Trumpeter 1/48 MiG-23M Flogger B

JKim · Nov 5, 2015

A little update... applied a gloss coat to the Flogger in preparation for decals and weathering.

I need to do some more painting like the air brake wells, the engine and the dark grey areas on the tail fin before going any further.

Wurger · Nov 5, 2015

Looking great !

The Basket · Nov 5, 2015

Hello!
Do you have any info of the MiG-23 in Polish service?
What the pilots thought of them or tactics
From what I read Flogger was a pilots nightmare.

JKim · Nov 5, 2015

The Basket said:
Hello!
Do you have any info of the MiG-23 in Polish service?
What the pilots thought of them or tactics
From what I read Flogger was a pilots nightmare.

Honestly... jet planes are not my forte. I am primarily interested in WWII aircraft but I chose to build this MiG due a Group Build that I was participating in here on this website. I armed myself with a few technical resources but was looking mostly at the photos. So no, I do not have much info on the MiG-23 in terms of flight characteristics and service record. But I could see how a plane with variable-geometry wings might be difficult to fly.

Airframes · Nov 5, 2015

Looking good John, and great info from Wojtek. I knew there had been some change to the PAF insignia, but not what or when - was there a reason for swapping around the colour geometry ?

Wurger · Nov 6, 2015

Terry, initially it was said the changings to the PAF square were introduced because of the political transformation here in Poland. But it is not true. The changing was nothing but the matching of the checkerboard to Polish Constitution that says that the colours of the Polish National flag are the white over the red. Therefore the left top square was changed into the white. Just the Law experts decided to use the heraldry rules. However I would like to make a focus on the fact that there still were planes with the old PAF insignia after the 1993.

Gnomey · Nov 6, 2015

Looking good so far!

JKim · Nov 6, 2015

Thanks for all of the good info. I'm plodding along with this. Finished spraying the airbrake wells and exhaust. I did a little work on the landing gear too. Here's a shot of the wheel well...

I have a few Aires detail sets for this kit including including the cockpit, wheel wells and landing gear. There are some fiddly PE pieces that I finally got around to playing with.

The main landing gear doors are quite complex and feature four separate covers for each side. The smallest is this PE piece.

The curve of the door was made by pushing the piece against the barrel of my hobby knife.

One door complete.

A test fit of the door on the landing gear.

Both doors complete.

The doors are secured into place using CA glue. I've pretty much stopped using regular CA glue and use mostly the gel type now.

The landing gear struts have most of the details glued into place and these are painted in an aluminum color. I'll let these dry and then weather and put a flat coat on them.

Airframes · Nov 6, 2015

Thanks for the explanation Wojtek.
Nice work John, it's really coming to life.

Crimea_River · Nov 6, 2015

It is for sure.

Lucky13 · Nov 7, 2015

Beautiful work John! :thumbright:

Wurger · Nov 7, 2015

Other details of the landing gear can be seen here ...

WWW.KONRADUS.COM - LOTNICTWO - [Galeria] MiG-23 zdjęcia oryginału

Gnomey · Nov 8, 2015

Looking good so far John!

Wurger · Nov 18, 2015

The next shot of the 456 found on the FB...

Fot: Andrzej Rogucki

JKim · Aug 12, 2016

In between builds, I dug out my MiG-23 from the Shelf of Doom. I puttered out of steam last November but I'm taking another look at it to see if I can work up the motivation to finish it. Fishing the main assembly out of the plastic bag, I don't see any huge hurdles that would prevent me from going to the end but no promises. Here are some pictures to remind me of the great detail that the aftermarket cockpit and wheel wells have added to the Trumpeter kit.

Eduard Resin Wheel Wells