The Little World

On an old article. The Hasegawa MiG 21 is finished according to the instruction sheet. It could not be supplemented all that much with the net as there were few pictures of the originals before they got blown up. But the model is an effective sketch in strong colours.

The choice of duck egg green, dark earth, and dark sea grey is undoubtedly connected to Uganda’s heritage as a British colony or protectorate. I think it a splendid combination and with the rather colourful roundels, makes a great show on the shelf. The roundels have an ostrich in the centre, which has to be unique.

I took the precaution of trimming the decals precisely to the edge of the circle to try to reduce the effect of any yellowed carrier film. They were put on buffed spots but I didn’t do a gloss coat over the whole of the plane – I feel this sometimes dulls details and this kit didn’t have sharp edges to begin with.

In the event, the roundels went down perfectly, and prompted me to become adventurous with the front letters and numbers. They sit on a clear patch and I had no illusions about it. But they also came out splendidly, which prompts me to go buy a Lotto ticket while my luck is in.

The final coat is one of the new-to-me Micro scale products – their Micro Satin. I thinned it with methylated spirit and gently coated the plane. It went down easily and has provided a very elegant seal and sheen. I couldn’t be happier!

Note that Flt Lt Umboko is firmly strapped in for a combat mission. On the day he was far away from the MiG’s when the Israeli commandos blew them up so he can go buy a Lotto ticket on his luck as well.