My build for the campaign will be the MiG 21D All Weather Fighter in 1/72 scale. This kit was issued in the 1960s by the long defunct Industro-Motive Corporation (IMC) along with several US jets of the era. The models were fairly basic efforts which have all since been eclipsed by newer, better kits. What was unusual about them was the inclusion of special alternate “battle damaged” parts – very cool!

Here is the start picture:

And the special “battle damaged” parts:


There are even two pilots – one normal and one “punching out”:

Should be fun!

Wow, I've never seen anything like that! Looks to be very cool!!

Pre damaged kits.... well I never...

Looking forward to see how you do the flames Tim

Holy crap, that brings back memories Tim! I remember building some of those pre-damaged kits when I was a kid, that was 40 years ago, haven't seen then since.

Consisting of only seven parts, the basic battle damaged MiG airframe assembled quickly.

A nice feature of this kit is that those battle damaged parts are optional extras; undamaged versions of the port fuselage half, wing and stabilizer make up an almost entire second model! I’ll use them for paint tests later.

FYI ALL: I got a 30-day extension on this campaign, mostly due to my own health issues, so take your time...

Clayton,

The extension is welcome news, but I hope your health issues are not serious...

Soldiering on with my MiG, the underwing missile rails in the kit are very basic and covered in flash, with an inaccurate step on the bottom to fit into a large groove on the top of each missile.

These and the ugly locating nubs on the pylon tops (which would place the pylons too far forward on the wings) had to be sanded away before installing them.

Ill echo Tim's sentiments. Glad to have the extension but hope all is well Clayton.

After a busy two weeks at work I finally have some downtime for the holidays to finish up this KV. Since we have an extension I decided to make a small base for this build. It seems more appropriate for a destroyed AFV to have some sort of base.

Still have a way to go on this project.

Looking good Shawn!

Thanks, Colin, you're a tough act to follow so im doing my best.

I think Ive finished up the last bit of details today on the KV-1. The materials for the base are still in the mail, so Ill wrap that up once it arrives. Im claiming this KV-1 is from the Rzhev Meat Grinder during the summer of 1942. Im considering ordering the Tank Hunters figure set from Masterbox (See below) and modifying the uniforms/equipment for a 1942 scene. The figures poses would go well with the knocked out KV but I fear my figure painting skills would detract from the overall scene.

This is my first burnt out AFV and any critiques or comments are welcome. Thanks!

You nailed it, Shawn, that looks great!

Perfect! ... Go for the figures and base.

—mike

I haven't forgotten about this one. It's not looking good so I might change to a different tank.

Shawn, that looks great. I might have overlooked it in your posts but where did you get the engine?

Thanks Alex, and everyone else for the feedback. I actually got the engine and tracks from a Bronco KV-14 kit. The bronco kit actually comes with some in hatch details like a driver seat and engine compartment.

The base arrived and Im waiting on the figures.

Shawn,

I can't wait to see what you do with your KV base - you mastered the destroyed tank completely!

I agree with everyone else Shawn. Looks fantastic. Very well done

Since this will be a “in flight” model, the undercarriage will retracted. This was no problem for the fuselage (although the fit of the nose doors was awful!), and the gear door under the starboard wing fit reasonbly well.

Unfortunately, the 50 year old kit was missing the port wing door...


My first thought was to make a simple replacement from plastic sheet, but it seemed easier to just use the optonal landing gear; the idea being that whatever hit the plane damaged the undercarriage hydraulics on the wing and let the gear drop down on that side.

This MiG is definitely in trouble...

Nice idea Tim.

Not knowing much about Avionics, but wouldn't the fuselage door have to be open for it to drop?

Peter,

I think you are right, but I'd already glued the fuselage door down before I had the idea to deploy the gear, so...

Tim, just say the door retracted as a malfunction after the gear was down I like the unusual model though - makes me think it would be worth doing a 'vintage' campaign with kits long since out of production.

Thanks Shawn - I like both of your ideas!

I like the idea of a Vintage build too, only the ancient kits I have are mainly Tamiya.... and they still produce them 40 plus years later....

The paint scheme for the vintage MiG is pretty simple - I painted the airframe Tamiya rattle-can Bare Metal Silver (AS-12).