Mark 1 Models 1/144 Shenyang J-6/F-6

Although the MiG-19 had a comparatively short life in Soviet service, the Chinese came to value its agility, turning performance, and powerful cannon armament, and produced it for their own use between 1958 and 1981. By the end of 2005, J-6s have been retired from active combat missions. While the basic MiG-19 has been retired from all but a few nations, its airframe contributed to the Chinese ground attack version, the Q-5, which still flies for numerous nations.

The J-6 was considered "disposable" and was intended to be operated for only 100 flight hours (or approximately 100 sorties) before being overhauled. The Pakistan Air Force was often able to extend this to 130 hours with diligent maintenance.

The J-6 has a maximum speed at altitude of 1,540 km/h (960 mph), Mach 1.45. Service ceiling is 17,900 m (58,700 ft). Combat radius with two drop tanks is about 640 km (400 mi). Powerplant is two Liming Wopen-6A (Tumansky R-9) turbojet engines. In addition to the internal cannon armament, most have provision for four wing pylons for up to 250 kg (550 lb) each, with a maximum ordnance load of 500 kg (1,100 lb). Typical stores include unguided bombs, 55 mm rocket pods, or PL-2/PL-5 (Chinese versions of Soviet K-13 (NATO AA-2 'Atoll') air-to-air missiles.

The J-6 still is in service with North Korea, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, and Zambia.

THE KIT

Many of you are familiar with 4plus publications. They have recently taken over two companies; CMR and Attack Hobbies. They are also producing their own line of 1/144 kits; some based on Attack Hobby kits and some done by themselves. I am not sure which category this kit fits, but I can tell you that you get very nicely done injection molded parts, including an injection molded canopy and some resin bits as well.

The resin parts are the cockpit tub with seat and control stick, a long pitot, and two missile pylons for the air to air missiles. There are pylons and missiles on the sprues, but those are not for the Shenyang version. The fuselage halves have room for nose weight as you will need some with this one. The intake and exhaust bits are separate with engine compressor faces showing in the exhaust area. A nicely done set of landing gear is supplied with the nose wheel molded onto the nose gear. Separate gear doors are also provided. It does not appear that one can build this with gear up unless a bit of extra work is done.

Instructions are well done and a bit on the minimal side as there are not all that many parts to this one. The kit provides markings for four aircraft.

1) Shenyang J-6 Farmer C, Red 10309, Chinese Air Force (PLAAF – Chung-kuo Shen Min Taie-Fang-Tsun Pu-tai), 1978

2) Shenyang F-6 Farmer C, Black 1911, No.19 ‘Phoenix’ Air Superiority Sq., Pakistani Air Force, Masroor Air Base, 1984

3) Shenyang F-6 Farmer C, Red 6023, 925th Fighter Regiment, North Vietnamese Air Force (VPAF – Vietnamese People’s Air Force), Yen Bai Air Base, 1969

4) Shenyang F-6 Farmer C, Red 3-77, Aviation Regiment 4020, Albanian Air Force (Aviacione Ushtarak Shquipëtare), Tirana-Rinas Air Base, 1993

Only the Pakistani plane is camouflaged with the rest of them being in unpainted metal. Generic color information is provided during the build and for the camouflage application. The decal sheet is very nicely done and choosing which one to do will be difficult for most as all four are well chosen.

I have built several Attack kits over the years and have found them to be quite nice. These look to be just as nice and are highly recommended for the 1/144 scale fan. I wish I could offer pricing info, but the 4plus publication web site does not offer that information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6