This article introduces the Trumpeter 02205 Shenyang F-5 (MiG-17F) kit. The article exposes the kit details and defines possibilities and additional reference resources.
The Trumpeter 02205 kit model represents the chinese Shengyang F-5 (J-5) jet interceptor, derived from the soviet Mikoyan-Gurevik (MIG) 17. Specifically, the model includes decals for the first chinese-built J-5, serialized Zhong 0101 (source: Wikipedia)
Though the kit quality is overall good and comes with a relatively detailed engine, the kit detail is poor having into account that it is a 1:32 model. Specifically, the cockpit is really really poor and, though the molds include great amount of rivets, they are far less than those found in the original jet plane.
Luckilly, there is information out there that allows, with a good amount of work and money, correcting the mistakes by both using additional detail kits and doing some job.
Third-party detail kits
- Eduard 3309: Detailed MIG-17 dashboard (Scalemates, SuperHobby)
- Eduard 32051: Detailing kit. Includes the pieces of kit 3309 plus a detailed pilot seat plus external pieces (SuperHobby)
- AMS Resin 32030: Super detailed cockpit. Useful for getting inspiration if the cockpit is being upgraded by doing some work plus adding the Eduard 32051 kit (Scalemates, RatoModelling with good detailed photos
- Profimodeller 32069 air brake detailing kit (Scalemates, SuperHobby)
- Profimodeller 32010 aerodynamic wing elements to replace the originals, that are oversized (Scalemates, SuperHobby)
- Profimodeller 32011 flaps (Scalemates, SuperHobby)
- Profimodeller 32001 engine details (Scalemates, SuperHobby)
- Profimodeller undercarriage detail (Scalemates, SuperHobby)
Overall, the above detailing kits cost around 63€.
Building strategy
The Trumpeter kit is a good base of modelling a Shenyang J-5 but requires additional work:
- Cockpit must be drastically improved by adding the Eduard 32051 kit and performing additional work inspired in the photos of the AMS Resin 32030 kit at RatoModelling.
- Different kits must be applied to improve engine, aerodynamic wing elements, air brakes, undercarriage and flaps
- Apart from the engine detailed kit, additional pipes are necessary
- Some changes are also necessary when the original model photos are compared with the kit, as for instance the grey strips in the wings, the protective steel sheet in the weapons zone, etc.
Riveting requires an space apart. As can be seen in the photo, those unpainted J-5 and MIG-17 exhibit a great amount of rivets, or solder points, all around the airplane body. These rivets are not visible once the plane frame becomes painted, something that is not the case of the J-5 0101.
The model comes with exagerated rivets in the borders of the frame plates, too much spaced and most of them not present in the real plane (those rivets around the cockpit or in the joint of fuselage and wings could be considered as correct). So the strategies for dealing with these rivets might be one of these:
- Keeping the model rivets as they are.
- Filling the wrong rivets and, instead of representing the unpainted J-5 0101 going for a MIG-17F frame-painted model
- Filling the wrong rivets and building the J-5 0101 trying to avoid a too much "flat" end results due to the body color unicity and the lack of micro details, as rivets
- Filling the wrong rivets and building the J-5 0101 and adding the original rivets, what implies a great effort but ensures an optimal fidelity with the real model. In this case, the rivetting distance would vary between 0,75 and 1mm (standard riveter measures)
Additional resources
- Kit at Scalemates
- Shenyang J-5 at Wikipedia
- MIG-17 at Teton Aviation Center website, including information and photo gallery
- MIG-17 photo-gallery at Britmodeller website
- J-5 photo gallery at Taptalk website
- MIG-17 ejection seat KK-2, including detailed information and photo-gallery
- Own photoalbum, including among others high resolution blueprints
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