GusMac

Well, this build is a lot of firsts - first build painted with an airbrush, first WIP on a site, first real attempt at 'proper' weathering on a build and rescribing and first attempt at black basing. Some efforts more successful than others and I certainly have to get better at taking photos. Used the Aires cockpit set and the Linden Hill Non-aligned Floggers decal set. This is a Syrian Mig-23MF shot down over the Bekaa Valley on 9th June 1982. Markings are as accurate as I can make them but there are very few pictures around from this time. Plan is to do the F-15C which shot this down next, although I might get sidetracked by the Bronco Comet. Hopefully, the compass grey will be more effective with the black basing. Think I was far too heavy handed with the painting on this one to get the proper effect. All feedback welcome as this is a big learning curve for me and some of the builds on here are so far ahead of my skill-set that I'm not sure I'll ever get there - but I'll enjoy trying! Cheers and a great festive season to all, Gus

Right, I'm calling this done. Seems to have taken an age to get these last few bits done but I suppose that's just the run up to Xmas. I've posted this in the Completed Builds for anyone who wants to see more. Gus

Ok, result of the Google-ing is that all the definitive statements I saw about the IAF keeping the turkey feathers seem to be wrong! There are lots of pics of Israeli 15Cs with the feathers removed, including the plane I want to build. Now whether they relate to the timepoint I'm after is a moot point but I think I may just go for the featherless resin from GT Resin as you get a good combined deal with the seamless intakes. Gus

Thanks Erik, that's a neat suggestion. Time to do some 'Google-ing' Gus

Evening all, I'm just coming to the end of my Syrian MIG-23 and thinking about the next project. This is planned to be the IAF Eagle which shot the MIG down over the Bekaa Valley (but I may get sidetracked by the Italeri Mirage!). My question is, does anyone know of resin exhausts for the 15C which have the turkey feathers? All the ones I've found are for the 15I or 15K and have the later engines. All the 15C ones seem to be without the feathers. Not too desparate as the kit exhausts look ok but if I could avoid having to hide the joints between the halves it would be nice. All suggestions appreciated. Gus

Evening all, finally another update. Well, it now has legs! Since the last update it's had Mig's Ammo and Production Line panel line washes, some oil work to simulate oil leaks, etc, flat coat with decanted Tamiya rattle can and then the landing gear and doors added. The dielectric panels have been left with a satin finish as that's what the pictures seemed to show but I'm not entirely sure it's correct. Thoughts? Having only ever tried the clay-based Flory washes before, the enamel washes were easier to work with and cleaned up better. However, that may just be down to the quality of the gloss coat I put down - I think I left it a bit light as I was worried about runs, pooling, etc. Next time I think I'll try the Tamiya X-22 with the mist coat of Mr Levelling thinner which Doogs and others seem to really like. Last steps are to get the weapons on, a few antenne, etc and the air-brakes then it'll be my first completed build on any modelling site. Any comments and advice on the weathering, etc welcomed. Gus

Thanks Jim, looks good stuff. Notice it's got Xylene and Acetone in it, so ticks all the boxes - toxic, flammable, carcinogenic.... My wife will love that! Gus

These do look the business. Wish I'd known they did the Soviet barf turquoise cockpit colour before I tried to mix my own. Just out of interest Jim, how did you find these for clean up from the airbrush? Thanks, Gus

The sight made me laugh! The idea you need to be sooo accurate with something like this. Looks stunning Jeroen. Gus

Looks great Jeroen. Just as a matter of interest, any tips as to how you keep those decals sooo straight? My efforts always end up looking like they've been painted by a drunk on the deck of a rolling ship! Gus

Really sorry to hear that Cees. Hope it hasn't damaged the underlying floor too badly. Gus

Looks great Jeroen. The colour is really interesting, it's almost got a sort of pearlescent effect to it which looks very effective. Gus

My father had a Vauxhall Viva in that shade of blue back when I was a kid. With the brakes it had there was a definite similarity to the Okha - every trip could result in sudden death! Looks great Jeroen. Gus

Beautiful work Jeroen. The attention to detail is superb. Gus

Just wish they would have come to Europe one last time. Seen them on every tour here since Grace Under Pressure. Ah well, just have to get the DVD. Welcome back anyway Ian. Cheers, Gus

Hi Cees, yes I think I got my east and west mixed up. We were staying on the Herengracht which is about midway between the two. From memory, there was another one over the other side of town as well. Gus

Hi Cees, is that the one on Rokin? Spent some time (and Euros) in there with my son when we were over a couple of years ago. Excellent staff and good selection of stuff, or so my son said. Cheers, Gus

Hi George, that beach looks great for dogs! We've got some nice ones near us on NE coast of Scotland but having two Jack Russells you end up spending most of your time pulling them out of rabbit burrows in the dunes. Last time we were over your way we spent a couple of glorious days on the beach at Scheveningen but it was just a bit busier than that. Gus

Thanks Cees. That's good to know about the Revell thinners, especially if they smell sooo good. Another noxious smelling modelling product is just what I need to stay in my wife's good books! Gus

Evening all, a bit more progress to report. Gloss coat on - I remembered I had some Tamiya rattlecan gloss clear that I'd decanted, so went with that. I tested the Humbrol acrylic gloss with the Tamiya acrylics and wasn't happy with the results, didn't give a consistent finish, so I gave that a miss. The decals are the Trumpy kit ones for the stencils which went ok except for a few of the smallest ones on the missiles which just disintegrated. They've settled quite nicely with a little Microsol. The Syrian insignia are from the Linden Hill 'Non-aligned Floggers' set. Printing, etc is excellent but they just seem a little thick - even with copious applications of Microsol and Mr Mark they haven't settled quite as well into the panel lines, etc as I'd hoped. Maybe it's just my unfamiliarity with the decal softeners but the final result wasn't quite as nice as I thought it might be. Decals have had a top coat of gloss so now it's on to weathering. Plan is to use the AMMO panel line washes which are supposed to be fairly idiot proof - well here's the test, give them to an idiot and see what happens! Not going to go too heavy on the weathering as the photo references I've got show a relatively clean airframe just before it was shot down. I'm fully signed up for Doogs' arguments for honest critique, so any suggestions, etc, please fire away. This is so far beyond anything I've tried before so all ideas, comments, etc welcomed. Cheers, Gus

Sounds better behaved than our cat who attempted to climb out an open quarter-light window, slipped, fell and demolished my Revell Ju88a1 which was displayed on the table underneath. Cat 1 Model 0!

Does the cat come as standard? Looks great though, just far too organised.

Hi Dave, If you do decide to drive up to Edinburgh it's worth a trip to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune which you'd drive by. They have one of the remaining Concordes plus a nice Jaguar and lots of other cool stuff. Gus

Hey Brad, I'll take our real ales over Fosters or XXXX or the other rubbish you send us! Hasn't rained on the right days this summer for your cricketers either. Did try thinning some paints with IPA but over here that's India Pale Ale so didn't end well. Dave, if you have the time or opportunity I can recommend a jaunt up here to Scotland - some of the best scenery on Earth but lots of rain! Gus

Some more progress to report. All the small areas painted, dielectric panels, outer exhaust, etc. Made my own masks for the arabic numerals on the serial numbers. Printed them onto Tamiya's kabuki sheets and cut out with a sharp blade. Pretty happy with the outcome for a first attempt. Three out of the four are pretty sharp, the fourth is a bit smudged but I reckon after it's weathered etc it'll just look a bit worn (I hope). Next step is the gloss coat. As I've posted elsewhere I could only get Humbrol acrylic gloss at the LHS and I'm twitchy about how it'll work over the Tamiya acrylics. I'm even twitchier about trying Future as a gloss so I might just order some Tamiya gloss online and wait. I've got this far without any foul-ups for once and I don't want to jinx it now. Any suggestions or experience with this combo welcome. Ta, Gus