Hobbycraft 1/48 scale Mig-17
Hello! So here is my Hobbycraft MiG-17. I bought this kit waaaay back in 1993 while I was in Virginia for AIT. I have been carrying it around with me ever since, and finally started it this past spring. If you can get this kit for free, or for maybe $5 at a swap meet then go for it, otherwise you might want to give this one a pass. The detail is pretty weak, there is no positive alignment for most of the parts, some accuracy issues... Anyways, I have had this one for far too long not to build it...
I used a True Details resin cockpit and everything else was out of the box or scratch built. The gun camera on the intake ring was missing so I made one of those out of aluminum tubing and Milliput. The ventral fin was way too thick so I removed it with my Dremel and replaced it from one made of plastic card and Milliput. The intake ring and exhaust pipe totally left the bare plastic interior of the kit visible, so I built up the intake trunking with stock plastic, and rolled up some more plastic to make the tube inside the tail pipe.
Paint job was Model Master enamels shot through my Sotar 20/20 airbrush, which does a nice job of spraying a tight line. I was afraid to use the kit decals since they had become so stiff and old, so I sprayed the nose numbers through a mask with my airbrush. The national markings were not as successful. Before breaking down and spending money on aftermarket decals, I went ahead and tried the kit decals. It took ten minutes for them to come off the paper but they did, and they settled down perfectly with some SolvaSet. I clear coated with acrylic and then weathered with oil paints for the first time. That was fun!
Despite the old standards of the kit, it was still pretty fun to build. I would do it again, but now I know where to improve. I would also like a do-over but with the Hobby boss Kit. Anyways, thanks for looking!
Cheers!
-Ramon
Good job on an old kit, Ramon, you've made the most of it, and added and amended details where necessary, and you've learnt a lot along the way.
I certainly did George, thanks! ๐
Looks every bit as nice as the HobbyBoss kit (which is not without its issues, believe me), thanks to all the extra work you did on this old kit. Cockpit looks especially nice.
Thanks Mike! I am glad I took pics of it, because you cant see much anymore now that the canopy is on. any particular advice about the Hobby Boss MiG-17?
That's a good looking MiG Ramon! I love the paint job and like that you used your Sotar. I have one that hasn't had any paint through it yet. As for the Hobby Boss 17, here's how I did mine:
Thanks Gary! your article is funny, and your MiG came out really nice! despite all the headaches it gave you, your detail shots have convinced me that i want to try the hobby boss version of this jet. thanks for sharing and inspiring! ๐
Thanks Ramon! Good luck with it! I know it'll look great.
Ramon, I heard that this was copied from a vacuform, War Eagle. Todays urban plastic rumor. Where in Virginia? I was at Ft. Monroe, but that was after the RVN, a looong time ago.
I think I still have one of these, though I haven't seen it in recent history.
Good job on it.
Hi Bernard! I was at Ft. Eustis going to the UH-60 repairman course. it was fun! never made it to Ft. Monroe, but it might be nice to tour that part of the country again. i remember it was really pretty!
Great modelling mate! That's a cracking camo scheme.
Thanks dude, Cheers! ๐
Very nice looking Mig-17! I like the camo scheme and finish.
Thank you Greg! ๐
Looks great ! I built Hobbycraft's 1/72 Mig 15 a while back. I was surprised at the quality.
Thanks Phil! ๐
It looks great, I love the camo scheme. Lovely work, well done.
Thanks Marc! it was fun to paint, and repaint, and overpaint, and touch up paint... but still fun! ๐
Good work there Ramon, to take a P** of a kit and get this result out of her.
Well done mate.
Thanks Simon! the kit was a bit of a pig, but actually, with a bit of prior planning and prep, I would do it again and make it better! ๐
great camo
Thanks! ๐
Really nice, Ramon.
Thanks Bryan! ๐
Funny you mentioned how long ago you got this kit, I got mine about the same time in Connecticut, at the time I believe it may have been the only MiG-17 available in this scale. Still have it in the stash, but I have the MiG-17PFu variant. Very basic, but you did a great job on this one Ramon. The kit really needs a better cockpit and the the TD one you used does the trick to help a lot in that area. Anyway thanks for sharing a rare build of this kit. At least for me it is.
Thanks Chuck! I hope to see your MiG-17 PFu posted here as well! ๐
Nice job, Ramon...and I like that paint job, too! ๐
Thanks Craig! Painting it was the funnest part! ๐
Greetings:
That is an eye catcher Ramon. Nice to see a Mig - 17 in camouflage, and this one is very striking. Makes one want too see the DOG FIGHT series from the HISTORY channel, good work.
Thanks! ๐
Another example of your great modelling skills, love the paint job !
Thanks Bernd! It was a lot of fun to paint!