Finnish Air Force MiG-21UM MK-106 Condor 1/72

Clockwise from top left: MiG-21UM, de Havilland Vampire Mk. 55, MiG-15UTI, Folland Gnat F.1

Condor MICOJAN MIG-21UM MONGOL 1/72

Well, here's a scale model that isn't too easy to have even nowadays: a Finnish Air Force MiG-21UM 'Mongol' 2-seat trainer in 1/72 scale. Bought my kit from ModelsUA online and fortunately it was very cheap.

The Condor kit is simple and crude, but in 1/72 scale there aren't many, if any options for an OOB builder. In some ways it looks like the original 'Mongols' I've seen in Finnish aviation museums and it's not totally off, but there are definitely issues with some dimensions and shapes overall. Maybe kitbashing a Zvezda MiG-21 BIS kit with some scratchbuilding would produce best results, but this Condor will have to do at least for awhile.

Painted with an airbrush, camouflage brown and green colours mixed from Vallejo Model Air 71.002, 71.022, 71.105, 71.057 and 71.034 water acrylic paints, bottom light blue Revell Enamel 52 mixed with 04. Final clearcoat Revell Matt Enamel. Aftermarket decals from Harraste Shop (Tampere, Finland).

This model represents the MK-106 in its original 1982 Soviet Union delivery scheme before any later Finnish modifications or repaints. The real MiG-21UM MK-106 is stored at the Karelia Aviation Museum, Lappeenranta Finland. 

Finnish Air Force MiG-15UTI MU-2 Eduard 1/72

Size comparison. clocwise from top left MiG-21UM, de Havilland Vampire Mk.55, MiG-15UTI, Folland Gnat F.1

Eduard Weekend Edition MiG-15 UTI 1/72 7433

Another example of a scale model that's easy to acquire and build nowadays, the Finnish Air Force MiG-15 UTI jet trainer in 1/72 scale from an Eduard Weekend Edition #7433 kit. Very nice kit that really looks like the original plane, although it's hard to replicate the somewhat crude tool-like heavy duty utility feel in a scale model. Actually the Finnish MiG-15 trainers were Czech-built CS-102s but they were and are always referred as MiG-15s here.

Aftermarket FAF decals from Harraste Shop (Tampere, Finland), otherwise OOB. Painted with Revell Enamels, final clearcoat semi-gloss Johnson/Future floor wax.

This model represents the Finnish Air Force MiG-15 UTI jet trainer MU-2 (on display at the Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Finland) in the early 1970's just before they became obsolete as the MiG-21U trainers arrived.

Finnish Air Force Folland Gnat F.1 GN-112 Special Hobby 1/72

Size comparison: clockwise from top left MiG-21UM, de Havilland Vampire Mk.55, MiG-15UTI, Folland Gnat F.1

Clockwise from top right: MiG-21UM, Folland Gnat F.1, MiG-15UTI, de Havilland Vampire Mk.55

Special Hobby 1/72 Folland Gnat F.1 No. SH72137 "Finnish and Yugoslav Service"

Camo A FiAF GN-101 'Kreivi von Rosen' summer 1971. Camo B FiAF GN-110 June 1970. Camo C YuAF old British camouflage. Camo D YuAF new camouflage.

This is a scale model I've wanted to build for a long, long time. Before this Special Hobby #SH72137 kit building a Finnish Folland Gnat F.1 model wasn't always easy in 1/72 scale, especially for this photo reconnaissance version. The kit is really nice and true to the original plane, despite that the original plane and thus the model are quite small in size it's reasonably easy to build, too.

Although not especially marketed or mentioned this Yugoslav/Finnish Air Force boxing has the optional photo reconnaissance parts included. Decals for the GN-112 were modified from kit decals and spare decal stash specials. Painted with Revell and Humbrol enamels, final clearcoat Revell Matt Enamel.

This model represents the Finnish Air Force Folland Gnat F.1 GN-112 on display at the Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Finland - like it once was when the paint job was new. The original Gnat is unrestored and only slightly weathered, so it's quite easy to turn back time and imagine what the original British camouflage looked like back in the day.

Finnish Air Force de Havilland Vampire Mk.55 VT-6 Airfix 1/72

Size comparison of the old Finnish Air Force jets: clockwise from top left: MiG-21UM, de Havilland Vampire Mk.55, MiG-15UTI, Folland Gnat F.1

Airfix de Havilland Vampire T.11 1/72 A02058

Bought this new-tool Airfix kit from the Finnish Aviation Museum while taking reference photos of the original Finnish Air Force de Havilland Vampire Trainer Mk.55 (VT-9) on display there. Another nice modern Airfix kit that builds well and looks the part. 

Painted with Revell enamels, final clearcoat semi-gloss Johnson/Future floor wax. Aftermarket FAF decals from Harraste Shop (Tampere, Finland).

This model represents the Finnish Air Force Vampire Trainer VT-6 of the Hämeen Lennosto at summer in 1958. There is the original (badly damaged) cockpit fuselage part of the VT-6 on display at the Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Finland.