Yes, another new build!!! This time it's the MiG-21 UM from Retrowings at 1/144th scale...
The "UM" version is the biplace version of the MiG-21. Retrowings realised some months ago a conversion set for Eduard kit: resin fuselage, seats, and a vacuformed canopy.
But actually, Retrowings releases a limited edition of two boxing. Each box contains one complete Eduard kit of the MiG-21, plus the conversion set and a decal sheet. The difference between the two boxes is the decals: first box contains decal sheet for European MiG's; the second one for aircrafts having served in air forces outside of Europe... My choice was to opt for an European MiG: having built a Czech monoplace, I wish to add a biplace in my collection and to present both kits on the same base.
So here we are:
Having carefully studied the kit, I decided not to respect completely the instruction sheet. Retrowings offers a new fuselage, but you have to drill the rear to place the exhaust. That seemed to me hard work to do so I preferred to remove the rear of the resin fuselage and to replace it by the rear of Eduard's kit...
The tailpane was also cut as explained by the instruction sheet
Part of the seats is engraved in the fuselage; and the other part is provided separately. There is also a vacuformed canopy and a resin canopy, helpful to duplicate the canopy if you break the one provided with the kit...
...And of course, I broke that
canopy!!!
So I duplicated it... 6 attempts before to be successful but here is the result, already masked
All the parts are removed from sprue and prepared. Painting phase will begin soon...
