So yesterday I got SOVIET SECRET PROJECTS: Fighters Since 1945 and immediately I got the urge to kitbash. Initially I wanted to make a tailsitting foxbat as depicted on the cover but alas, the LHS had no MiG-25 kits. So I decided to make a 4th gen heavy fighter by MiG.(basically, if the Flanker was no-go so MiG took over that job)
Model is currently the result of a forbidden romance between an italieri MiG-29UB and an academy F-15C.
I could've played it easy and just stuck MiG surfaces onto a dewinged eagle(actually, some of the concept models in the book appeared to be just that :lol: ), but I just have to do it the hard way.
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What we've got here is a compromise between old school wings stuck to fuselage, and new school blended wing body. F-15 wings have been clipped about halfway with entire fulcrum wings attatched. The result... a whoooole lotta wing.
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I see the forward fuselage as giving me the biggest potential headaches. I'm planning on using most of the F-15s nose but with the MiG's cockpit and LERXs magically grafted on. I'll probably modify the intakes.
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I dont think the finished model will have the auxilliary intakes. Since I forgot to add intake ducts and compressor fans when putting together the fuselage, I'll probably obscure the insides with photoetch FOD screens.
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Bigger planes need bigger fins, so I added huge ventral fins made out of the F-15s tailplanes.
Canards are likely to happen :)
wow! That's looks ultrapromising! with such number and oversized control surfaces, you'll have an agile fighter to say the least!
Great concept :wub: It looks amazing already - looking forward to seeing further progress :thumbsup:
Screw the "cobra" maneuver ! This one can do the "Sidewinder" !
QuoteScrew the "cobra" maneuver ! This one can do the "Sidewinder" !
Nice one Goober, I'll look forward to this one with serious interest! Following on from Gregs comment, I guess it'll have vector nozzles?
Last update for tonight. :)
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As it turns out, it's pretty close in size and volume to an su-27
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Forward fuselage is almost tomcat like in its fatness.
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Just got to do the intakes, then I can start PSR <_<
It looks much better than a Su-27! I like these canards, ventral fins, big wings and long cockpit area!
Oh that's sharp!!!
:thumbsup:
QuoteIt looks much better than a Su-27! I like these canards, ventral fins, big wings and long cockpit area!
I agree. Supercool B) B) B) B)
that is the best looking mig i ever seen.
any possibilities for licence building that beauty :wub:
Yeah, MiG catalogue looks rather sexy these days, Super Fulcrum, MiG AT...
Very nice! :thumbsup:
However it looks like it is going to be a bear to putty and sand.
A "super" FULCRUM does exist- it is called MiG-35. In that case, this would then be an "Ultra" FULCRUM. B)
Those canards are killer, goober! I can't wait to see where this project takes you.
Brian da Basher
Oh yeah, that's looking like one tough bird !
:wub:
WOW! :party: :cheers: I love it! :wub: :thumbsup:
Eddie
That's the kind of build I like, Goober!!
Two Thumbs up! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Those canards are really the decisive shape of the plane
Rafa
^_^ Thanks for all the very kind comments. Now for a backstory.
Tentative designation and NATO nickname for this aircraft shall be a MiG-32 "Flashpoint." Even numbered designation is because it was developed initially as an interdictor/strike plane to compliment and replace the Su-24, which was still pretty new at the time but as far as I could tell, isn't fantastic by any measure. The resulting aircraft ends up with similar capabilities as the F-15E and eventually gets used as such.
Canards and trust vectoring would have been a design feature from the start, in order to improve low speed performance and give it STOL capabilities(similar to F-15S/MTD). By this point, the soviets have gotten over their enthusiasm for swing-wings, along with the technical challenges and diminished fuel capacity that came with them.
Performance-wise, i figure it'd be slightly inferior to the Su-27 in aerial combat, but at least as manouverable with longer range and vastly superior ground poundin' abilities.
Wow, those ventral fins really set it off, don't they!?!?
Would look pretty darned threatening if that beastie pulled along side your B-52, now, wouldn't it?
Bold, yet refreshing :) :thumbsup:
This is gonna kick some serious tail end when finished!
Looks superb so far. I'd probably make those folding ventral fins, as on the MiG-23, to keep the landing gear lengths reasonable.
QuoteLooks superb so far. I'd probably make those folding ventral fins, as on the MiG-23, to keep the landing gear lengths reasonable.
I was pondering that issue as well, especially since the F-15 landing gear doesnt leave much ground clearance(i found that out the hard way on a previous build). For the time being, I'll pretend that the fins fold. Unfortunately, the ventral fins are pretty well securely superglued on, so I think I'll either:
-Have it displayed in flight, which is kinda unfortunate cuz i've already installed anti-fod screens(similar to the ones on the Su-27) in the down position.
-Use freakishly long landing gear legs, probably from a 1/48 scale kit, that woul require making all new landing gear bays to accomodate them. It'd look weird, but on the plus side, it does allow me to load big-arse bombs 'n stuff under the fuselage.
Camo scheme will be 2 shades of light gray and a blue on the top, dark gray on the bottom. Probably wouldn't be that practical but I think it'd look cool :P
QuoteQuoteLooks superb so far. I'd probably make those folding ventral fins, as on the MiG-23, to keep the landing gear lengths reasonable.
I was pondering that issue as well, especially since the F-15 landing gear doesnt leave much ground clearance(i found that out the hard way on a previous build). For the time being, I'll pretend that the fins fold. Unfortunately, the ventral fins are pretty well securely superglued on, so I think I'll either:
-Have it displayed in flight, which is kinda unfortunate cuz i've already installed anti-fod screens(similar to the ones on the Su-27) in the down position.
-Use freakishly long landing gear legs, probably from a 1/48 scale kit, that woul require making all new landing gear bays to accomodate them. It'd look weird, but on the plus side, it does allow me to load big-arse bombs 'n stuff under the fuselage.
Camo scheme will be 2 shades of light gray and a blue on the top, dark gray on the bottom. Probably wouldn't be that practical but I think it'd look cool :P
Well, this is whatif world, so you can say that's
"the MiG-32 had a misterious system, never disclosed to foreign observers.
When the aircraft is on the ground its ventral fins are folded because of a lack of ground clearance.
Just after take off the fins move to an in flight position. Some experts believe that the fins retraction system is linked to the undercarriage retraction mecanism... when wheels get down, fins get up, and
vice-versa... "
and your problem is solved :lol:
:) Ive decided to go for wheels-up. I've earmarked a Bandai Gundam model stand for this project. Hopefully I can get it to look slightly less sci-fi.
Aaaarf, we need more photos, really!!
QuoteAaaarf, we need more photos, really!!
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It looks like high art sculpture in that pose goober! Nice shot!
Brian da Basher
merci! :cheers:
Now, THAT, is dynamic !
Damn. That's pretty nice.
why does that stand look so familiar?
We really need an update of this project :rolleyes:
QuoteWe really need an update of this project :rolleyes:
:thumbsup:
Well, lately I've...
-Added tailbooms, for rear- facing radar and chaff/flares. Mostly to make it increasingly unrecognisable as an F-15. Horray! more PSR :lol:
-Added hardpoints, so far one centerline, and four in each wing(including wingtip rails). Probably will add more under the intakes
-I've pretty much decided on armaments, which consists of: one 30mm cannon and from the wingtips inward -four AA-8 Aphids(pending aquisition of AA-11 archers), two anti-surface missiles(probably kitbashed or stolen from other kit), two HUUUUGE drop tanks, from a 1/48 F-16, at least 4 guided bombs, and a rack of cluster bombs. A lot? Not enough? :ar:
I still have to add a laser-designator under the nose, to suggest some droop to the otherwise very fat and deep nose.
Does anyone know if US laser guided bombs can be modified to look reasonably like soviet ones? I've got whatever came with academy's YF-16 kit.
I also plan on kitbashing a 1/72 F-16 with a 1/144 flanker. A micro-flanker would look nice next to a mega-fulcrum, no? :P
Here's a good link with various Soviet Air to ground weapons, along with dimensions, weight's & stuff. The link should take you direct to the KAB series TV guided & LGB's. You shouldn't have too much of a problem scratching some.
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img001/airsurfac...#guided%20bombs (http://www.aeronautics.ru/img001/airsurface.htm#guided%20bombs)
QuoteHere's a good link with various Soviet Air to ground weapons, along with dimensions, weight's & stuff. The link should take you direct to the KAB series TV guided & LGB's. You shouldn't have too much of a problem scratching some.
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img001/airsurfac...#guided%20bombs (http://www.aeronautics.ru/img001/airsurface.htm#guided%20bombs)
Thanks for the link Mossie. As it turns out I've got a revell su-24 that comes with a buttload of fairly modern anti-ground munitions. :ar:
I just recently realized that my plane has HUUUUUUUGE wings for a mudhen-style fighter bomber. The ride at low levels should be fun... :P
Dontcha hate it when you get a SAM up the bum while you're out bombing the crap out of your enemies?
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And here, is the weirdest thing I've ever considered putting on a modern jet fighter. What is it?
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It's a tailgun!
So I was looking for weapons to arm the MiG-32 with and I found an SSPU Flexible gunpod. I was going to put one on but why do that when I could just attatch one to a tailboom? Pod would be aimed by radar and possibly tv camera on starboard tailboom, as well as from IR from the underside of the nose.
Wow what a great idea, goober! Looks cool as all get-out!
Brian da Basher
I think that the tail booms will make an already stunning model look even better (but we need a photo of the whole model!). And the rear gun is great. Definitely in the "why-didn't-I-think-of-that" class.
QuoteI think that the tail booms will make an already stunning model look even better (but we need a photo of the whole model!). And the rear gun is great. Definitely in the "why-didn't-I-think-of-that" class.
Double ditto on that. It reminds me of the rear defense ports on the Firefox. B)
Eddie :salute:
I'm lovin it, very nice indeed :D
Sorry, but what happened to this?