Finnish Air Force MiG-21bis MG-135 details

FAF Pilatus PC-12 NG

PI-02

PI-02

FAF MiG-21F-13 repro photo reference (MG-63?)

MG-63

Finnish Air Force MiG-21 takeoff or low level flyby at an airshow in the early 1970's. Reproduction photo of an original faded paper print. I think the plane registration is MG-63. Interestingly the main landing gear seems to be down, but nosewheel already up?

Finnish Air Force Fokker D.XXI 4. series 1/72 Special Hobby

FR-125 in 1/72nd scale at Hyvinkää Air Field 70 years later.

EFHV office building, former Aero air control room windows at right 

The real Finnish Air Force Fokker D.XXI FR-125 was stationed at Hyvinkää Air Field in 1941, my scale model represents how it looked like at the end of June '41, i.e. 70 years ago. These photos were taken at the very same airfield. The memorial plague text translation in English:
"Squadron 32 was operating from the Hyvinkää Air Field with Fokker D.XXI planes in the beginning of the Continuation War June 20th-July 1st protecting the cities and railways of Southern Finland."

Facing runway 12-30, modern hangars in the background.

 FR-125 parallel to runway 04-22.

Finnish Air Force Messerschmitt Bf-109 G-6 1/72 Italeri

From Künnapuu, Ants: 100 Ōhusōidukit. Illusteerinud V.Tōnisson (Valgus, Tallinn, 1975)

Another airbrushing and weathering practice target, all freehand except wingtop splinter pattern. Xtracolor enamels RLM 74/75/76, Revell matt black #8 and matt varnish #2. Out-of-the box except reg. number and tactical #1 decals. This was fun! N.B.! I found out later that the tactical number "1" should be yellow, not white. The original Yellow 1 MT-401 of HLeLv (Fighter squadron) 23 operated from Hyvinkää Air Field in autumn 1946.

Finnish Air Force Morane-Saulnier M.S. 406 1/72 Hobby Boss

Back to the 40's again, this time with a Finnish Morane built from the Hobby Boss kit. It's not a perfect Morane-Saulnier but quite acceptable anyway. I made some small modifications like steel tubing for the wing guns, tailwheel from another Hobby Boss kit and Finnish ultramarine blue swastikas from Revell's Curtiss Hawk 75A kit. This model represents the MS-311 after the full overhaul (=fresh Finnish 'Sotamaalaus' warpaint) in spring 1942 but before the later light blue "DN-väri" undersides paint or the 'shark teeth' decoration nose. The shark's teeth & eyes were included in the box decals, but all wrong so I didn't want to use them.

Paint codes are Humbrol 116 for the "Oliivinvihreä" (dark olive green), Xtracolor X204 for the "Musta" (black) camouflage, Xtracolor X137 for the "Vaaleanharmaa" (very light grey) undersides and Tikkurila Miranol for "Keltainen omakonetunnus" (bright yellow).

Here's a brief history of the original plane (from Keskinen: Suomen ilmavoimien historia, volume 4): Feb.15th 1940 arrived in Finland. June 28th 1940 delivered to LLv 28. June 21st 1941 belonged to 1/LLv 28. Nov.22nd 1941 to full overhaul. Oct.6th 1942 delivered to 1/LeLv 14. Aug.10th 1944 crashed. Three victories scored.

By the way, the yellow paint brand is by the very same company which made the original aircraft paints, going under name Schildt & Hallberg back then. The shade may not be 100% accurate, but close enough for my tastes. Besides, this kit was bought from the Finnish Aviaton Museum so this is quite Finnished model, isn't it?

Morane-Saulnier with Curtiss Hawk 75A in 1/72 scale

Not out-of-the-box, but just with easy modifications