Kitty Hawk's 1/48 Mig 25 Foxbat (Full Build)

[@henrikcarstensen2598]

Dear Greg. What a wonderfull Channel you have😊. I have learned SO much from you. To tackle such a difficult build, to that result only showes a TRUE master. After watching many of your difficult build, i finally finished my hasagawa 1/48 Tomcat. It was stored half build in a box, but you inspired me to crack on. Thank you very much Greg. Many greetings from Denmark😊

[@GregsModels]

You are very welcome👍

[@leglessinoz]

Makes one appreciate the quality of Tamiya kits.

[@jasonlee6744]

Hi Greg, fantastic build, your are truly skilful and patient. I thought I had it bad with my 1/48 Hobbyboss F-105 G, worse kit I have ever built, yet when finished it’s turned out to be one of my favourites!!! I’m just building the old 1/35 Academy Ah-1w and although the new ‘Zulu’ kit is out and is lovely, like you say, if I had purchased and built that I would never have made the old ‘Whiskey’ One. It’s not without its faults, but your build has has made me stop complaining and get on with it. Thanks for sharing your work Greg, your a real inspiration. Jason

[@GregsModels]

Anytime Jason, it's funny the ones that give you grief you tend to like the most 👍

[@julianmhall]

Very good point regarding mixing colours, and I agree. Why pay a couple of quid for a pot of paint in a colour you will only use once, or so infrequently by the time you need it again it will be rock hard? Additionally the advised colour may just be a 'best guess' from the range, and you can get a closer match to the proper colour by mixing it yourself. Finally, hopefully rarer, the advised colour may just be /wrong/, and you can mix the right colour by hand. I would suggest a swatch on a spare bit of plastic, trying out a couple of mixes, letting them dry, and seeing what looks best. Then mix a batch of that one. It will take longer but you'll end up with a better looking model. You could always use paint stripper to clean off the swatch and reuse it too :)

[@tonerotonero1375]

The afterburner section is the trademark of this beast. Very neat job as usual, gorgeous, congratulations.

[@mikefm4]

This could have been two full hours longer and I’d have enjoyed it! What a treat watching you give a proper treatment to a flawed Foxbat kit.

[@GregsModels]

Cheers Michael 👍

[@jonwills9160]

Thanks for this video Greg. I've got this kit to build and it's great to get the inside track on tricky bits and pieces. Will probably go for the resin nozzle set!

[@GregsModels]

Have fun!

[@robbo1068]

Super job on this kit....especially overcoming both the inaccuracy and fit fit issues resulting in a beautifully finished Mig. Regardless of the problems, you must be feeling very satisfied with the eventual outcome. Thank you for showing us how to adapt and persevere....will look forward to seeing the next notification.

[@GregsModels]

cheers

[@michaelshort7297]

The paint at the back on the engines is pretty bad ass! Mean looking fighter this thing is a beast!

[@craigjewkes]

Great build Greg. I picked one of these up off Ebay for 30 quid and now I understand the reason why!! I love the way you mix your colours from a base set of colours.

[@daneshivers2921]

Recently I picked up the Revell rebox of the Mig-25 and was reviewing your vid to see if any of your fantistic mods could be used to make THIS kit as good as yours, many thanks, Dane

[@LTModels]

Kitty Hawk-0 vs Greg-1 what a great way to show that if one perseveres and has a LOT of patience, you can build about anything you want. Great job on the build Greg!! And thanks for sharing this.

[@scaleartsg]

always looking forward to your video tutorials!

[@donfrandsen7778]

Very beautifully painted as well, interesting approach , very cool, Washes and metalized effects!! Cheers!!!!! I agree on the "1/32nd" scale foxbat , if there was such a beast....no fit issues(lol), you mastered those on that kit beautifully!!!!

[@GregsModels]

cheers

[@quijohnjinn]

Greg, you did an amazing job!!!!

[@RobSchofield]

Masterful build, excellent result.

[@TheWGLOVER]

That is modelling. A good kit just requires assembling. Great job. I learned a lot from that.

[@willrodster]

Fantastic build. You sir, definitely know your stuff. Congrats 👍

[@scalestuff1066]

Great work on this build mate looks awesome nice finish

[@bugler75]

Wow, that’s called perseverance ! Great result too😊👍🏼 Ian

[@angusdeadman6425]

What a beautiful build!

[@milpopo]

Genuinely felt your pain and frustration with this build... great commitment and end result!👍

[@rodrigovivas4148]

Awesome build with a not so awesome kit. You're a great builder

[@VonDrinkoften]

Fabulous looking build... but geeze, what a nightmare to assemble!

[@craigwest8386]

Thanks for doing this one. Got one sitting on my shelf too. Now I have inspiration to tackle mine.

[@eddielane72]

Once again.. thanks again for sharing your amazing talent. Your patience and attention to detail is admirable. Tremendous work. Once again thankyou!

[@firstnamelastname1101]

Very good idea to make sprue goo on the fly from kit styrene - this makes perfect sense. I must use this technique. And as always, great build. You sure know how to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

[@joshuaharlow4241]

Thanks for sharing all the tips and fixes! I learned a lot, just watching this video.

[@normansmith8184]

How to make a Mig Foxbat out of a sow's ear. Great stuff Greg.

[@GregsModels]

Thanks Norman, never again😂

[@johntreloar8203]

Considering all the issues with the kit, I'd say you pulled it off, very good end results.

[@PeteCourtier]

What a beauty👍 Thanks for sharing another superb build.

[@markryan9708]

Superb work. Like the approach and adding of gussets etc 🙂

[@wigglesend]

Absolutely awesome result on what looks to have been a really challenging kit. Very impressed 👍

[@martinjanik9221]

Well done!!!! Beautiful job mate!!!!

[@GregsModels]

Thank you

[@jcgabis4962]

Oh I just love a MiG! Great video.it’s nice to see some take on some of these (kitty Hawk’s) with out Bitch’n. I enjoyed your seeing the issues with the kit taken on with scratch building skills. Absolutely love it. : )

[@waynesmodels2064]

Another masterful build and finish in spite of the challenges. I'm a real fan of the1:1 version of this game-changing beast myself and hope to model it one day. Enjoyed watching, thanks for sharing.

[@thethirdman225]

Skills! You made it look easy, Greg.

[@GregsModels]

Thank you

[@soupfork2105]

Good solution on the intake width, I'll remember that!

[@dradden1556]

You do some amazing work. Very educational vids as well. Thank you 👍

[@crtzmo]

FOXBAT!! Awesome - tx Greg!

[@cdpgbc-mw2kz]

Canadian viewer.....what a fabulous job you did building Mig 25 ' Frankenstein ' Foxbat. I know if I attempted to build this kit, its maiden flight, and only partially assembled, at that, would be in to my den wall. New subscriber. Keep up the great work. I like that you mix your own colors. I need to try doing that.

[@user-tl5fi9lz9z]

Silk purse out of a sow's ear.

[@tonydrake462]

just finished this myself - like you, I got it when it came out, and didn't want to bin it - I'd also got the excellent ICM kit too, and knew if I did that I wouldn't tackle this dog. I had all the same issues, but left the engine rear as is, and didn't know about the eduard intake fix (damn) - I never got the wings right, but are happy it's all done now... Wish I had this video at the start though!! Well done... So, if you have this kit, follow these fixes, if not, BUY the ICM Mig25.

[@GregsModels]

Yes I was stuck with an expensive lemon.

[@BIGM-gg9ln]

great build-never saw one with a belly tank.

[@singaporesling4951]

Gregg, you deserve a pint of the finest! Despite this being a dog of a kit (I really don't understand KH'sunrelenting engineering snafus) you pressed on till the end. I think I would have binned mine after the afterburner fiasco. No excessive moaning, just got on with it till it was done. Great finish, even greater attitude. 2 thumbs up!

[@GregsModels]

Thank you 👍

[@niceslippers]

I hear this kit is part of the next SAS selection course. Great work as usual Greg 👍

[@SmokingBeagles]

I absolutely adore the shade of a Russian cockpit. Ever since I had the chance to compare MS Flight Sim 95 and Hind 97, a then 8 year old me thought all panels globally should be a deep, calming cerulean! You absolutely mastered this build mate, made it your own in a way a lot of people wouldn't have been able to pull together. It's one of my favourite aircraft but I might see if there are any less challenging kits for someone as rusty as me lol

[@GregsModels]

If you're going to build a 1/48 Foxbat consider the ICM kit or Revell (re-box ICM). Avoid the Kitty Hawk kit like the plague 😎

[@SmokingBeagles]

@@GregsModels great advice, thank you!

[@allanrichards6448]

Despite the fight with the fits in the kit you came out with a very nice looking model. I think over the years I have made a lot of old kits where the fit and lack of detail is often a big problem, so I think I am quite tolerant of this issue now. I wouldn't be if I had paid what some of these modern kits cost though.

[@danielcgomez]

Nice! ...I Love the Foxbat ...2 massive engines with wings riveted onto them!

[@UncleTadhg]

Superb build! Absolutely outstanding. I've yet to hear one good thing about these Kitty Hawk kits, however.

[@daneshivers2921]

Loved your colour shading around the engines...beautiful touch, Greg. My opinions about Kittyhawk kits are mostly unprintable, but I have yet to build one without fit issues. For the money they are overpriced but unfortunately sometimes the only kit available. Lovely overall job on this one and thanks for showing us your "fixes". I have always been a Foxbat fan.

[@GregsModels]

Thank you 👍

[@chancerNW]

Looks like you had real fun with this build. Its a good Foxbat rendition for 1/48. Well done on working through all the issues. I recently completed the ICM1/72 Mig 25 RBF.

[@GregsModels]

You ended up with great results though

[@clydesims5121]

Great job. I learn a lot from your trouble shooting methods.

[@tonyperez4791]

Great build Greg !!!! Hope you have a great /safe weekend ! Tony

[@GregsModels]

Thanks, you too!

[@apiaristicone9585]

not only great model making skills... a masterclass for any foreign folk wanting to learn the nuances of the English Language eg jiggery pokery 8) great video Greg

[@GregsModels]

It was working with Ex RAF bods in the aerospace workplace. You pick up all sorts of technical terms from them 🤣🤣

[@RimsModels]

Stunning build there my friend looks amazing 👍👍

[@robertgriffin662]

Awesome man! Enjoy the video. Like that you explain the process and no loud stupid music!

[@leonardwilliams8109]

Beautiful build!

[@SprueFascinationChannel]

You`ve handled it very well, Greg 👏

[@GregsModels]

Thank you 👍

[@raytheron]

I also love the Foxbat. Your build just showed once again that, if a modeller has the skills and the will, he can build something beautiful from even a poor kit. It's all a question of where you draw the line between challenge and giving up. I make a point of never allowing myself to be influenced by what others say about a kit, but to go ahead and try my damnedest. Not everyone wants to go the extra mile, I know, and that's fine, but I find I get much more enjoyment from finishing a difficult kit.

[@GregsModels]

Cheers Ray

[@guaporeturns9472]

Good work.. turned out pretty good in my eyes

[@edmachado22]

It is not a kit for beginners however in your hands it seems easy 😮 , congratulations for the excellent work.👍👌 cheers Ed

[@GregsModels]

Thanks 👍

Wow. Fantastic work Greg. Great Foxbat. Stay safe. Greetings. Aleš 😎👍

[@maximsinitsa9514]

Nice build, Greg. Thank you. However, there is one thing that I have to note. You have cut the engine tubes, which, well, not correct. Mig-25 has two colossal R15B-300 engines with enormous afterburners. In the real plane, those afterburners end far close to the front of the fuselage, approximately level with the anterior end of the vertical stabilizer. So, Kitty Hawk did it right.

[@gavinbooth]

Marra i have limited budget and limited build skills so its a lesson for me , research a kit first ! As always Greg its great to see you overcome any type of fit issue . Regards Gav.

[@GregsModels]

Hi Gav hope the world is treating you right. Yes, limited funds mean I have to improvise it would be nice to afford all the upgrades or correction parts to most kits on offer today. As for research, there's always something I miss, I can't see the woods for the trees sometimes. As one KZbinr has said I'm getting too old to worry about imperfections in models I just like to build them as they come. An ethos I'm liking more and more. Stay safe bud.

[@Steven197106]

Very nice build the kit you wanted is the ICM MIG-25.

[@GregsModels]

👍

[@fabiosilva3799]

A work of art ... congratulations !!! Please, a video of the assembly of the 1/48 Kinetic kit of the Mirage IIIE Thank you.

[@GregsModels]

I've made at note

[@dlthomson5287]

Great build Greg. Modeling is supose to be relaxing and I expect to find the odd minor fit issues but when you have to go and start cutting the kit to correct the mistakes by the manufacturer relaxing goes out the window! Seeing you build larger kits have you given any thought to tackling the new Airfix 1/24 scale Typhoon ? Looking forward to your next build.

[@GregsModels]

It's sat on my shelf in the box gathering dust. One day, maybe 👍

[@stevepritchard3970]

Nice build Greg - you certainly beat that kit into submission - you are a glutton for punishment.

[@brandenbrown5351]

Certainly should do another foxbat! I really enjoyed this video. Guess I need to get back after my mig 25.

[@lucferrari3109]

A lot of effort you put in this build.Nice result.I hope my AMK mig 31 would be easyer

[@ryburnsjr]

Nicely done sir

[@georgeb.311]

Really lovely work.

[@johndillon8051]

Thanks very much for creating this video. I have the kit and know many of the issues that it has but seeing your solutions certainly will help. The Eduard intake was new to me and I'll definitely pick one up along with a resin afterburner and exhaust. I'm currently working on the ancient Revell 1/48 Mig-29 and I know I'm not going to be up for another afterburner and exhausts rebuild (did I mention all of scribing I had to do?).

[@donfrandsen7778]

Excellent construction tips and techniques, thank you. I do love to get a MIG 25 kit. Although i am an 1/35th guy. But you did very well mate. Excellent improvisation and scratch building designs to fix flaws, Did you have good ref photos? Cool!!!!!

[@GregsModels]

Only what was on the internet. Sometimes it's better not to look too hard otherwise the kit would have gone back on the shelf 😂

[@julianmhall]

Just a thought regarding any part that may need bending. If possible heat it first so there's less force required to bend it? Then let it cool at the right angle. Also heating it may reduce the chance of it just snapping.

[@danofort]

Well done. I reckon this kit is beyond my skill. I just want to build a bigger version of this big ox of a plane.

[@darkknight1340]

Beautiful job,I find it unfortunate that Kittyhawk kits( at least the ones I have built) tend to have a number of fit issues,the details generally look fantastic but can be marred by those issues,the most numerous issues I found were on their 1/32 Bronco,looked fantastic on the sprues but was particularly bad with the wing to fuselage and outer wing to tail boom alignment.Your fantastic work on the Foxbat has given me the inspiration to try my kittyhawk 1/48 Jaguar,maybe it will buck the fit issues trend!.

[@GregsModels]

I had the Jag GR.1/GR.3 kit sat around for some years. And then for some reason got rid of it, looked like a detailed kit.

[@darkknight1340]

@@GregsModels Yes,it is highly detailed with both engines included,the landing gear is highly detailed also,unfortunately,I tried dry fitting the main gear components and the fit is very bad.

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Great work. 👍👍

[@phil2105]

Cracking job Greg, you've turned a dog of a kit into a masterpiece. What glue do you use to attach the painted parts at the end?

[@GregsModels]

It varies but mainly Tamiya extra thin. If I think that at some point I want to remove a part, for whatever reason, I'll use PVA glue.

[@phil2105]

@@GregsModels Nice one cheers for the reply, I'm always scared I'll mess up the paint if I use extra thin!

[@deltic5514]

I had massive nose issues with this kit. got them sorted with a lot of sanding and filling wish i'd watched this first

[@nickjones6065]

Bloody fantastic!

[@tesarus8461]

Amazing job and such a stunning plane! I remember walking around it on the airfield when I was a kid - it looked absolutely monstrous! For a kid nozzles looked like portals from another dimension so big they were. Such a shame that the kit quality is so poor and from what I've heard, ICM kit is not much better :(

[@GregsModels]

Yes the ICM kit is miles better.

[@keithm.404]

Scrapheap challenge 🤣 lovely build!

[@JASHVEER22]

ICM kit - MIG 25 AMK kit- MIG 31 GWH kit-Su 35 Kitty Hawk-SU 30SM Minibase-Su 33 That's imho the best kits for the aircraft type

[@discotrucker9740]

I completely agree with you, ICM did great job while doing Mig-25 series.

[@karljones9357]

Hi Greg. Fantastic build and you really know what’s what. I was wondering how you became so knowledgeable on the aircraft you build and how you come about fixing the flaws in the models. Is there a specific website that goes to great detail on each plane or is searching through endless photos. I only ask as I’m new-ish to the hobby and my models come out ok but not fantastic. Thank you for sharing. Look forward to you next build.

[@GregsModels]

I'm no expert it's mainly the internet, thankfully, and many years of buying books on various aircraft 👍

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

I had no idea Ukraine operated the MiG-25 until I saw your instruction booklet and looked it up on the Wiki.

[@simonloxton4246]

Nicely done.

[@hawrermctez]

By Hades, that was a treat!

[@midnightmodeling1639]

Great review, thank you.

[@geralddecelles77]

Another fantastic build. I am currently wrestling with their 1/32 F86k. I am wondering if I could ask what you used to thin the paint you used to brush on the panel highlights. I think you were using Tamiya acrylic and it seem to brush on quite smooth. Again, great video!

[@GregsModels]

Its the sameTamiya paint and consistency I used through the airbrush for the first coat. The mix is applied by brush for the highlights. I must do a video on this at some point to make the procces clearer. Hope this helps

[@geralddecelles77]

@@GregsModels It does, thank you very much.

[@ДжонПартлов]

Trying to decide between this kit or the revel Germany kit thoughts /opinions? Does the revell kit have the fitment issues like this one? And where do you find the printed parts/resin replacements? Not new to modeling but am not familiar with the rain replacement parts or any model additions that have come about in the last 25 years.

[@GregsModels]

The Revell re-box of ICM's Mig 25 RBT kit is a great kit. But I think the Mig 25 PD is quite an old kit with raised lines, lots of reviews online for both kits.

[@philippg873]

You made a great job! I made the double seater and had the same problems. I cannot understand, why they made the airintakes that wrong. The shape of it is completly wrong and the main issue in my opinion is the fact, that this airplane cannot close its intakes complete like a Mig-29 (without this red things) and you can build it only closed. There is no option to make it open. I had to scratch it.

[@GregsModels]

A major job to show the intakes open, not for the faint-hearted.

[@johnwheeler3023]

Yes! 1/32 of this brute would be epic! With the decals. Are you able to varnish, apply decals then wash over? I noticed the "pop" on the color difference in the panel lines. Just curious about how you would blend them in. Great build, sir. Thank you.

[@GregsModels]

I varnished the water based wash just so I didn't reactive the wash when applying the decals. The decals were then sealed with another coat of varnish. After that I added a little more weathering in the form of water based washes and oils. These are not sealed in with varnish. Hope this helps.

[@johnwheeler3023]

Awesome. Cheers.

[@dr.doppeldecker3832]

The Foxbat from ICM is pretty good imho. I didnt had any fit issues with it.

[@GregsModels]

Yes its a better kit

[@jcwoodman5285]

Nice!🤗

[@anthonyfursey5505]

Very nice

[@grahamkylevulcan4340]

Hola, Greg! Is it possibly XM607 the Vulcan in the background? Nice poster, my mate. A little bit late now, but did you know that I grafted the XMM resin intakes devised for the ICM Foxbat onto the Kitty Hawk kit? I knew they would fit the minute I saw them on their page. Almost got the ones from Shapeways which they cost almost $75! XMM's were $18 + shipping, IIRC... Stay safe.

[@GregsModels]

No, not too sure on the serial number, around 1973 the pic was taken.

[@denniseichert4427]

I would be interested to see what you could do with poor old Revells' Super Hornet.....

[@huatongleong3674]

Fitting of this kittyhawk kit is as usual generally bad. Lots of frustrating trimming and improvisation are required.