061: MiG-19S (S-105)
HM0061

This project harks, again, back into the post-WW II period: it's the first Soviet supersonic fighter, the MiG-19. The original KP had this aircraft in their lineup back when and it was the first kit I have completed fully by myself as a wee lad. I was actually home "sick" from school for a week recovering from chicken pocks. Instead of healing myself appropriately in bed, I modeled illicitly at the kitchen table as soon as my parents left for work. Ahhh, what a glorious week…

The kit is the much-reviled 2019 "new tool" from KPs "traditional manufacturer" (or usurper, depending on where one stands in this ongoing mud-slinging match). It's a short-run technology kit, so "traditional" in that sense but really a bit old-school for today's pampered modeler. In the "modern" era, Trumpeter had it in their catalog in 2008 but it was never released. Clear Prop has been working on it last few years but the events in Ukraine clearly impacted its release. Rather than wait for a better offering, I decided to go for it and build the KP's kit with few PE and resin bits thrown in.

Overall, this was a relatively relaxing build. The kit has some fit issues but nothing that can’t be overcome. Opening up the brake shields and the engine bay, coupled with detailing the cockpit and landing gear, took most of the build time. Some of the MH Models resin accessories were a bit overkill. As far as references go, the 4+ title was the most useful, together with walkarounds gathered online.