[skanchan95]

1:72 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29B Fulcrum/Baaz, No. 47 Sqn "Black Archers", IAF, #KB715,Adampur AFS, 2010 (Hobbymaster)



Had been waiting for this model for more than a year now and the wait was well worth it!!! It looks so beautiful.

Designed to help the Soviet Union attain air superiority, the highly secretive MiG-29 was first flown on October 6th, 1977. The MiG-29 (NATO reporting name "Fulcrum") has a high-mounted bubble canopy and two powerful but very smokey RD-33 jet engines with diagonal-shaped air intakes and large exhausts. Its tapered, swept-back wings and boom-mounted tail fins give it its classic look. Armed with medium and short-range missiles and unguided weapons for ground and sea-surface targets, the MiG-29's sight is a helmet-mounted system-the pilot chooses his targets by looking at them.

The MiG-29B Fulcrum-A (izdeliye 9.12B) was the export and downgraded export version of the Soviet MiG-29A for friendly, non-Warsaw Pact nations like India, Syria Iraq, Hungary and a few other countries . It lacked a nuclear weapon delivery system and possessed downgraded radar, ECM and IFF.

The MiG-29, like the F-16, was initially meant to be an air to air fighter with very limited ground attack capabilities. Just like the F-16, later MiG-29 variants started getting multi-role capability.

The MiG-29 is very agile. It lacked the advanced fly-by-wire (FBW) flight controls of its Western counterparts, which meant it placed a premium on pilot skill. Flight controls had "soft limits", allowing the pilot to exceed recommendations if needed. However, the MiG-29 was not an unfriendly machine either, giving plenty of warning before departing controlled flight. It also did not spin easily, and a spin could almost always be easily corrected by neutralizing the controls. The MiG-29 had good handling at low speeds, and remained controllable at very high angles of attack. The MiG-29 was regarded as more agile than its Western counterpart - the F-16A, and was a particularly dangerous adversary in a low-speed turning fight. Its biggest limitation was poor range, sometimes being described as a "fighter for use over the airfield beacon". Its engines smoked so much that the Malaysians aptly called their MiG-29 demo team as the "Smokey Bandits"

Thanks to the MiG-29's favourable thrust to weight ratio being greater than 1, it can climb vertically and accelerate in the process almost like a rocket!!!!

The IAF and the MiG-29
India approached the Soviet government in the early 1980s, requesting for the delivery of latest MiG-29s. This was to counter the PAF acquisition of F-16s but The MiG-29 was not available for export that time. The Indian govt of the time ordered Mirage 2000s as a counter to the F-16s.

The F-16s started getting delivered to the PAF from 1983 onwards. As a kneejerk reaction and probably out of panic, MiG-23MFs were ordered, which were delivered quickly by the Soviet Union. Two new IAF squadrons - No. 223 "Tridents" & No. 224 "Warlords" were raised on the MiG-23MF, which gave the IAF "supposed" BVR capability for the first time (R-23R/T Apex missiles carried on the MiG-23MF). It became quickly clear that the MiG-23MF was overhyped by the Soviets and was not an answer that IAF was looking for to counter PAF F-16s (much like how the Soviets hyped the MiG-23 to the Iraqis as the answer to Iranian F-14s)

Then Indian AF Chief of the time, ACM Idris Latif had famously remarked that PAF F-16 acquisition would be a game changer in the sub-continent - "The IAF would require 40 sorties to do what the F-16s could do in four. To ignore a major threat like that would a be a major dereliction of duty".

The first Mirage 2000s started getting delivered to the IAF in 1985(there was an option of license production by HAL).

In 1984 or 85, the Soviet Minister of Defence visited India and he agreed that the Soviet Union would supply India with 44 MiG-29s/ License production was also discussed as MiG-21s and MiG-27s were being manufactured in India. The IAF became the first MiG-29 operator outside the Soviet Union. 60+ MiG-29s were acquired which were delivered in the form of SKD kits for assembly at HAL Nashik in 1986. The MiG-29s which were inducted in the IAF 1987 first with No. 47 Sqdn "Black Archers" and then with No. 28 Sqdn "First Supersonics" at Lohegaon AFS in Pune and were known locally as the Baaz. Both No. 28 & No. 47 Sqdns were formerly MiG-21FL squadrons that did exceptionally well in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. No.47 Sqdn even had a confirmed PAF F-104 kill in the 1971 war while No. 28 Sqdn was well known for its exploits in East Pakistan. The future Air Chief - Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha was one of the pioneering MiG-29s pilots sent to the Soviet Union to train on the MiG-29.

In 1989, a third IAF MiG-29 sqdn became operational - No. 223 "Tridents"(converted from the MiG-23MF after just six years on the type) at Adampur AFS. In the mid-1990s, an additional batch of MiG-29s was acquired from Russia that were supposed to be more "capable" than the original MiG-29s delivered by the Soviet Union and that these were capable of firing the R-77(rumors which were later proven to be false).

The IAF's MiG-29 experience in the early to mid-90s was bitter(poor spare parts supply, troublesome maintenance). Things improved later and the IAF MiG-29s played a stellar role in the Kargil War flying CAP and Escort missions for IAF reconnaissance & strike aircraft. PAF F-16s at the time lacked BVR capability and it proved to be a major handicap for them as IAF MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s repeatedly obtained missile locks on them flying close to the LoC. The PAF never crossed the LoC and the rules of engagement prevented IAF jets from taking the PAF F-16s down.

With the arrival of Su-30s in Pune, the MiG-29 squadrons (Nos. 28, 47) moved out of Pune. No. 47 went to Adampur and No. 28 Sqdn went to Jamnagar. All three MiG-29 squadrons currently fly the MiG-29s in its upgraded avatar - the highly capable and multi-role MiG-29UPG.

MiG-29B General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 17.32 m (56 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 11.36 m (37 ft 3 in)
Height: 4.73 m (15 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 38 m2 (410 sq ft)
Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
Gross weight: 14,900 kg (32,849 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 18,000 kg (39,683 lb)
Fuel capacity: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) internal
Powerplant: 2 × Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofan engines, 49.42 kN (11,110 lbf) thrust each dry, 81.58 kN (18,340 lbf) with afterburner

Performance
Maximum speed: 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph, 1,300 kn) at high altitude
Maximum speed: Mach 2.25
Range: 1,430 km (890 mi, 770 nmi) with maximum internal fuel
Ferry range: 2,100 km (1,300 mi, 1,100 nmi) with 1 x drop tank
Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
G limits: +9
Rate of climb: 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 403 kg/m2 (83 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight Ratio: 1.09

Armament
Guns: 1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon with 150 rounds
Hardpoints: 7 × hardpoints (6 × underwing, 1 × fuselage) with a capacity of up to 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) of stores, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: S-5, S-8, S-24
Missiles:
2 × R-27R/ER/T/ET/P air-to-air missiles
4 × R-60 AAMs
4 × R-73 AAMs
Bombs: 6 × 665 kg (1,466 lb) bombs

Avionics
OEPS-29 IRST
Phazotron N019 radar
SPO-15 'Beryoza' RWR

The Model
This was Hobbymaster's first ever Indian Air Force model and they got most details right on the model. Apart from the fabulous shape and detailing on the model, they even got the font of the aircraft serial number (KB715) on the tail fin spot on. They have given two types of antennas to be mounted on the spine (just behind the cockpit) - a long one and a short one. It comes with standard MiG-29 air to air loadout- 4 X R-73s, 2 X R-27Rs & 1 X centerline MiG-29 drop tank.





























With its virtual world counterpart (DCS)




Airborne








MiG-29B KB715

[skanchan95]

Cope India 2006












Rivals










1:72 Indian AF

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29B Fulcrum/Baaz, No. 47 Sqn "Black Archers", IAF, #KB715,Adampur AFS, 2010 (Hobbymaster)

[/ATTACH]

Marvellous addition to your IAF collection Comrade Narayan and I welcome you to the dark side.

Looks it it comes with removable gear doors for the inflight display mode?

Did it come with air to ground weapons also?

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Marvellous addition to your IAF collection clap

Thank you. The HM MiG-29 is truly a work of art and a joy to hold.

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Looks it it comes with removable gear doors for the inflight display mode?

Did it come with air to ground weapons also?

Yes, all HM models comes with the option of displaying the model In-flight( "closed" gear door attachments) or "on the ground" (landing gear + open gear door attachments) mode. However in the "Inflight" model, the MiG-29's centerline fuel tank has to be removed for the stand's spindle to go in the gap between the two engine intakes .

No air to ground attachments in HM's MiG-29A/B model. Their MiG-29SMT model does come with Kh-31s in place of R-27s on the inner most pylons.

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Comrade Narayan and I welcome you to the dark side.

I can almost imagine this in my mind

No, just kidding

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

No air to ground attachments in HM's MiG-29A/B model. Their MiG-29SMT model does come with Kh-31s in place of R-27s on the inner most pylons.
I can almost imagine this in my mind
Attachment 2293477

I have spare rocket launchers, bombs and A2G missiles from my Mig-29SMT kit if you need any.

Originally Posted by skanchan95

I can almost imagine this in my mind
Attachment 2293477

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I have spare rocket launchers, bombs and A2G missiles from my Mig-29SMT kit if you need any.

Thank you so much for the offer.
But I prefer my MiG-29 in its current interceptor weapon configuration (6 X A2A missiles + 1 centerline tank).

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Lockheed Martin F-16CM(CJ) Block 50 Fighting Falcon #92-3894 USAF PACAF Viper Demo Team/14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais",35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AFB, Japan(Hobbymaster)

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29B Fulcrum/Baaz, No. 47 Sqn "Black Archers", IAF, #KB715,Adampur AFS, 2010 (Hobbymaster)

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Cope India 2006

Congratulations Sandesh on these most attractive models and these fantastic photos with such realistic backgrounds. Your photos are to die for. I wish I could develop this talent.* PAF F-16 and IAF MiG-29 indeed. Did I notice a missile streak from the port wing of the IAF aircraft and a flaming engine of the F-16. Foxbat confirms it. thanks to HobbyMaster all four models look mouth watering.

It is interesting that the Su-27 wing is a scalled up version of the MiG-29 given that both wings were designed around the same basic design created by the TsAGI - the Russian Central Aerodynamics Institute. That is why several Soviet fighters of old had similar planforms eg MiG-21 and Su-9 and early Su-15 on one hand and MiG-19 and Su-7 on the other.

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I have spare rocket launchers, bombs and A2G missiles from my Mig-29SMT kit if you need any.

That is a really nice gesture

*PS: I keep trying to imitate your photos with less than proud results!!!

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Congratulations Sandesh on these most attractive models and these fantastic photos with such realistic backgrounds.

Thank you sir.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

* PAF F-16 and IAF MiG-29 indeed. Did I notice a missile streak from the port wing of the IAF aircraft and a flaming engine of the F-16.

I wish to do a photoshoot with the IAF MiG-29 in perfect firing position behind the PAF F-16. Need time to make my imagination run wild with that idea.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

It is interesting that the Su-27 wing is a scaled up version of the MiG-29 given that both wings were designed around the same basic design created by the TsAGI - the Russian Central Aerodynamics Institute.

May be that similarity is the reason why the Russians briefly flirted with the idea of installing wingtip launch rails for the R-73 (very much like the Su-27 but configuration wise closer to the F-16) on the MiG-29M? Relevant photos from Yefim Gordon's MiG-29 book:

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

*PS: I keep trying to imitate your photos with less than proud results!!!

It is really not that hard Sir. I use a simple digital camera to take my photos, so the images are always in high resolution and clear. The trick is to play around with the zoom settings in your camera while taking the photographs and experiment with the angles at which you take the photographs. At times I have to bend/turn/squat at odd angles to take a photograph.

Other than that, almost all scale models seem to come to life when photos are taken in natural or bright sunlight. It makes them look much more realistic.

Lastly, a little cropping the image with a Image viewer like Irfanview i.e "Cutting" out part of the image which you want to focus on in a photo(if I expressed it correctly).

For e.g. let us consider this image which I had posted earlier:


This image was "cut" out from this photo....

i.e the MiG-29 part was cropped out from the original photo and that is why if you notice the image's dimension ratio ( Length X Breadth), it is different in both images ( standard 1600 X 1200 in the original v/s 1600 X 518 in the edited one). Cutting/Cropping out images like this makes the photo more presentable and attractive.

If one uses photoshop, the stand below can be edited out to make it look as if the model is suspended in the air and is actually flying.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Did I notice a missile streak from the port wing of the IAF aircraft and a flaming engine of the F-16. Foxbat confirms it.

A Black Archer downs a Falcon

April 08, 2022 11:15 AM IST, IAF Radars track an unknown contact that had earlier taken off from a forward PAF airbase and flying at high speed approaching the Indo-Pak border. An IAF MiG-29 of No. 47 Sqdn "Black Archers" on QRA is scrambled from AFS Adampur to visually identify and if need be, shoot down the intruder.


11:25 AM IST, probably warned by PAF radars, the intruder turns back just in time as the intercepting MiG-29 identifies it visually to be a fully armed Pakistan Air Force F-16C in the markings of No. 5 Sqdn PAF "Falcons".





The MiG-29 continues to shadow the F-16 as it continues to fly parallelly on its side of the border.


11:30 AM IST, in a surprise move and a fatal mistake, the F-16 momentarily crosses over and the highly alert MiG-29 pilot pounces to intercept.

















Realizing his mistake, the F-16 tries to maneuver and turn back to Pakistan but the MiG-29 pilot is quick to get on his six.










Within seconds, the IAF MiG-29 pilot obtains an IRM lock in boresight mode , and calls out Fox Two as an R-73 is unleashed!!!!






The F-16 pilot calls out "Archer, Archer" and tries desperately to shake off the R-73 but dumping flares. But its too late as the R-73 goes right into the F-16's tail pipe and the F-16 explodes into two. The F-16 pilot ejects and drifts into Pakistan.





View from the MiG-29 cockpit as the F-16 explodes


Additional IAF Su-30s and MiG-29s are scrambled as PAF retaliates to the shootdown by scrambling F-16s and J-10s. Both sides back off after an emergency call on the hotline between the Air Chiefs of both countries.

IAF Radar track proves that the fully armed PAF jet had indeed violated Indians airspace and that the IAF jet was well within its rights to shoot a fully armed intruder down.

Meanwhile, there is jubilation in the Black Archers camp and the IAF as this was the second PAF F-16 to be shot down by the IAF in three years.

Tensions remain high as a retaliation is expected.....

Disclaimer - This is me having fun with my models and had a lot fun shooting this scenario. This is not to promote war or any kind of jingoism. It is a completely fictional incident and 100% figment of my imagination , not taking into consideration operational procedures or the fact that IAF and PAF aircraft are supposed to stay away and not fly a certain distance on their side of the border in peace time.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

A Black Archer downs a Falcon

Yaaaahhhh!!!! So marvelously put together. Kudos.

Comrade Foxbat will bestow on you the Order of the Red Banner. Foxbat says that all your past (American) sins have been forgiven.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

The F-16 pilot calls out "Archer, Archer" and tries desperately to shake off the R-73 but dumping flares. But its too late as the R-73 goes right into the F-16's tail pipe and the F-16 explodes into two. The F-16 pilot ejects and drifts into Pakistan.

Marvellous enactment using models, definitely a first!

Interesting to note IAF Mig-29s would have probably shot down a few PAF F-16s in the Kargil war but were not allowed to engage.

I see your Mig-29 model has a different colour for the top air intakes behind the cockpit, was this present in IAF models or its an attempt to show them in an open position?

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Yaaaahhhh!!!! So marvelously put together. Kudos.

Comrade Foxbat will bestow on you the Order of the Red Banner. Foxbat says that all your past (American) sins have been forgiven.

Its a good start but some Vietnamese Mig-21s, Migs-17s and Mig-19s doing some work on the Phantom collection would help

[V.Narayan]

Boeing AH-64 Apache::Attack Helicopter::1:72 scale, HobbyMaster

This chopper needs no introduction to the readers of this thread. Enjoy the photographs. I have made a vain and not so successful attempt at imitating Sandesh's photography. If you insist on giggling please look the other way.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Yaaaahhhh!!!! So marvelously put together. Kudos.

Thank you Sir. It was your subtle missile plume hint that lead to a plan and to quote Col. "Hannibal" Smith -

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Comrade Foxbat will bestow on you the Order of the Red Banner.

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I see your Mig-29 model has a different colour for the top air intakes behind the cockpit, was this present in IAF models or its an attempt to show them in an open position?

I suppose it is an attempt to show them in the open position, because the intake louvers on IAF MiG-29s are of the same colour as the rest of the aircraft.
Open:

Closed:


On the JC Wings MiG-29, the open intake louvers have been modelled very well and actually look like they are open..


But on the HM's IAF MiG-29, the louvers been painted in different shade of grey to make it look as if they are open:

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Boeing AH-64 Apache::Attack Helicopter::1:72 scale, HobbyMaster

This chopper needs no introduction to the readers of this thread. Enjoy the photographs.

Congratulations Sir. HM's Apache is such a beautiful looking piece and that they chose to make it, despite of knowing that Indian models are not that popular in the international market, they deserve a lot of credit for it. Let's hope the make the Su-30MKI based on their Su-30SM mould and here was an interesting bit of information shared by a gentleman on FB:

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I have made a vain and not so successful attempt at imitating Sandesh's photography. If you insist on giggling please look the other way

Sir, your photographs are pretty good and I really like them.

Clearly you have played around with the angles/zoom settings in your photographs and the excellent set of photos show that. Everyone has a signature way of taking their photographs and each one of them is equally good. The idea is to have fun while taking photographs.

Really liked this photo of yours and the background. I edited it a bit to make it look as if it is flying over the tree tops, about to go into a hover over a house terrace...

[Foxbat]

Nepal Airlines Corporation (Nepali: नेपाल वायुसेवा निगम,  'Nepal Air Service Corporation'), formerly known as Royal Nepal Airlines (शाही नेपाल वायुसेवा, Śāhī Nepāl Vāyusevā, 'Royal Nepal Air Service'), is the flag carrier of Nepal. Founded in 1958, it is the oldest airline of the country. Out of its main base at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, the airline operates domestic services within Nepal and medium-haul services in Asia. The airline's first aircraft was a Douglas DC-3, used to serve domestic routes and a handful of destinations in India. The airline acquired its first jet aircraft, Boeing 727s, in 1972. As of 13 July 2020, the airline operates a fleet of seven aircraft.

1:400 Nepal Airlines Airbus A330-200 9N-ALY "AnnaPurna"











My parents went on their first international trip in more than 26 years on Nepal Airlines to Kathmandu so I wanted to gift them a model of the aircraft. Unfortunately no one makes a model of 9N-ALZ "Makalu" so I had to make do with its sister aircraft.

"Makalu" at New Delhi Airport.


and at Kathmandu, I think the aircraft flies daily to and fro between the cities.




The two A330 aircraft of Nepal Airlines are based on the 5th and 10th highest mountains in the world, saw this on the flight from Kathmandu, not sure which peak it was:

[skanchan95]

1:250 Boeing 747-400 TF-AAK "Ed Force One" The Book of Souls Tour 2016 (Herpa)

Another long awaited model wish of mine got fulfilled. Being an Iron Maiden fan, I was always on the lookout for Iron Maiden's Aircraft models(the ones they used for their concert tours all over the world). Back in 2018, I missed getting this same 747 model in 1:400 from Hogan.

Ed Force One
This particular Boeing 747-400 TF-AAK was leased by the legendary British Heavy Metal Band and my favourite- Iron Maiden, for their "The Book of Souls" World Tour in 2016. It was repainted spectacularly and nicknamed "Ed Force One"(after the band's mascot - Eddie) and was piloted by lead vocalist & qualified Boeing 757 & 747 pilot - Bruce Dickinson (who was a qualified commercial pilot with the now defunct Astraeus Airlines).

This was the first time they had used the Boeing 747, having earlier used Boeing 757s on their previous tours).From 2008 to 2009, a Boeing 757 with tail number G-OJIB took the band on tour for the Somewhere Back In Time World Tour. And in 2011, G-STRX was liveried up in The Final Frontier World Tour to become the newest Ed Force One.

Before becoming Ed Force One, this 747-400 spent 12 years flying for Air France as F-GITH. On 21 October 2015, F-GITH completed its last commercial flight with Air France from Mexico City to Paris. And on 28 October, it was flown to Tarbes for storage. F-GITH was purchased by Air Atlanta Icelandic about a month later and re-registered TF-AAK. The airframe sat in storage at Tarbes until 21 December 2015 when it was flown to Sharjah for rework and painting into "Ed Force One" colors. After a few months, the new Ed Force One made the journey from Sharjah to Cardiff to begin the Book of Souls world tour.

TF-AAK really did go around the planet for Iron Maiden. Launching from Cardiff, it headed to the west. Stopping at various points around the States, it headed down to Mexico, to gigs in Central America and then down to South America. In Santiago, Chile, it was damaged in a collision with a tug, but was rapidly repaired and sent back on its way. It continued the tour around North America, taking in major venues in the USA and Canada. Then it was across to Asia for performances in Japan and China, before heading south to New Zealand and Australia. The band then hit South Africa before heading north to perform 51 dates around Europe. Finally, they headed back to North America for additional tour bookings.

The band then hit South Africa before heading north to perform 51 dates around Europe. Finally, they headed back to North America for additional tour bookings.

As part of the book of Souls Tour, the band played in the following cities
1. Ft. Lauderdale
2. Tulsa
3. Las Vegas
4. Monterrey
5. Mexico City
6. San Salvador
7. San Jose
8. Santiago
9. Cordoba
10. Buenos Aires
11. Rio De Janeiro
12. Belo Horizonte
13. Brasilia
14. Fortaleza
15. Sao Paulo
16. New York
17. Montreal
18. Toronto
19. Detroit
20. Chicago
21. Edmonton
22. Vancouver
23. Tacoma
24. Denver
25. Los Angeles
26. Tokyo
27. Beijing
28. Shanghai
29. Christchurch
30. Auckland
31. Brisbane
32. Sydney
33. Melbourne
34. Adelaide
35. Perth
36. Cape Town
37. Johanessburg
38. Gelsenkirchen
39. Munich
40. Berlin
41. Lucerne
42. Arnhem
43. Paris
44. Donington
45. Oslo
46. Gothenburg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwpvoUYaR9U

Airframe Stats
Registration : TF-AAK
Status : Stored
Airframe Age : 19 years
Last Airline: Air Atlanta Icelandic
Country : Iceland
Serial number: 32868 LN:1325
Type: 747-428
First flight date : 05/03/2003
Engines : 4 x GE CF6-80C2B1F

Operators of the aircraft
F-GITH Air France 2003-2015
TF-AAK Air Atlanta Icelandic 2016-2022 (Stored 04/2022)

The model is snapfit plastic( like Hogan Wings models) but does not have the option to mount the landing gear, which means it has to be displayed only in the "In flight mode" only. Quality and clarity of the text is pretty decent and legible to the naked eye( the photos don't do justice to it. The model has a slightly glossy finish and has some decent detailing. Gloomy weather with light drizzle over Mangalore meant conditions for outdoor photography were not ideal