MiG-21 or MiG-23

Friend of the blog Jim “X-Acto” Bates recently told me about this story.  I’d like to know more, including whether it was a MiG-21 or MiG-23.  The story says both.  Anyone know?

More of this, please.

These types of tests need to be conducted a lot more often, especially by the seaborne forces of the USN and our allies.  If you would have peace, prepare for war.

We are not alone

The USN isn’t the only navy with problems.

Well, it looks like the Pacific Fleet's Marshal Shaposhnikov Project 1155 reclassified frigate did have a malfunction during its tests with a failed Kalibr cruise missile launch.https://t.co/xZbLEY09Af pic.twitter.com/1lQZn2bPSk

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 29, 2021

AA-5 Ash

One of the kits I am slowly working on is the Trumpeter Tu-128.  Recently I’ve been on hold on the M-30 and Mosquito for various reasons.  So, I decided to turn my attention to the AA-5 (Ash) missiles in the Tu-128 kit.  I figured I could weak point of most 72nd scale kits.)  However, much to my surprise the missiles in the Trumpeter kit are pretty good representations of these missiles.

Really, the only problem that jumped out at me is that the missiles seem to be molded with rear cover protective plates that you only see in place on museum examples of the missile..  The actual in service missile has this removed for operations.  Thus you can see into the rear of the missile to the exhaust.  I decided this would not do.  But, how to simulate the hollowed out exhaust.  Then I remembered that Mike convinced me that it would be a good idea to order some Micro chisel drills on eBay from China.  I did , but this was my first opportunity to use them. (Ignore the stray hair in the shot as I didn’t see it until later and didn’t feel like shooting the photo again.)

I have to say they produced exactly the effect I was looking for.

A win for the good guys?

Looks like the US may have succeeded in spiriting a copy of Russia’s main short range SAM system out of Libya. (h/t to an alert reader of the blog.  Thank you)

This is unreal

This is unreal.  The technology is just amazing.

SpaceX getting into national defense

Well, sort of.  Got to say I am happy about this as SpaceX seems to be one of the few competent companies out there.

Finding the win

I recently completed A-Model’s AS-1 Kennel.  I bought this kit at the Chattanooga Nationals and actually started it sitting in the hotel room at the show.  In retrospect, this might not have been a good idea.

I’ve built an A-Model kit before.  I built their AS-4 Kitchen a number of years ago.  In fact, that model won an award at the IPMS Nats in Norfolk. So, I thought I knew what I was getting into with the AS-1.  What I did not know at the time, and only later learned on Scalemates.com, is that the AS-1 kit isn’t an A-Model kit.  It was the one and only kit of a small manufacturer, the models to which, A-Model acquired.  This meant I wasn’t building an A-Model kit, I was building the one and only kit of a first time manufacturer.

I did not know this.  Thus I failed to look closely at the kit. (BTW, this is a general failing of mine, and I suspect many modelers.  We are so anxious to get started we don’t take our time to closely examine the model.)  If I had, I might have noticed the “poor” panel lines.  They were really bad.  It isn’t anything that couldn’t be fixed if you noticed it an determined to correct it prior to assembly. I did not.

By the time I realized the problems the kit had, I was far into the build.  I was at the priming stage.  I them attempted to correct the worst of the problems at a time way to far into the build.  Also, at this time, I realized that my rescribing skills had atrophied. (Who am I kidding, they suck)  Thus I was left with a model that I knew wasn’t going to be what I wanted.

Listeners to Plastic Model Mojo may note that the progress on the AS-1 stalled for several months.  At this point there was an internal debate in my head about what to do.  I could trash the project.  I couldn’t really go back to the point where I would have rescribed everything before assembly.  So, thanks to encouragement from Scott ” Skippy ” King and Jim “the X-acto ” Bates, I decided to make the best of a bad situation and press on, using the model as a way to learn.

When I build a model, I have two goals. First, I’d like each model I build to be better than the last.  By that standard, the AS-1 failed, rather badly.  Second, on each model I build, I want to try something new. A new technique, a new paint or weathering product, etc.  You get the point.  By that standard, I succeeded.  I used a white undercoat/primer instead of a black one on the theory that, for non-chrome finishes, white is a better base.  I think it worked out.  Also, the AS-1 was my first truly bare metal finish.  While far from perfect, it is now something I have attempted and have a baseline for improving.  Finally, I realize that I suck at scribing and I need to get better.

So, is this the AS-1 a great model? No. Did I do my best job on it? No.  Did I learn new stuff?  Yes. Did I have fun? Yes.  I am going to count that as a win.

Rescribing and metal finishes

The A Model AS-1 is not a Tamiya-level quality kit. In fact, Scalemates tells us that it was actually another company’s kit that A-Model re-released as part of their line. I love Soviet/Russian stuff and especially their missiles, so when I saw it at the Chattanooga Nats I had to get it.

Among other things this kit has given me a chance to work on my metal finish skills and, because of my ham-handed building and the less than stellar quality of the kit, my rescribing of panel lines.

As far metal finishes go, Dr. Miller of Model Paint Solutions has suggested for non-chrome metallic finishes, white is a better primer than black. I wanted to use this as a chance to test that theory. A you can see below, I think he is correct. Now, when I get the top sprayed with aluminum, I am going to try and create some panel variations. Stay tuned.

White primer (with a few things left to fix)

A pretty smooth Alclad II aluminum finish

Buck Rogers

Cool.