The Little World

I love it when a plan comes together…

The Egyptian MiG 17 sitting at Schmattarim Museum Is not the same as the one at Hatzerim Museum. Not at all. There is no Arabic writing on the nose. The wheels are still Soviet Green*. And it has not totally faded out in the Negev sun.

But they are related.

In my research for this project I found a YouTube clip attributed to British Pathé in the 1950’s. It shows what may indeed be the Hatzerim MiG 17 in fresh paint. It’s Egyptian sand/green colour and still shiny. It has been captured by the Israelis and they are going over it with interest. Then it’s shown being pushed over a grass field by servicemen under an officer’s supervision. I would love to know the full story of what I’m seeing.

The MiG for Schmattarim is fully equipped with external tanks that seem to be very firmly attached. I dont thing they’re droppers. I suspect the 17 had such a short range that there was no way the Egyptians could get away without external fuel. Ditto everyone else that flew this thing.

The kit gear is superb – keyed into the wings with orientation tabs as well as a bucket, the landing gear legs are sturdy enough to take anything, and a bit of research on ” Inch High Guy ” showed a well-preserved 17 in a museum. He is a real resource – I’ve used his pictures for several builds.

The finish is correctly hard-edged. This may have been the result of numerous repaints since the 1950’s in the Negev, but I can clearly see from museum pictures that it is not a fuzzy camo edge. I’m grateful, though the average run of Hatzerim pictures are taken from outside the guard ropes and this restricts the views. I would like a 360º of everything there, including under and over.

The final dull coating is a trial of the Mr. Color matt varnish. It’s every bit as good as the Testor’s Dullcote so I shall stop pining for that old favourite and accept the new mixture. Let’s just hope the supplies hold up in 2021.

All in all, a success, Mr. T.