Review

HobbyBoss' new kit is a step up from previous 1:48-scale MiG-17s. The box art features a North Vietnamese MiG-17F, Red 2011, one of three aircraft (the other two are Soviet and East German) for which markings are provided on a six-color Cartograf decal sheet. The gray and clear injection-molded parts show minimal flash and mold seams, which are easily cleaned up with light sanding. Panel line details are recessed, fine and consistent, with subtle rivet detail.

The English and Chinese instructions include directions for decals and a parts map. Exploded-assembly drawings show all parts by number. Some parts have color notations, and colors are keyed to several paint manufacturers. Perhaps the best part of the kit is the cockpit, made of nine well-engineered, good- fitting parts. Only the instrument panel lacks detail; a decal would have been a nice addition.

The intake splitter, which attaches to the front of the cockpit, contains the nose-gear well and an avionics deck. There is space below the cockpit floor for nose weight. Modelers should add it before gluing the belly cover (Part A2) in place. The engine will not be seen if the fuselage is closed up, but the detail is good, although Part F15 appears to have been drawn backwards; it fit fine when reversed. To display the engine, I left the aft fuselage detached and placed it on a stand from a Tamiya MiG-15 kit.

Upper and lower wing panels require little cleanup, and separate ailerons and dropped flaps fit easily. The wingtip pitot tubes are delicate and should be saved until other assembly is completed. I lost one in my carpet and had to make a replacement from steel tubing.

The curvature of the avionics bay cover (Part A10) and the bottom of the fuselage around the nose- gear well (Part A2) do not match the fuselage. A10 could be left off to display the avionics bay; Part A2 required lots of rubber bands and bar clamps. Part A16, the nose ring, needs sanding to fit.

The wings and horizontal stabilizers needed no filler, and the posable elevators and ailerons are nice. The best fit was the windshield, which clicked right into its recess. The canopy sits without stress on the fuselage, and the landing-gear struts plug in and self align. The outboard wheel halves are an aid to painting. I had to file the two pieces of the nose-wheel strut.

The MiG-17 Fresco (Walk Around No. 46), published by Squadron Signal, would be a useful reference for modelers interested in building this kit. Its pictures helped me create a more accurate model. Were I to build this kit again, I would replace the gun barrels with metal tubing. The kit's cannon barrel also could be enhanced.

Very close to scale, HobbyBoss' MiG-17F is an accurate kit, and while it's recommended for ages 14 and up, a couple of kits' worth of experience and the ability to use of an airbrush would indicate sufficient skill. I enjoyed this model - it's a good one!