Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF Fresco-D
Practice Bare Metal and Weathering Techniques

This is my second practice kit since returning to the hobby. The first one (also posted on Scalemates) started off well but ended in disappointment when my carefully painted splinter camouflage reacted with the flat varnish I used. Anyway, here we go again.

Once more, I selected a kit that I have duplicates of and that cost very little. My collection is mostly centered on World War II, but I also have an interest in Cold War aviation, so I decided to build an early jet. This gave me an opportunity to try a bare metal natural aluminum finish—something I had never done before, but thought I would give it a shot.

I chose the KP MiG-17PF Fresco, which seemed like a good option. It features light grey plastic with a mix of raised and recessed panel lines, plenty of detail, and a lot of rivets—then even more rivets! However, the details were inconsistent, often uneven, and the fit was poor. If you look at the images and comments, you'll see just how poor the fit is.

Thanks for checking out my project! I hope you like it. Please feel free to offer feedback and recommendations. Cheers!