Author Topic: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'  (Read 1394 times)

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #15 on: May 04, 2025, 01:58:26 AM »
Hi Brad, don't let your mojo deflate. I started the Airfix Mig 15 kit a few years ago and decided at the ' putting the fuselage halves together' stage to ditch it and get the Hobbyboss version (Mig 15) which is a superb kit. The partially built Airfix kit found a new home, a work coleage's son wanted it so it got built in the end. I can only assume the Airfix Mig 17 is no better than the 15. When I was a small kid Airfix was ideal. All their kits went together because I wasn't bothered about gaps and miss alignments. As adults I think we have lost some of the fun in building these kits by focusing on the models shortcomings. On the rare occasions that my then low standards were not met I would set fire to it and throw it out my bedroom window (often done with well built kits too!). I'm not sure if Hobbyboss do the 17 but I can vouch for their Mig 15 and recommend you build their kit.
Alan.
I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline Brad Cancian

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #16 on: May 04, 2025, 04:26:54 PM »
Thanks all for the ongoing words of encouragement and suggestions. After a couple of days break I got back to the bench and I think i've recovered the situation to a level where I am happy enough to move on.

As I mentioned, despite my test fitting before hand, I still had all sorts of trouble getting the chin panel and nose ring to fit properly. It took quite a bit of clamping to get the chin piece on, and some shimming for the nose ring, but even then the fit was still pretty bad... In the end, I needed a bit of filler and some 'sprue goo' to get things roughly back into line. Here is what it looked like once the cleaning up was done... this doesn't do justice to the amount of fiddling and filling needed to get to this point -







After some rescribing, here's now it now looks under some more primer.





There's still some cleaning up to do, so don't look too closely.... if I was super-obsessive i'd still do more reshaping, but it is good enough for me to move on.... "that'll do", I said... this is supposed to be a mojo build after all...!

She at least now looks like a MiG.



Next, onto the fiddly bit like undercarriage, before I get to painting proper.

Cheers again for sticking with me!

BC
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Offline lcarroll

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2025, 01:36:58 AM »
    Nice recovery Brad. It could be much worse, I recall the "adventures" I experienced with the Infinity Models Vampire kit a year or so ago, Kits like these are a good experience once you cross the finish line and look back at least. Looks like your MOJO is back in place!
Cheers,
Lance

Offline WD

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2025, 04:44:34 AM »
It's looking great!

Warren

Offline gedmundson

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2025, 02:23:39 PM »
Excellent perseverance Brad - your fix looks very impressive. And the re-scribed lines are even more impressive.

Offline NigelR

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #20 on: May 05, 2025, 06:12:07 PM »
Well recovered indeed Brad, that looks great to me. Keep going!

Offline RAGIII

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #21 on: May 08, 2025, 02:38:37 AM »
    Nice recovery Brad. It could be much worse, I recall the "adventures" I experienced with the Infinity Models Vampire kit a year or so ago, Kits like these are a good experience once you cross the finish line and look back at least. Looks like your MOJO is back in place!
Cheers,
Lance

I agree with Lance, Terrific recovery! Nice to see you moving forward again!
RAGIII
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"Don't slop it on" Lynda Geisler

Offline pepperman42

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #22 on: May 20, 2025, 01:48:38 AM »
I've learned a lot from this build- mainly stay away from the Airfix  Mig17!!!! Your patience is well beyond mine. This would have been binned a long time ago - but now I know....just don't buy it...A great build and very nice salvaging of a messy situation.

Steve

Offline Allan31

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #23 on: May 24, 2025, 07:01:59 AM »
Great save Brad, sorry I found this late.
My go-to for heavy duty filling and sculpting is the auto body filler Bondo. It can be carved easy with a knife before it sets up hard and then sands the same as plastic.


Thanks,
Allan Buttrick

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

Offline Brad Cancian

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #24 on: May 24, 2025, 04:38:16 PM »
Thanks all for the kind words on my recovery efforts, and also for the tips on better fillers to use!

Progress has been slow in the last couple of weeks (life stuff, and going away for my better half's birthday), but mojo is still flowing. I've prepped the gear and should get some paint on it shortly. I've done some final clean ups on the airframe and am now trying to settle on a paint scheme...

I have the Xtradecal set for the MiG-17 -

https://www.hyperscale.com/2019/reviews/decals/x72313reviewbg_1.htm






Any suggestions on which scheme to use? I don't want to go boring old silver so something camouflaged, me thinks.... suggestions?

Cheers!

BC
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Offline DaddyO

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #25 on: May 24, 2025, 06:17:25 PM »
Coming along nicely again Brad.

Seeing Bondo reminded me of using Knifing putty for filling (its designed as a car body type filler to blend edges or flaking so works well for modelling purposes. I did find it can be quite aggressive on some plastics especially if you fiddle with it when laying it on, but at least it sticks well)

Anyway of those schemes I really like the classic natural metal ones although they are a lot of work and will show up every wrinkle or dust spec. I'd go for the Egyptian air force one which is interesting and all those pattern shapes will distract the eye nicely (not that it needs distracting particularly, but you know what I mean)

Paul
There cannot be a crisis today, my schedule is full

Offline Allan31

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #26 on: May 24, 2025, 08:13:44 PM »
I like 2072 with the dark bottom sides, evil looking.
Thanks,
Allan Buttrick

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #27 on: May 25, 2025, 08:18:23 PM »
I would go for one of the silver ones, when done well with a slight difference between the panels it can look awesome. Alternatively if you didn't fancy silver the best of the camo ones is the bottom one in my opinion.
I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline PrzemoL

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #28 on: May 25, 2025, 11:35:24 PM »
Great work. And my hint - take on the Polish markings. Colourful and the most beautiful national emblems  :)
Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Offline Tim Mixon

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Re: Mojo Build - 1/72 Airfix Mig-17F 'Fresco'
« Reply #29 on: June 04, 2025, 12:13:29 AM »
Super work on the panel lines Brad.
I agree with Prze about the Polish markings. The blue underside and unusual top cammo pattern are neat.