Clearwater Models: May 2020

Sunday 31 May 2020

D.P.R.K. AIR FORCE JJ-5 FIGHTER-TRAINER (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 1:32 scale early mould model (kit #03) of the Chengdu JJ-5 (FT-5) fighter-trainer as still used by the Air Force of the D.P.R.K.

The JJ-5 is an all-Chinese design based on their need in the early 1960s for a training version of the MiG-17. This is a unique aircraft made only in China, and eventually exported to several countries. The JJ-5 (Jianjiji Jiaolianji meaning fighter-trainer) went into production in 1965, and over a thousand were built by the time production ended in 1986. The export version was named the FT-5 using more obvious code letters. It is a twin-seat trainer version of the J-5 (歼-5) designed and developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. Combined the J-5 airframe, J-5A airbrakes and the tandem twin-seat cockpit section of the JJ-2 (MiG-15UTI). Export version designated FT-5.

The aircraft is still flown as a primary jet trainer by The Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force KPAAF 조선인민군 항공 및 반항공군.

The Beijing authorities gave about 150 of the FT-5 to the DPRK Air Force, and over 130 are still technically in use, some 50+ years after first entering service in China. However, spare parts are rare as production ended 34 years ago, and due to a lack of fuel and serviceability, the aircraft and pilots get very little flight time. Remaining aircraft are probably based at the 8th Air Division at Orang on the north-east coast; and at Pungchon on the coast west of Pyongyang. Both sites host operational conversion units transitioning pilots to modest fighter aircraft. Strangely, KPAAF has more of the JJ-5 than of any other aircraft.

The model is built and painted to show how it probably looked in about 1990 in full service.

The build took nine days, and this is another in my series of COVID-19 model builds. I bought it as a used kit (missing plans and decals) from Hobby Centre in Ottawa. The model is large and heavy, but it is a tail-sitter even with the weight which is included with the kit glued into the weapons bay. The model comes with a complete Chinese Wopen WP-5 engine (derived from the Rolls Royce turbojet Nene engine and the Klimov VK-1A), but I did not add it as it would have been buried in the fuselage, and it will make a great stand-alone kit.

I added brake and hydraulic lines to the main gear and wheel wells; seat belts and buckles; throttles; and built an entire gun sight with clear head-up display. All instruments are hand-painted, then covered with a clear glue to show as glass. Paint is Vallejo acrylic metal coated with Future floor wax. Decals are from the IPMS Ottawa decal bank.

KPAAF JJ-5 / FT-5 Fighter-Trainer

is this the Batplane under construction?

JJ-5 / FT-5 cockpit model - with hand-painted instruments

Friday 29 May 2020

R.M.S. TITANIC

This is the simply awful kit from an un-named company, of the White Star Line's R.M.S. Titanic in 1:800 scale. The kit is moulded in three colours: almost none are usable. Quality of the mouldings is appalling. Detail is bad. Fit is poor. Design concept is ill-considered. Decals are plastic stickers which cannot be used. Dreadful from start to finish. Appalling. Even the horrid Chinese company would not put their name on the box of this pig.

I built this as another in my series of COVID-19 models (what was I thinking?). It is an OOB kit which I literally built inside the box. You have to keep garbage somewhere. Why I did not just abandon it to scrap eludes me. Photos are in sepia with darkened antique edges to hide the massive flaws and to give it a century-old appearance.

Titanic was one of three sister ships, and was laid down in March 1909 and launched in May 1911. It was completed in April 1912 and sank on it's maiden voyage on 15 April 1912. Poor design; lack of appropriate lifeboats and lifeboat spaces; poor work by Harland & Wolff of Ireland; a major fire in the hull which burned for two days in the yard; and crass corporate disdain for safety by White Star and Bruce Ismay led to the deaths of 531 third class passengers as well as 155 second class passengers (mostly servants). There were 34 Canadians on board, mostly in first class. All Canadians in third class died, as did half of those in first and second class.

Survivors and families in the USA and UK grouped together to sue White Star for $16 million ($418 million today), but because the US Supreme Court interfered on behalf of White Star to limit the liability, White Star ended up paying only a mere $664 000. (or about $16 million today) in compensation to mostly US passengers. Compensation did not go to non-UK or non-US citizens, and nothing went to third class passengers.

The criminal actions of the White Star company were never prosecuted, and company director Bruce Ismay (who survived the sinking) remained free. White Star did not survive the great depression, and was bought by Cunard with British government bailout money in 1933.

White Star R.M.S TITANIC (1912) 1:800 scale

White Star R.M.S TITANIC (1912) 1:800 scale

under construction in the Harland & Wolff shipyard
which just happens to be in my spare bathroom

Sunday 24 May 2020

CRYSTAL CARRIAGE (Academy)

This is a snap model by Academy of a CRYSTAL CARRIAGE, in clear plastic with gold trim. It takes about 20 minutes to build. No glue, no paint, no filling, no fuss. And the top opens upwards to allow you to put candies inside! This is another in my series of COVID-19 models, and was built for and with a small girl who is really into princesses.

Crystal Carriage (Academy)

Tuesday 19 May 2020

WHEN MODELLING GOES BAD

When modelling goes bad and arson is the only answer ... (circa 1996)

When modelling is old and is only in B&W ... (circa 1986)

Monday 18 May 2020

Yak-15-RI-10 STOVL RECCE-FIGHTER

In 1945 Alexander Yakovlev was personally directed by Stalin to produce a jet powered small reconnaissance fighter (разведывательный истребитель) based on the untested design for the Yak-15. Named the Яковлев Як-15-РИ-10 (Yak-15-RI-10), and called the комар (Komar, or Gnat), the tiny aircraft could use very short spaces for take-off, then land nearly vertically. The pilot had no canopy or even forward visor.

The aircraft first flew in May 1947, and entered small-scale production. The Komar was commissioned into limited service with ground forces' air arms in 1948, but was almost immediately removed from service when Stalin saw it demonstrated at Tushino. The original test version was powered by a German built Jumo 004 engine soon replaced by the RD-10 jet engine. In testing the engines were show to melt the rear of the aircraft, so heavier heat shields had to be installed at the expense of fuel. This gave the Gnat a range of only 115 km.

There are no known survivors of this aircraft, and only an airframe remains at the Monino Aviation Museum. It is rumoured that the Yakovlev Design Bureau (OKB) has a complete design mock-up at its headquarters on Leningradsky Prospect in Moscow.
NOTE: none of the above is true - it is simply a fictional backstory for an interesting model.

This is another in a series of COVID-19 models built while in quarantine. It is also built as part of the Victoria Day long weekend blitz (lightning) build marathon sponsored by IPMS Ottawa. Each model had to be built in under 78 hours. The Komar was done from start to finish in about 70 hours.Paints are all Vallejo acrylics coated with Future floor wax, and Vallejo washes. Decals are from my own supply. I bought it from Aliexpress where it is called an RF-118A STOVL recce-fighter.

Як-15-РИ-10 Yak-15-RI-10 STOVL Recce-Fighter