What if

Picture Post => Current and Finished Projects => Aircraft => Topic started by: kitbasher on January 29, 2017, 11:58:09 AM

Title: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on January 29, 2017, 11:58:09 AM
I'm in, using the Mig half of a second hand Airfix Mirage/MiG-15 Dogfight Double that set me back a wallet burning £2 at last year's Milton Keynes show.

Imagine a world where the post-WW2 British Government did not agree the sale of British jet technology to the Soviet Union.

Building begins very soon.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on February 12, 2017, 03:55:01 AM
So building has started, it's the 1958 Airfix Mig-15 kit and boy does its age show.  But hey, it's half of a Dogfight Double that cost two quid.  I know the current(ish) Airfix Mig-15 is not without its faults but in comparison it's the height of sophistication!

Hilarious raised panel lines of such magnitude that it looks as though the frame was outside the skin, not the other way round.  So panel lines scribed and a basic cockpit is being built up, leaving plenty of space for nose weights. 

The rear fuselage has been chopped up to make way for the power plant.  In the world where the post-WW2 British Government did not agree the sale of British jet technology to the Soviet Union, the Soviets have to rely (as they did for a brief while) on captured German jet technology.  Instead of having the Klimov RD-45 copy of the RR Nene to hand, Mikoyan instead had to rely on a pair of improved Jumo 004s fitted to an evolution of the MiG-9 that also drew upon captured plans and wind-tunnel models for the Focke-Wulf Ta183.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4627/38554813380_069c78c8d4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuMJ)(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4673/38554813330_1b1456541f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuMJ)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4651/38554813220_d667d2e768_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuLS)(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4659/38554813130_a018e8ac77_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuJY)

Check out those girders! (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuHq)
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: DogfighterZen on February 12, 2017, 06:50:28 AM
Very good idea! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: Tophe on February 12, 2017, 08:53:13 AM
Wow! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: Snowtrooper on February 12, 2017, 02:17:03 PM
Looks... very much like the late 40's Soviet prototypes. Somehow, the no-nonsense brutality of this design suits the 15 better than clean elegant lines ;D
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: The Rat on February 12, 2017, 03:03:34 PM
Until I saw your pictures, I had forgotten how bad those raised panel lines were. Built one about 40 years ago. Nice idea, keep the reports coming!
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kerick on February 12, 2017, 03:29:52 PM
Get out the grinder! At least it doesn't appear to have the raised lines outlining the position of the decals!
I'll be watching this one, looks like fun!
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: ysi_maniac on February 27, 2017, 10:44:35 AM
I like this idea
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: Captain Canada on February 27, 2017, 01:49:42 PM
That's pretty neat. Looks like it needs a carburetor lol
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on April 26, 2017, 01:58:38 PM
And more evidence of slow progress - update shows the fruits of a few brief spells over the last few weeks and after 4 hours this weekend:

Panel lines scribed, raised detail rubbed down and painted over with liquid cement to clear out the crud.  Cockpit interior almost built up - windscreen combing yet to be finished and control column still to be fitted.  I've a white metal seat that fits the bill - looks the right sort of shape but don't recall what it's supposed to be actually for!  And more evidence of scribing (the wing) and a glimpse of nose weights.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4676/38554812940_2b0321b565_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuE9)(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4746/26493872298_bda3536b64_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21JXuE9)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4632/39654170484_1e11d9d315_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gnb2cG)

The rear fuselage may need some further cutting away to make space for the engines - it's not looking quite right when I hold them in place.  1/8 of an inch I think is all that's needed. (https://flic.kr/p/23q6Zmy)
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: NARSES2 on April 27, 2017, 06:57:59 AM
Have to applaud the re-scribing, something I'm absolutely useless at.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on February 19, 2018, 11:24:54 AM
Leap forward (O.K. stumble and trip) almost a year and the cockpit is edsentially done and the fuselage halves fitted.  Much splaying of the rear fuselage required behind the cockpit, pics to follow.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: ysi_maniac on February 19, 2018, 12:32:05 PM
Waiting for pics. :mellow: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on February 21, 2018, 02:35:08 AM
Quote from: ysi_maniac on February 19, 2018, 12:32:05 PM
Waiting for pics. :mellow: :thumbsup:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4669/26526938558_fa84c44124_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gq6uDC)(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4608/38587133500_d9588cebef_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gq6uDC)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4614/38587133640_9ca7d09c6c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21MP9rb)

Very clear how much splaying at the back was needed.  Much packing and filling to follow, nose is packed with weight and there's a white metal seat to go in yet to make sure it's not a tail sitter.

Realised i'd not sanded down one of the fuselage halves but no matter, plenty more sanding to come so will do it then.  Some panel line rescribing will be necessary anyway. (https://flic.kr/p/21MP9tA)
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: zenrat on February 21, 2018, 02:43:17 AM
Nice.
Twin fins?
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on February 21, 2018, 03:34:42 AM
Quote from: zenrat on February 21, 2018, 02:43:17 AM
Nice.
Twin fins?

Thanks.  No, just the single fin.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: NARSES2 on February 21, 2018, 06:04:26 AM
Would you like this moved to the general build area ?
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on February 21, 2018, 06:43:27 AM
Yes please Chris, was going to ask.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: NARSES2 on February 22, 2018, 06:22:30 AM
Your wish etc
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: dwomby on February 22, 2018, 06:30:05 AM
Great idea!!

David
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: b29r on February 22, 2018, 07:51:37 AM
That is a great idea, KB, for this old classic (loosely said  :o).  Good to see it going forward again, and will be watching for further progress.  I have one of these old ***** about 90% done, and we just sit there and glare at one another  :angry:

Best regards,
Kem
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: KiwiZac on February 22, 2018, 12:54:15 PM
Delicious madness.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on March 26, 2018, 03:35:07 AM
Engines and fin/rudder well and truly fitted, filling has begun - there will be lots of PSR I fear!

Pics once PSR is done and the wings/tailplane are fitted.
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: kitbasher on June 27, 2021, 06:45:54 AM
Anyway.....three years later and it's slowly moving up the 'to do' list!
Title: Re: It's only an old school Airfix MiG-15
Post by: ChernayaAkula on June 27, 2021, 07:07:08 AM
Good to hear.  :thumbsup: This certainly deserves to be finished. The side-by-side engines look great.