From “Aurora Models” By, Thomas Graham, Schiffer publications (Pg.10). “One of Aurora’s most popular early kits depicted an airplane that never existed. In June of 1953 Aurora released the Yak-25 (#66), described as one of the Soviet Union’s latest and most dangerous fighters. Aurora subscribed to all the airplane and popular science magazines, as well as Janes military hardware books. These had carried stories of a rumored Russian fighter that would replace the Mig-15. However, the stories proved nothing more than rumors (typical of the media). In 1954 Aurora changed the name on its kit box to Mig-19 and continued to sell it until 1970.”

There isn’t really a big history for a fictitious fighter. Was it a Yak-25 or a Mig-19? Most of us know that neither plane looks like this kit. However,…

Kurt Tank was the genius behind Focke Wulf working on many projects (FW-190 and Ta-152 for example) including the Ta 183 which looks very similar to this “Mig-19”, with swept back wings and a long arching tail.

Kurt Tank escaped to Argentina at the end of WWII and built the FMA IAe 33. Pilqui II. This plane is the TA 183 with shoulder mounted wings and different landing gear. As you will discover 3 prototypes fatally crashed and Argentina never brought the plane into full production. The technology was used by many countries including the USSR and USA, in the form of the Lavochkin La-15, Mig-15 and 17, while the US produced the F-86, F-84, and others. All of these had similar characteristics.

Those of us who have seen this kit in the box marveled at the green metallic plastic. We all knew this kit was archaic and would never be built, but it was a nice kit to see modeling history – after all it is over 70 years old. It’s rare that someone wants to build this kit.

For years I kept kicking this kit in a bag and finally decided to get under the bench to see what it was. Among other kits was this Mig-19 partly built and actually had all the parts. It was not painted but had decals on it. All parts were glued together with just enough glue to hold. The landing gear was already broken off in the bag so it was not difficult to dissect the model back into its original parts except the rockets on the wings (well glued and would not detach).

The kit is VERY thick plastic which brings back long faded memories. Typical of Aurora to mold their kits in odd color plastic like a metallic red Me-109, and this “Creature from the Black Lagoon” green metallic plastic Mig-19.

I have rarely seen pictures of this kit built – much less in a camo or silver aluminum.

This kit is very basic. 2 wings, 2 fuselage halves, elevator landing gear, and canopy. No cockpit and no wheel wells. Without an instruction sheet, I evaluated all the parts and what I needed to clean up. A sanding stick cleaned up all the rough edges and glue at the contact points. Then dry fitting the parts back together other fit problems were easily corrected.

I decided to build the model most of us imagined the completed kit to be - dressed in its metallic green. In short, I made a model of a kit.

First, I needed to take it apart. The original builder only used a dot of tube glue to hold everything. By slipping an X-Acto knife into the seams and a quick twist popped the plane apart. It’s not often you need to take a kit apart to put it back together. Next was the need to get the decals off. Testors ELO made that an easy task.

The first thing I needed to deal with were the two fuselage halves. The fuselage is totally hollow and can see straight through. But I knew the model needed a nose weight and I used enough clay to block the view with 3, .45 cal. bullets. It’s a very tail-heavy model.

The fuselage halves glued together with no problems, but some seams would not close, and some areas were mis-aligned originally. Sanding and filling were easy without wings attached. After attaching the wings, I discovered a major gap at the wing roots. This took a lot of filling with stretched sprue, putty and more sanding. The remaining parts like landing gear and elevator were attached with Super Glue.

How do you describe the color of “Aurora Creature from the Black Lagoon” Metallic Green, to a hobby shop Clerk? Don’t try. “Tamiya TS-20 Metallic Green” was nearly an exact color. But the paint is actually clear-ish green metallic. After the first coat I could see though to the putty on the seams. 3 more coats and I had exactly what I was looking for.

The rest was easy, black nose, tires and wells, green for the wheel hubs, silver for the struts, and puke green for the interior gear doors.

Decals were a problem. It’s nearly impossible to find any original kit decals in usable condition. Techmod (#48020) produces Soviet Red stars, and many were a near perfect fit. They laid down nicely with a touch of Micro-Sol. Thank heaven Aurora made raised decal placements for early modelers. I masked off the number 8 on the nose and airbrushed it white.

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda:

The kit build is nothing serious. Any modeler of any experience can build it. It just takes time, patients and a lot of sanding sticks. But if I had to do it all over again, I’d put down a primer color on the kit before the green. The primer would make the background of the Tamiya paint brighter and probably look even closer to the original plastic color. The primer would also help expose flaws before applying the green.

As noted above, I have never seen this model built, much less in some sort of realistic paint or markings. Why should I destroy a beautiful green legend. It’s so cool sitting in a box unbuilt, but cooler when built.

So, as I take leave of this model to collect dust along with my other models on the shelf, please accept these parting words:

Alas, Dear Mig…You came to us without a box, decals or instructions. You were born a mutant and spawned with the likes of a green aquatic Creature. You were homeless, rejected, and abused. So, now dry your eyes ye hapless wanderer! Thou hath been adopted into the caring arms of the Classic Model Builder’s Brotherhood just as you are, and now made whole. (sniff!)

FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II - Wikipedia

Focke-Wulf Ta 183 - Wikipedia

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 - Wikipedia

Yak 25, Aurora 66-69 (1953) (scalemates.com) 

Chris Mikesh

26 July 2024

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