1/32 Revell MiG-21FL

Syrian A.F. 1973

by Ed Okun

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The older that I get, the more repairs I find that I need to do to my aging model collection.  This Revell MiG-21PF was built about 15 years ago (having trouble recalling that far back !!), and at the time was the only large (32nd scale) MiG-21 model on the modeling scene.  I built at least 2 or 3 of these and always enjoyed the final creation.  The model was originally finished in Egyptian airforce camo scheme for the late 1960s-early 1970s, with 2 green stars on the roundels and eagle on the national flag.  I decided to update my model by doing a re-paint and as with another of my models (Hasegawa 32nd scale Israeli Skyhawk), I soaked it with oven cleaner and removed the old paint with a toothbrush, bringing it back to a bare grey plastic finish, but saving any construction work that had been done to it.  The original Egyptian scheme is shown below.

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 The model was re-painted in the camo pattern of a MiG-21FL of the Syrian airforce, also from the same era.  My reference was the"Osprey Combat Aircraft" book #44, "Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 units in combat".  On page #58 is a beautiful profile of this MiG by Mr. Tom Cooper.  The MiG is from the Syrian 9th or 54th squadrons with the arabic callsign number #1411.  The description of how these MiGs were painted led me to believe that it may have been masked or very tightly sprayed with not very good quality paint, so I did the same. I masked the Dark green pattern over a yellowish "radome tan' with "Black Magic" vinyl material. I then "distressed" the green with some very fine 0000 steel wool to achieve the worn appearance.

The paint was all Testors "Model Master" #s FS 34258 (Dark green) FS 33613(Radome tan) and TS 2123 (Russian underside blue).  The decals used were from a "Tally-Ho" MiG-21 sheet in 48th scale, which included markings for a couple of Egyptian schemes that I then adapted. The roundels were the biggest problem,  as the Syrians used 3 green stars pattern during this time period (early 1970s).  The Egyptian roundels on the sheet, had no stars (just red, white and black circles).  I ended up cutting (X 18) some nearly microscopic green stars from a bunch of Iraqi flag decals and applying them over the Egyptian roundel to create the Syrian markings.   The Syrian national flag on the tail was luckily identical to the Iraqi flag during that time.  Finding good Arabic numerals in decals is difficult, and most of those on available sheets are really pretty bad, especially in 32nd scale.  I decided to create a numeric mask on my computer, transferred that to masking tape and sprayed through it with flat black paint.  The model was coated before, during, and after the decaling process with "Future" acrylic floor polish.  The finish clear coat used was "Testors" Clear satin Lacquer, misted over the model to achieve a homogenous finish.

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  I finished the renovation process by removing the old ejection seat and doing abit of "super-detailing" to bring the cockpit area to a higher standard.  The Russian rocket pods on the wings were taken from a "Trumpeter" MiG-21MF kit which I eventually intend to build (if I can stop refinishing my old models for a while).  The Revell model MiG-21PF in 32nd scale is pretty "long in the tooth" and basic at about 35 years old, but still fun to build and a great starter kit for anybody.  The general outline looks just like a MiG-21......, although I never was the sort of person to shelve a kit because it was a few scale inches off of the plans.  Sometimes an old kit like this can give alot more enjoyment as it requires more skill and imagination to create a good looking finished model.  We "21st century" modelers tend to get spoiled by the high quality of the new kits, and yet we can still complain about the smallest errors, forgetting what we used to have to deal with to turn out a good model way back in the 20th century.  I say, "Have fun, don't stress and be cool......... 

Ed

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Photos and text © by Edward Okun