Alexander G. Here is the link for the drawing of the Tu-128:

airwar.ru/other/draw/tu128-2.html

I took it to a print/copyshop and they made me some quality prints on DIN A2 paper.

Spanjaard it needs Russian language skills....or extensive use of google translate. But those pages can be pure gold! thanks Alexander!

Andy Ball @Alexander: It was one rule for the party chicks, and one rule for the tractor factory babes...

Slavo Hazucha It´s the Soviet airmen trying to become "one" with their aircraft... The best pilots always say their fighting jets are like an extension of the body...

Alexander G. @Spanjaard: You do not "need" to translate the whole page, all what is written is some generic info about the aircraft, albeit very detailed and well researched. If you want to just download the drawings look for this word: чертеж

Spanjaard well, since you can navigate and get it automatically translated, it makes it easier
but thanks for the word

Alexander G. Yeah, or just google the "word" + any aircraft type and you'll get some nice results

Spanjaard nice indeed

Neuling This automobile cannot be overlooked. Very appealing!

Nigel Chapman That actually looks really smart. Love the wheel / tyre combo

Spanjaard very nice

Alexander G. Thx mates!

Slavo Hazucha Cool - I am waiting for this kit in 48-scale - hope it will not literally be "this kit" just made bigger...

This plane really tells the story of Russian thinking (and financial realities...) to the knowing eye better than a thousand words... Shape and aero-kit are rudimentary anchored in the 5-th generation, but "the engine topic" is just (temporarily...!) solved by shoving 2 Flanker turbines up it´s rear end and the pitot tube brings back the charme of the days of Nikita Khruschev... Not to forget that even in lo-vis, Red Stars are still Red..!

Sorry for veering off, it´s a really nice take on the topics, the Sukhoi-favorite splinter camo done really well (surely this time in super-secret radar-absorbing paints..! ) and the many stencils remind me a bit of the "Pink Pig" racing Porsche scheme... Would really like to see a mechanic after a bottle of vodka navigate that minefield.. Good stuff, hope to see more from you in the future!

Alexander G. Hey Slavo,

Thanks, I did screw up the colors though, the dark grey needs to be WAAY darker...even turning up the contrast on the pictures didn't really help

Zvezda released the Su-57 with brand new moulds recently, pretty sure they will put the old kit to rest.

100% spot on what you said about "russian thinking", exactly what I thought about the juxtaposition of the new hull and shape with the old style "heavy metal" Su-27 engine arrangement and look. Times were pretty bad in Russia, especially in the 90ies when the development of russian stealth fighter projects started, REALLY bad, believe me I grew up there. This plane is the russian way of making the best of the possibilities I guess.

The pitot was only on the prototype, they do not use it on the production machines. The "minefield" of stencils is from the Begemot decal sheet, there were none in the kit but are clearly visible on the real thing and are also there to this extent. And I am PRETTY sure no mechanic with an alcohol problem is allowed near that thing

Anyway, I might build this thing again, maybe even in 48, the new digital camo looks terriffic

Palo M Nice summary of how the design process went I think they did the front, cockpit and upper half, then decided "this will do" and added whatever engines they found lying around. They never got around designing the bottom (center) of the plane, just welded the pieces together and sprayed a layer of paint.

scalemates lovely! (ps: don't forget to create a project.... so people can see your model when looking at the kit page)

Alexander G. Thx, yeah i remember there was something

Nathan Dempsey Like Slavo I'm awaiting this in 1:48. Yours came out great! Fine work sir

MS K cool! I like it. realy realy nice.

Neuling Impressive result!

Alexander G. Thx mates, glad you like it

Alec K Very nice work on the Mig

Alexander G. Hey Alec thx. It is not one of my favourites though. Wasnt
happy with the NM finish in hindsight....too dull to my liking. Anyway glad you liked it!

Andy Ball Cuban Faggot, el Presidenté would approve!, super work!

Alexander G. I think it's "Fagot" with one "g".....but yeah

Alexander G. or do you mean El Presidente himself?

Andy Ball Si!

Łukasz Gliński I like such unique well done topics

Alexander G. I actually built this one at the time when Castro died a couple of years ago and decided to dedicate my plastic monument to El Presidente

Andy Ball I was in Cuba last year - only managed to see some old Cubana hulks at the airport, not a smidge of a MiG or Mil....a country full of contrasts and contradictions.

Alec K Cuba sure is a unique place to visit. Strange mixture of new and old. I visited their museum of the revolution in Havana. Very interesting! No MiGs though.

Alex, I think your finish is spot on. I don't thing too many MiGs very very shiny.

Alexander G. I don't think Cuba will present their whole airforce glory on a civil airport, what is a bummer they have some rather nice blue and green camo schemes. Trying to lay my hands on one of these:

Cuban Raiders II (Aztec Models 72-049, 1:72)

Neuling Clean finish and colors, good presentation!

Dave Flitton Nicely done!

Alexander G. No no guys, checked again to be sure...it's 1:72

Christian Bruer Excellent work and finsih. Sad you don't had a WIP or do I missed it!?

Alexander G. Thanks Christian, no I did not post a WIP of this one, it was "just" a side project, nothing worthy of a WIP really

Es-haq Khosravi Great job!

Andy Ball I hope you don't mind this compliment...but the camo almost has a reptilian-like quality about it! Fantastic build!

David Januska Wow! Hats off. It looks realy great. Nice paint job .

Alexander G. Thanks mates

@Andy, someone said it looks like a fish, so I am good with reptilian-like

Neuling Top build. I like your paintwork and weathering.

Alexander G. Danke Neuling. Aimed to recreate that dirty, beat up, patched paintwork which was common in the last "days" of the war

Alec K This is a real beauty Alexander. Very well done. How did you execute the chipped paint?

Roland Gunslinger Beautiful

Cuajete Very nice painting job. Congrats!

Skywalker You can be proud of this one. Congratulations.

Alexander G. Ty mates

Alec, i did a natural metal basing for this one (partly because there is an unpainted patch on the undeside of the wing on this aircraft) After applying the camo paint i treated the surface carefully with some polishing cloths, a coarse brush, scratched with a toothpick etc. Basically wanted some of the "alu" to shine through. It worked, but not to the extent that I aimed at, so additionally i "painted" some of the chipping with a brush.

Alec K Got it, thanks

Alexander G. @ william: the kit was pretty neat and fun to build, not much to complain about

Frank Krause Hi Alexander, are you going to build a tractor for it? If yes, which one have you planned?

Christian Meyerhoff Outstanding!!!

Alexander G. @ Frank: I have the Voroshilovets from Trumpeter in my stash, the hottest candidate for the job i guess Since i am very pleased with the result here the chances are high my next 1:35th will be the tractor for it.

Thanks again to all of You, i'm glad You liked it!

Olivier Did you ever complete the Voroshilovets ?

Treehugger Ah, I used to think this was a self propelled (self moving) artillery piece, but now I understand the tracks there is just for show, or getting around better when towed I guess.

Alexander G. Wow, can't believe this is from 2013, time flies so fast. Olivier, sadly did not get around to finish the Voroshilovets, box is still around collecting dust. Thaks for the reminder though! I actually started making a little diorama base for the gun and wanted finally to make better pictures.

Treehugger, I don't think the Soviets made anything for show...except for the 57 Megaton Tsar Bomb maybe...but yeah I guess the tracks were for better mobility

Rui S Nice work

Rui S Great work and weathering

Alexander G. Ty Rui, with this build I actually followed the "Vallejo Acrylic Techniques" guide just ty try it. There is a video series on youtube.

Neuling I agree with Rui! You show very well the desolate state of this exhibit as we find them in many open air expositions (for example Militärgeschichtliches Museum in Dresden).

Alexander G. Thanks for the tipp Neuling, wanted to visit Dresden so often in the last couple of years, always change of plans at the last moment. Will check it out if I get around to go there finally, maybe this summer!

Neuling Alexander, das Dresdner Museum ist wirklich einen Besuch wert. Als ich letztes Jahr dort war habe ich allerdings den Außenbereich arg vernachlässigt vorgefunden. Beim heeresgeschichtlichen Museum in Wien ist es zwar etwas besser, aber wirklich gut aufbereitet sind die Exponate im Außenbereich auch nicht.

Neuling Good idea very well executed!

Alexander G. Thx!

Rui S I agree with Neuling. Nice work all arround

Alexander G. thx Rui

Peter Hardy New build Alex or one you had stashed for a while?

Alexander G. Hey Pete,

I started the tank beginning of last year before my break, got to do the painting part. The display base and weathering were made just recently, finished two weeks ago

Peter Hardy Well your time has been well spent. Beautiful combination of the weathering and base with an impeccable build. Something to be proud of. Puts a smile on my face so I hope it puts one on yours!

Spanjaard very nice, specially the tracks

Alexander G. Ty guys,

It's far from impeccable, Pete. I tried many new techniques with this build, especially for the base but also the tank and learned A LOT. This is what I try to do with every new project I take, learn something new, try something out or apply a new technique.

The tracks from the kit are single linked and rather nice too, a lot of work but the "sagging" could be recreated rather nicely.

Ben M Great treatment. I have this kit too, and have been considering how to finish a "prototype" tank. I was thinking of building it really clean, just off the factory floor. I think your idea of it sitting abandoned on a plinth years later is a great one, and the heavy weathering is perfect. I especially like the tracks.

Alexander G. Dunno, the tracks are my least favourite part actually. Did nothing special to them...basepaint, couple of washes, bit of pigment here and there

Mike Daniels Hi Alexander. Just an idea for SM community to consider. Yours would make a good January!!

Robert Amstutz Wow Alexander, die ist ja auch perfekt gelungen. Exhausts are stunning!!! Ein perfektes Biest.

Alexander G. Weeeit von perfekt, aber danke!

Augie Simply perfect, I hope mine turns out so well!

James C Very impressive work Alexander

Clifford Keesler Very nice Mig.

Alexander G. Guys, you dug out an ancient album

Here are some better pics of this beast if you like though, I made a dedicated Gallery album:

1:48 - MiG-25 RBT - GALLERY | Album by Alex G. (1:48)

Neuling Every praise you got here is well deserved. Top!