-Mig-23s Nato codename 'Flogger B'. Another very accurate model from Hasegawa with excellent building and painting guide.
-Model comes only with Soviet Air Force fighter markings and with 4 A-A missiles. Camouflage is quite challenging to paint, it consists three components, brown, green and sand. But result is very impressive looking.
-You have to choose, if you put model at stand (not included in kit) you must put the fin (below fuselage) to 'fly' position, thought if plane is in the ground, the fin must be rotated to 90° side. The wings could be swept back or not.
-Decals are very good, and accurate, like whole model, it looks like a real thing. This is one of the best models in my inventory.
-Mig-23s Flogger-B is a variable sweep back wing fighter of Soviet Air Force developed as the successor of the Mig-21, poor radar power, short range, shortage in external store capacity, were improved to large extent in the Mig-23.Therefore, it is also capable as a support aircraft. This ground attack capability is further improved in the Mig-27 Flogger D.
Some background of MiG-23 Flogger;
-Quite early in its life it was realized that the MiG-21 has shortcomings in its payload/range performance, and in
early 1965 a requirement was issued for replacement to eliminate these problems. This resulted in two approaches
by the Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau. One of these was basically an enlarged version of the MiG-21 with two lift-jet
engines: identified by the NATO reporting name 'Faitless', it suffered the inherent weight/control problems
associated with this type of powerplant and was soon aboundened.
-The alternative Ye-23-11/1 prototype, with a variable-geometry wing to optimize low- and high-speed performance was first seen during Aviation Day flypast of 9 July 1967. Apart from its variable-geometry wing, the other notable feature was adoption of side inlets to allowincorporation of search radar in the nose and give greater fuselage volume for fuel.
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 prototype, powered by a 10000 kg (22046 lb) afterburning thrust Lyul'ka AL-7F-1
turbojet, was followed by small batches of the similar pre-production MiG-23S, and MiG-23SMwith four external pylons, all three being accorded the NATO reporting name 'Flogger-A'
-The MiG-23M 'Flogger-B' was the first series production version: entering service in 1972 it introduced the
10200 kg (22487 lb) afterburning thrust Khachaturov R-29-300 turbojet. The use of this lighter engine dictated that the wings
be moved forward about 0.61m (2 ft 0). Other changes included an increase of wing chord on the movable panels, a reduction in rear fuselage length, and adoption of a smaller dorsal fin. Introduced in about 1975, the MiG-23MFand MiG-23MS 'Flogger-E' are export versions of the MiG-23M with the 10000 kg (22046 lb) afterburning thrust
Tumanskii R-27F2M-300 turbojet and the less capable 'Jay bird' fire-control radar in place of the MiG-23M's Sapfir-23D-Sh
'High Lark' and no IR search/track system or Doppler navigation.
-From 1978 the MiG-23M was complemented by the MiG-23ML 'Flogger-G' improved and lightened model with a smaller dorsal fin, new nose landing gear, Sapfir-23ML lightweight radar, a anew undernose pod for the TP-23M IR search/
tracker system, and the Khachaturov R-35F-300 turbojet. In 1985 more than 2000 'Flogger-B' and 'Flogger-G' interceptors were estimated to be in Soviet air force use, and the variants are still the most important Russian interceptors in numerical terms.
-The latest version of the MiG-23 to be identified is the MiG-23MLD 'Flogger-K', a variant of the MiG-23ML with new IFF, outboard underwing harpoints, RWR and chaff/flare dispencers, and notches in the wing glove leading edges generate vortices which improve handling at high angles of attack.
Technical details:
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Powerplant: one 13000 kg (28660 lb) afterburning thrust Khachaturov R-35-300 turbojet
Performance: max speed Mach 2.35 or 1350 kt (2500 km/h; 1553 mph) at high altitude;
initial climb rate 47244 ft (14400 m) per minute; service ceiling 60695 ft (18500 m); combat radius
1150 km (715 miles) with six AAMs; ferry range 2820 km (1752 miles) with three drop tanks.
Weights: empty 10200 kg (22485 lb); maximum take-off 17800 kg (39250 lb)
Dimensions: span 13.96 m (45 ft 10 in) spread and 7.78 m (25 ft 6.25 in); lenght (including probe)
16.71 m (54 ft 10 in); height 4.82 m (15 ft 9.75 in); wing area 37.25 m² (402.0 sq ft) spread.
Armament: one 23-mm GSh-23L two-barrel cannon with 200 rounds; provision for up to 3000 kg
(6614 lb) of disposable stores, including AAMs, cannon pods, rocket-launcher pods, large-calibre
rockets, and bombs, carried on six external hardpoints.
