For my third entry I'll be going with the 1/72 Zvezda MiG-1.44 Flapjack.
So as I normally do here's some background information on the Flapjack provided by Wikipedia:
The Mikoyan Project 1.44(Russian: Микоян МиГ-1.44; NATO reporting name: Flatpack) was a technology demonstrator developed by the Mikoyan design bureau.
It was the Soviet Union's answer to the US's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF), incorporating many fifth-generation jet fighter aspects such as advanced avionics, stealth technology, supermaneuverability, and supercruise.
The design's development was a protracted one, characterised by repeated and lengthy postponements due to a chronic lack of funds.
The MiG-1.44 made its maiden flight in February 2000, nine years behind schedule, and was cancelled later that year.
Onto the Kit:
This is the original 2004 boxing of Zvezda's Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.44 Flapjack.
I started this on Friday the 9th of November which was the night before Telford or "Set Up Friday".
Until today I've not had chance to post a thread on the build so I'll post it all in one to make things easier.
So the first thing I did was paint and assemble the Ejection Seat, I have painted the gray bit since these pics:
Then I got onto assembling the nose section, it's standard cockpit in, nose weight added then close her up like on any other kit.
The internal Intake parts were next, 3 pieces in total but I was worried as they didn't seem too strong but that didn't last long as once the rest of the air intakes were added it was quite solid.
Saturday night after getting home from the first day of SMW18 I could only muster the energy to remove the wings, tails and a section that completes the tail booms which I glued on:
So onto the night after Telford on the 11th.
The main gear wells and a sort of casing for the front gear bay had to be fitted to the inside of the fuselage as well as the internal engine "cages" and forward facing engine fans.
I was going to paint the engine fans but upon test fitting I noticed that their not visible at all so I didn't bother.
Again after a busy and exhausting weekend that's all I could manage to do that night and we were all a little shacken after witnessing a major accident on the journey home.
Monday the 12th the main fuselage was glued together with the wing sandwiches as well as joining the nose and fuselage sections and finishing off the forward air intake assembly.
And then finally last night(14th November) I installed the tail fins, under fuselage fins, flap actuator housings and the 2 weapon pylons:
So far Zvezda have lived up to what I expected, it must be one of the best and easiest kits I've ever built!
