For the last few months, I've been building up a small 1/144 collection of Soviet MiG aircraft. These include:
Eduard MiG-15 Dual Combo Pack (2 kits in one box)
Minicraft MiG-21
Academy MiG-23
Academy MiG-29
Academy Su-22
Trumpeter Su-27
CyberHobby Jian Ji-5 (MiG-17) in 1/72 scale cause I couldn't find a 1/144 scale weeks ago.
My plan is to create another collection display similar to what I did here:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/650/22704003151_911002aa59_b.jpg
...........but it will instead be based on the activities based on this unit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4477th_Test_and_Evaluation_Squadron
All the aircraft designations I listed above have actually (or supposedly) been tested/flown at Area 51 (Groom Lake) and/or Tonopah Test Range.
So I have a few questions to ask before I start on this project.
1. Are there any other aircraft I should include?
2. Should most aircraft be painted Silver, Camouflage, or 50/50 (Half of the collection silver, the other half camo) ?
3. Give all the aircraft Soviet markings, USAF markings, or 50/50?
Great idea. The Red Hats out of Groom were a mix of technical exploitation and adversary, while the Red Eagles out of Tonopah TTR were mostly aggressor aircraft. A variety of code words were used at various times and on various programs:
Have Drill: MiG 17
Have Donut: MiG 21
Have Ferry, spare MiG-17
Have Idea- and overall program code
Red Hats: Technical Exploitation, mostly out of Groom
Red Eagles: Adversary- mostly out of Tonopah.
Constant Peg
4477 test and evaluation squadron
Det 3
Paint jobs seemed to vary by the source they came from and the role you are portraying them in. Natural metal might be a better choice for technical exploitation, camo for the adversary role. I vote half and half for more interest.
Some choices:
MiG 15, as defected to South Korea, natural metal
MiG 17, Have Drill, Cammo
MiG 21, Have Doughnut. Natural metal, with some simple US markings- arguably the most famous MiG flown in the US. Those sourced from Indonesia wore a greenish two tone overall, later a green and gray two tone. A few white ones and a few multi brown ones later.
MiG-23. A wide variety of schemes to choose from. The gray version might be a nice contrast to the others.
MiG 29. Ex Moldavian wore a tan/brown/green upper, gray underside.
Su-27 ?
A 1/144 Mig 17 would be nice to complete the set.
Like this idea.
Highly recommend books for anyone interested:
Red Eagles, Americas Secret MiGs, Steve Davies.
America's Secret Mig Squadron, Gaillard Peck
