1/32 Trumpeter Shenyang J-5

Gallery Article by Tom Valaoras on Mar 1 2010

 

Greetings from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This is a North Vietnamese Mig 17F that underwent a major overhaul from the original Chinese Shenyang J-5.  This model depicts pilot Le Huan getting out of his airplane after scoring his fifth kill. The kit was of high quality, as most Trumpeter kits are in this scale. However there were many inaccuracies that needed correction and/or modification.  The kit also lacked details in certain areas that I felt were important to include, based on the scale of the aircraft and the cost.  I completely scratch-built the gun bay with the guns, based on excellent reference photos found on the internet.  The flaps were cut-out and the details scratch built.  The interior of the speed breaks were scratch built as well with Eduard details added.  The hydraulic pistons on the original model inserted in the wrong direction, so they had to be re-worked and re-positioned.  Eduard detailing was also used in the cockpit.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

The engine was not exposed completely because it was not an accurate reproduction.  It has a noticeable "hump" in the aft portion where the afterburner is housed, and this was not present on the model.  The detailing though was interesting enough to allow a small access hatch in order to visualize compressor details with scratch-built wiring.  The separation point between the fuselage in order to access the engine was also too far aft on the model, and this had to be moved in order to allow the access door to expose the appropriate area of the engine.  This is based on photos from the Walk-Around Series Mig 17 from Squadron--an excellent resource.  I had to sand down the wing fences, as they were too thick.  The aileron and elevator contact points also had to be re-worked in light of inaccuracies on the original model.  The drop tanks were moved closer to the landing gear underneath the middle wing fence, based on photos in the Walk Around reference. The hydraulic lines on the landing gear were added from lead wire, and configured for the Mig 17F (the Shenyang had a different configuration) 

The rear canopy was completely inaccurate.  It took a leap of faith, but I masked over the framing and sanded flush the framing I wanted to modify.  I then polished it with a Squadron sanding/polishing stick, and dipped it in Future.  After drying, I placed Tamiya epoxy in order to create the new frame, smoothed it down, and used a small drill to put in the rivet detail.  It came out better than expected.  I used syringe tips (21G) for the pitot tube ends.

As for painting, after a base of Alclad gloss black primer, varied tones of Alclad aluminum were sprayed on after masking where appropriate.  I then took different Tamiya green tones and made a blend (with added black, yellow, or white) depending on where the paint was exposed, and carefully sprayed on different intensities to simulate paint fading, using Tamiya lacquer thinner as the diluent.  Future followed, with decals next, followed by Future over the decals.  I spray-stenciled the numbers on the front of the airplane as there were no decals to replicate this particular airplane.  Mig productions washes (dark and brown) were then used, followed by Mig productions desert sand dust application to the decals in order to give them a faded look. Chipping was applied carefully using a brand new narrow paint brush, using Tamiya chrome silver diluted with Tamiya lacquer thinner.  The figures were Dragon Vietcong, with arms and legs reshaped and gaps filled with Epoxy putty, and painted with Vallejo acrylics.  The ground power unit was scratch built.

Thanks for the interest,

Tom Valaoras

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Tom Valaoras