Clearwater Models

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

HUNGARIAN AIR FORCE MiG-15 (KP Models)

This is the very old Czech kit of the original MiG-15 by Kovozávody Prostějov Models. The 1:72 scale kit is very basic, but has some under-appreciated details in the form of rivet lines showing actual structure. It also come with rocket assist boosters, and ground attack rockets.

The model came used for only $3. from Hobby Centre in Ottawa, but was missing decals. I built and painted and decaled the entire thing in exactly 24 hours just for fun. This is another in my series of COVID-19 models.

The early version MiG-15 is shown in Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Légierő) markings which appeared in 1951: the same year the air force got their first MiG-15 interceptors. These only served for 2 years, and were quickly replaced by some 200+ MiG-15bis aircraft which served until 1978. The Hungarians called the MiG-15 "Eagle" (Sas). The Hungarian Air Force was stood-down and almost totally dismantled in the wake of the USSR invasion of Hungary in 1956 when several units attacked Soviet tank groups.

Paint is Vallejo metal covered with future floor wax. Decals are from the IPMS Ottawa decal bank.

Hungarian Magyar Légierő MiG-15 in 1:72 from Kovozávody Prostějov

Friday, 5 June 2020

PLAAF MiG-17PF or J-5A (Hobbycraft)

This is the 1991 Hobbycraft 1:48 scale kit of the MiG-17PF (Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-17).

The model is done as a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) MiG-17PF or J-5A (歼-5A) interceptor from the period of the Great Cultural Revolution, circa 1966. The aircraft is representative of the MiG-17PF and J-5A types used by the 14th Air Division 41st Air Regiment at Wuyishan Air Base in the Nanjing Military Region tasked with air defence against attacks from the Taiwan direction.

China assembled their initial MiG-17F aircraft from kits imported from the USSR in 1956, then building their own under license in Shenyang from 1957 as the J-5 (Fighter-5). Shenyang also built the MiG-17PF as the Shenyang J-5A (歼-5A), making some 767 of these aircraft by 1969. Over 10600 airframes of all versions were built by MiG and license holders. The first combat of this type was in 1958 when China and Taiwan engaged over the Straits of Taiwan. The first recorded kill was that same year when a US spy plane was shot down inside the Armenian SSR. The type went on to shoot down many faster US military aircraft during the air defence war against US attacks in Viet Nam.

This piece is named after a bizarre air force cult-of-personality artwork entitled "Mao Zedong Thought gives us direction, we do not lose course in the vast sky" (毛泽东思想指方向万里长空不迷航). During the GCR China was so wracked with political upheaval that many things ground to a halt in order to worship Mao and read the little red book. The air force did little maintenance and flew few hours. China was very vulnerable to US attack for several years, and was essentially being protected by the USSR despite the Sino-Soviet Split.

This is another in my series of COVID-19 models, and was built OOB in 72 hours just for the fun of it. I bought it as a previously-owned kit from Hobby Centre in Ottawa. Thank you Bill. The tail is badly warped, and the ejection seat is too tall for the canopy. I could only fix one. The nose section I wanted to use did not fit at all (too small), but there was another. I attached the landing light in the open position. The wavy line between the blue underside and the top colours was done with sticky notes cut to shape and lightly tacked on. Topside black and tan are freehand airgun, with hand washed additional paints overcoating and correcting overspray. Paints are all Vallejo and Tamiya acrylics, coated with sepia and distressed. Decals are from the IPMS Ottawa decal bank.

PLAAF MiG-17PF or J-5A (МиГ-17 or 歼-5A), circa 1966.
"Never tire of training to destroy the enemy"

PLAAF MiG-17PF or J-5A (МиГ-17 or 歼-5A), circa 1966

"Mao Zedong Thought gives us direction, we do not lose course in the vast sky"
毛泽东思想指方向万里长空不迷航

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