Ferry_vO
Retired SOH Administrator
Now that the Boxer and Puma are close to being finished, it was time to search for something new and since I mostly do armour these days, I bought.... an aircraft!
Why? Because I found some very interesting armour models from a chinese manufacturer called Hobbyboss, but I don't want to spend my money on something if I don't know what I can expect, especially on a kit costing 40+ euros ($50). They have a line of LVTP/AAVP models which interest me, and a big Czech SPH, the 'Dana' but at 600-1000 parts each I need to know these kits are good..
Today I went to my favourite aviation hobby shop and bought the Hobbyboss Shenyang JJ-5. The JJ-5 ((Jianjiji Jiaolianji - Fighter Trainer ) is the twin-seat version of the J-5, a Chinese license-built version of the MiG-17. The Russians never built a twin-seat MiG-17 so the Chinese simply added the dual pit of the MiG-15 to the MiG-17! It was on sale so I payed only 12 euro ($15) for it, and here are some first impressions:
Big box, with artwork showing the PLAAF Bayi display team's JJ-5 on the front:
Inside is a big manual with clear drawings (And perfect English text!), a double-sided, full colour paint profile and a decal sheet for three versions: The bayi team, a PLAAF trainer and a pakistani trainer.
Sealed in five bags are seven sprues, nicely detailed parts which at first glance do not require a lot of cutting and trimming. A total of 133 parts, but some are not used (I think there are some parts left over for the single-seat models that share the same sprues). Optional to build are seperate flaps, airbrakes, canopies opened or closed. The kit even includes a completely detailed engine, and the entire back of the fuselage can be left off to expose the engine. If you have the Bear Studios MiG-15 or 17 you'll know what I mean!
The Bayi paint looks nice, but for a hand painter like my it will be hard to paint it right, especially with the wing fences already modelled and not as seperate parts, so I'll probably paint it as the PLAAF trainer; that way I can fit the wing tanks too.
Why? Because I found some very interesting armour models from a chinese manufacturer called Hobbyboss, but I don't want to spend my money on something if I don't know what I can expect, especially on a kit costing 40+ euros ($50). They have a line of LVTP/AAVP models which interest me, and a big Czech SPH, the 'Dana' but at 600-1000 parts each I need to know these kits are good..
Today I went to my favourite aviation hobby shop and bought the Hobbyboss Shenyang JJ-5. The JJ-5 ((Jianjiji Jiaolianji - Fighter Trainer ) is the twin-seat version of the J-5, a Chinese license-built version of the MiG-17. The Russians never built a twin-seat MiG-17 so the Chinese simply added the dual pit of the MiG-15 to the MiG-17! It was on sale so I payed only 12 euro ($15) for it, and here are some first impressions:
Big box, with artwork showing the PLAAF Bayi display team's JJ-5 on the front:
Inside is a big manual with clear drawings (And perfect English text!), a double-sided, full colour paint profile and a decal sheet for three versions: The bayi team, a PLAAF trainer and a pakistani trainer.
Sealed in five bags are seven sprues, nicely detailed parts which at first glance do not require a lot of cutting and trimming. A total of 133 parts, but some are not used (I think there are some parts left over for the single-seat models that share the same sprues). Optional to build are seperate flaps, airbrakes, canopies opened or closed. The kit even includes a completely detailed engine, and the entire back of the fuselage can be left off to expose the engine. If you have the Bear Studios MiG-15 or 17 you'll know what I mean!
The Bayi paint looks nice, but for a hand painter like my it will be hard to paint it right, especially with the wing fences already modelled and not as seperate parts, so I'll probably paint it as the PLAAF trainer; that way I can fit the wing tanks too.