Hobbycraft MiG-17F

By Scott Jeffery

HISTORY

The MiG-17 was designed to rectify some of the MiG-15s unsatisfactory high speed handling characteristics. The fuselage was lengthened and a new compound "sickle" wing with no less than three wing fences was added to help with high speed stability. Later, an improved engine with afterburner was added to make the MiG-17F.

The MiG-17 served with at least 22 different Air Forces around the world and was valued for its ruggedness, simplicity, outstanding dogfight maneuverability, and the hitting power of its cannon armament. It gained its greatest fame in the skies over Vietnam where it was opposed by more sophisticated supersonic American aircraft. As the war went on, the North Vietnamese were able to coordinate MiG-17s with supersonic MiG-21s, SAMs, and antiaircraft guns into a formidable air defense system. The MiG-17 was typically used at low altitude to engage bomb laden fighter bombers as they popped up for bombing runs or as they recovered from their dives. If threatened, MiG-17s would often form a defensive circle to cover each others' vulnerable rear quadrants. If any American aircraft attacked a MiG in the circle, the other MiGs could use their maneuverability to break across the circle and attack the American fighter.

THE MODEL

This kit is the Hobbycraft copy of the Trumpeter MiG-17 kit in 1/32nd scale. I basically worked on it for two years, on and off, before completing it. The kit required A LOT of tender loving care, with many inaccuracies needing to be corrected. Once completed, however, it makes an impressive model that will look great next to my new F-105! Some of the items that were scratch built included:

ejection seat head rest (I adapted a MiG-15 seat, the Cutting Edge seat was unavailable at that time)
ventral strake was added
tail warning radar and position light were added
pitot tubes were fabricated from pins and brass tube
canopy rear view mirror
cannon barrels made from brass and aluminum tube
landing light using a MV lense and Eduard photo etch
trim tabs
flare launcher
drop tank pylons
position lights on the wing tips

Additionally, a number of aftermarket products were used in construction of the kit. Do not attempt to build this kit without the Eduard photo etch set (#32-051) or the Squadron crystal clear canopy (for the MiG-15). These sets replace some of the components that were pretty sad. Other aftermarket items included:

various decals from Eagle Strike's Fresco collection #32019 and Trumpeter BORT numbers
Cutting Edge intake splitter (this is also HEAVY…keeps the kit from being a tail sitter, but fill in the landing light) #32052
Cutting Edge wheels #32036
Cutting Edge cockpit set #32101 (this is the actual MiG-17 set with the KK-2 seat).

PROBLEM AREAS

Some of the panel lines on the right side of the tail were wrong, these were filled and re-scribed. The engine is a VK-1 from an early MiG-17A or a MiG-15. The VK-1F from the MiG-17F has an afterburner that swells the combustion chamber noticeably, so I didn't use the engine. Additionally, the engine exhaust nozzle is incorrect. I used the Eduard set to make a new one which was secured to a length of brass tube and inserted into the fuselage. The main wheel wells are too shallow and are incorrect…the Eduard set came to the rescue again. The location holes for the drop tanks are grossly out of position to the outboard and are splayed out (pigeon toed). They were relocated approximately in line with the center wing fences. The radio antennae on the right side of the fuselage is in the wrong place….a new locating hole was drilled. The wing fences are way too thick, they were sanded down. The airbrake hydraulic actuators attach to the fuselage in the wrong place. New holes were drilled.

CONCLUSION

This was a challenging build for me. My local modeling friends really helped me to stick with it when I became frustrated. The result is an important addition to my collection of 1/32 Vietnam aircraft. Time now for the Thud!

REFERENCES

AIR WAR OVER NORTH VIETNAM- The Vietnamese People's Air Force 1949-1977
MiG-17 In Action
MiG-17 and MiG-19 Units of the Vietnam War