Und ich hau' noch einen raus - weil Nikolaus ist!
Diesmal ist es ein real inspiriertes Whif: eines der unzähligen MiG-21-Derivate, die in China entwickelt wurden (und immer noch werden!), und was ggf. daraus hätte werden können: die Chengdu J-7FS.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Und das hier ist das Original (der umgebaute Prototyp, s.u.):
Verlinkt von
http://www.ausairpower.net/PLA-AF/J-7FS-PLAAF-1S.jpgIch fand die J-7FS schon immer "schnieke", der F-8-artige Lufteinlauf sieht ziemlich martial aus. Es gibt sogar einen Resin-Bausatz dafür, aber der ist für das Gebotene höllisch überteuert - also lieber selber machen, auch wenn' nicht ganz ans Vorbild herankommt.
Basis ist eine MiG-21MF von Matchbox, ein unglaublich primitiver und in vielen Dingen falscher Bausatz. Viel ist verändert:
- Neuer Bug und Lufteinlauf mit Splitter; die Radarnase ist ein Abwurftank einer F-18, der Einlauf ist gescratcht
- Neues Seitenruder: es stammt von einer F-16, passt in der Form sehr gut zum veränderten, umgebauten Prototypen (s.o.)
- Neue äußere Tragflächen - mit der J-7E wurde ein Doppel-Delta-Flügel eingeführt, auf den die J-7FS später umgerüstet wurde. Ebenfalls mit artfremden Höhenrudern gescratcht
- Neues, stabileres Hauptfahrwerk
- Heck aufgebohrt und eine grobe Düse eingesetzt
- Die Flugkörper (Matra Magic und Alenia Aspide) stammen von einem Italeri-NATO-Waffenset, sie sind aber authentisch, denn beides wird/wurde in China nachgebaut...
- Der Tank unterm Rumpf ist ein chinesisches Modell, stammt von einer FC-1 von Trumpeter
- Im Cockpit wurden Seitenkonsolen, ein Boden und ein Airfix-Pilot integriert. Durch die dicke Scheibe sieht man aber herzlich wenig davon...
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) - WiP by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) - WiP by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) - WiP by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division,, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004(Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) - WiP by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Der Anstrich ist Fantasie, orineitiert sich aber an chinesischen Vorbildern - Ziel war es, eine J-7FS so zu präsentieren, WENN sie denn in den Frontdienst gekommen wäre. Das hat statt dessen die J-10 (ein IAI Lavi Klon) geschafft, und damit war die J-7FS "tot".
Es sollte ein Luftüberlegenheits-Anstrich werden, aber nicht das dröge Einheitsgrau der PLAAF. So bin ich nach einigem Probieren auf "Russisches Unterseitenblau" (Testors) und PRU Blue (Humbrol) gekommen - beide Töne haben einen leichten Grün-Stich und sind recht kräftig, mit den roten Markierungen (alles aus der Grabbelkiste) ergibt sich ein schöner Kontrast. Die fünfstellige Nummer ist halbwegs authentisch, und die 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment in der Region um Peking hat bis zur Jahrtuasendwende die erfolglose J-7C (ein unlizensierter Nachbau der MiG-21MF) geflogen.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) - WiP by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) - WiP by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Ein einfaches Modell: nett und exotisch, und binnen einer Woche zusammengedengelt. Zwar "stimmt" vieles nicht - vor allem der Lufteinlauf ist im Original komplexer konturiert - aber für den groben Eindruck reicht's (mir). Ist ja auch
nur ein Modell...
Und natürlich ein paar Infos:The Chinese J-7FS was a direct descendant of the J-7E. The Chengdu J-7 itself has a long heritage of development, even though it is originally a Soviet design, a license-built MiG-21F, which has its roots in the mid 50ies.
It took China long way to develop and produce a true supersonic fighter aircraft: in March, 1964, Shenyang Aircraft Factory began the first domestic production of the J-7 jet fighter. However, the mass production of the aircraft, which had been developed through Soviet help, license production and reverse-engineering, was severely hindered by an unexpected problem—the Cultural Revolution. This incident and its consequences resulted in poor initial quality and slow progress.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
This, in turn, resulted in full scale production only coming about in the 1980s, by which time the J-7 design was showing its age. However, through the years the J-7 saw constant development and refinement in China, and the J-7FS was one of the many directions the simple, basic design went in order to imporve performance and to keep it up to date.
The J-7FS was designed in the late 90ies as a dedicated interceptor, and as a lighter option than the twin-engined J-8 fighter of indigenous design. Main task was to incorporate a true air-to-air radar with surveillance capabilities, since the J-7 only featured a rader-based range finder in the central shock cone of the air intake.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Fitting a more capable radar required a larger radome, which meant either a bigger central shock cone (as in the 2nd generation MiG-21 fighters) or a totally new nose and air intake arrangement. The accordingly modified J-7FS saw first daylight as a technology demonstration aircraft built by CAC. Its most prominent feature was a redesigned under-chin inlet, reminiscent of the F-8 or A-7 nose, which provided air for a WP-13IIS engine. Above the air intake, a fixed conical radome offered space for a bigger radar dish. “139 Red”, how the first aircraft was coded, first flew in June 1998, starting a 22-month test program. Two prototypes were built, but only the first aircraft was to fly – the second machine was only used for static tests.
"139 Red" soon saw major progress in design and equipment: it received a new double-delta wing which nearly doubled internal fuel capacity and improved performance, a modified fin, a more potent WP-13F turbojet engine, and a new 600 mm slot antenna planar array radar using coherent technology to achieve scan, look-down and shoot-down capabilities.
The revamped aircraft also received a sand/green camouflage paint scheme, less flashy than the original white/red livery. The new wing, which was also introduced on the J-7E, made the aircraft 45% more maneuverable than the MiG-21F-like J/F-7M, while the take-off and landing distance is reduced to 600 meters, in comparison to the 1.000 meter take-off distance and 900 meter landing distance of earlier versions of the J-7.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The production J-7FS which was ready for service in summer 2000 featured even more changes and novelties: the J-7FS incorporated HOTAS, which has since become standard on other late J-7 versions, too. This version is also the first of J-7 series to be later upgraded with helmet mounted sights (HMS). However, it is reported that the helmet mounted sight is not compatible with radars, and air-to-air missiles must be independently controlled by either HMS or radar, but not both.
The serial production radome now had an ogival shape with an even larger base diameter, and for additional avionics such as weapon management, global positioning and flight data recording systems, the production J-7FS featured a bulged spine, reminiscent of the 3rd generation MiG-21 (or the respective Chengdu J-7C, a reverse-engineered MiG-21MF). The aircraft was even able to carry medium range AAMs, e .g. the Chinese PL-11 missile, a license-built Selenia Aspide AAM from Italia, itself a modernized descendant of the venerable AIM-7 Sparrow. Another feature which set the FS version apart was the ventral, twin-barreled Type 23-III gun instead of the single-barelled 30mm cannon at the flank.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The role of the J-7FS in the People's Liberation Army was to provide local air defense and tactical air superiority, even though it certainly was only a stop-gap until the introduction of the much more potent Chengdu J-10, which started to enter PLAAF service in 2005 after a long development time. With its more powerful radar the J-7FS was supposed to act as a kind of mini AWACS platform, guiding groups of less potent J-7Es to potential targets. It is known that the J-7FS’s new radar had a range greater than 50 km and could track up to eight targets simultaneously. The aircraft's overall performance is expected to be similar to early F-16 variants.
The number of built specimen is uncertain, but it is supposed to be less than 100, probably even less than 50. It is rumored that the type had also been offered to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka around 2001, but was not bought.
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Red”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment; Yangning AB, 2004 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
General characteristics:Crew: 1
Length: 14.885 m (Overall) (48 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 8.32 m (27 ft 3½ in)
Height: 4.11 m (13 ft 5½ in)
Wing area: 24.88 m² (267.8 ft²)
Aspect ratio: 2.8:1
Empty weight: 5,292 kg (11.667 lb)
Loaded weight: 7,540 kg (16.620 lb)
Max. take-off weight: 9.100 kg (20.062 lb)
Powerplant:1 × Guizhou Liyang WP-13F(C) afterburning turbojet with 44.1 kN (9.914 lb) dry thrust and 66.7 kN (14.650 lb) with afterburner
PerformanceMaximum speed: Mach 2.0, 2,200 km/h (1.189 knots, 1.375 mph)
Stall speed: 210 km/h (114 knots, 131 mph) IAS
Combat radius: 850 km (459 nmi, 528 mi) (air superiority, two AAMs and three drop tanks)
Ferry range: 2,200 km (1.187 nmi, 1.367 mi)
Service ceiling: 17,500 m (57.420 ft)
Rate of climb: 195 m/s (38.386 ft/min)
Armament:1× twin-barreled Type 23-III 23mm (0.9") cannon with 250 rounds under the fuselage;
5× hardpoints (4× under-wing, 1× centerline under-fuselage) with a capacity of 2,000 kg maximum (up to 500 kg each); Ordnance primarily comprises air-to-air missiles, including PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, PL-8, PL-9 and PL-11 AAMs, but in a secondary CAS role various rocket pods an unguided bombs of up to 500kg caliber could be carried
Thema: What if? 1:72 Chengdu J-7FS, PLAAF “21864 Rot”, 15th Fighter Division, 44th Air Regiment (Gelesen 3686 mal)
