hasn't worked as well I thought it might. Oh well, it was worth a try. Maybe it would have worked better with colours, as opposed to metal colours. I will try again and see what results I get.
Anyway, after the main colour was airbrushed (Vallejo Metal Colours Dark Aluminium), I masked off some panels and applied standard Aluminium. Hatches and covers/caps etc were "hairy sticked" with Vallejo MC Pale Burnt Metal.
All this will be followed by a couple of cats of Alclad's Aqua Gloss.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

The Aires resin canon assembly is now finished, as well as the undercarriage.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Amazing work on the engine

Thanks Kev

[IanG]

Decals on, and sealed in with more gloss. So now it's weathering time!
I have also started the ground crew. Randomly, they're Tamiya's 1/48 German Tank Maintenance crew. What's nice is not only do their uniforms look similar to Warsaw Pact ground crews, but also the set has loads of tools, boxes, oil cans, and a workbench with a vice!
The ground sheet is cut from a foil top, of a chilled dessert (yes, it was nice!).
The trolley is PE, from HAD Models, and the crew ladder comes with MiG kit.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

The MiG itself is finished, and all together.
I'm now concentrating on the diorama pieces, and have started painting the ground crew. Building up the flesh colours, using Vallejo's Faces Painting set. This will be followed by a flesh wash, and final dry brush, then finish the crew's uniforms.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Kevthemodeller]

Lovely build mate the detail especially on the engine is superb

[RossiM1]

Stunning detail and a great finish, those resin details and your extra work on them is amazing, look forward to seeing this come together, it will look 1st class
ATB
Gary

[IanG]

All finished!
Last piece of the puzzle was a 1/48 Airfix Gloster Meteor engine stand, for the display VK-1 engine.
Display base is supplied by Coastal Kits Display Bases.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[shortCummins]

excellent, the tank crew work exceptionally well, I'll be stealing that idea

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[IanG]

excellent, the tank crew work exceptionally well, I'll be stealing that idea

rgds
John(shortCummins)

Thank you John. Be my guest on the tank crew idea, I borrowed the idea too

[Kevthemodeller]

Superb great build mate love that engine