Mark I 1/144 Shenyang J-6A/Nanchang J-6B
By Matt Bittner
Introduction
The Shenyang J-6 series of aircraft were licensed copies of the Russian MiG-19PF. However, since Russia retired their MiG-19s early, the J-6 series continues into today with some air forces.
The Kit
The Mark I 1/144 Shenyang J-6A/Nanchang J-6B consists of 30 pieces of gray, injected plastic, 10 pieces of resin and an injected plastic canopy. Decals are for all Chinese machines:
- Shenyang J-6A Farmer B, Chinese AF, early 1970s (finished in dark blue, light blue, sand, light gray and natural metal)
- Shenyang J-6A Farmer B, Chinese AF, the 1980s (left in natural metal)
- Shenyang J-6A Farmer B, Chinese AF, late 1960s (left in natural metal)
- Nanchang J-6B Farmer D, 3rd Fighter Regiment, 1st Division, Chinese AF, late 1970s (left in natural metal)
The decals are really well done and appear to be in register.
The first step of construction has you assemble everything to make an entire airframe. The resin cockpit tub is first inserted into a fuselage half, along with the "blades" for the exhaust, and while the instructions don't mention it, you will need some weight in the nose to keep it correctly on its landing gear. While this step of construction has you cut what I believe are flash suppressors from the molded-on wing guns, I would check references first. I have seen pictures of J-6s with those suppressors still attached.
One other aspect I would wait for is gluing on the one-piece nose gear. The instructions have you attach that at this stage, but I would keep it off until after painting.
The second step of construction has you add the rest of the landing gear, landing gear doors and external fuel tanks with their pylons. While I would add the pylons at this time, the rest I would keep off until the end.
The final step on the instruction sheet has you add the rest of the external stores. Again, add the pylons but keep off the actual stores until the very end. Mark I provides missiles and what appear to be rocket pods. The instructions show you how the two different aircraft (J-6A and J-6B) differed in their application of the stores, so definitely follow the directions.
Conclusion
This is an excellent kit! If it goes together as well as their FT-6 then there should be no problems and you'll have an excellent rendition of the Shenyang J-6 in 1/144. One item to note, though. Mark I does not provide the nose probe/pitot tube, so you'll need to fashion that yourself. In addition, like their FT-6, I feel the wing fences aren't tall enough on the kit, so you might want to replace those as well.
A definite "thank you" to Kits-Shop for providing this kit for review.
