Hobby 2000 48008 - 1:48 MiG-15bis / LIM-2

Plastic model kit of the MiG-15bis / Lim-2 jet fighter in 1:48 scale

Hobby 2000 48008 is a self-assembly kit of the MiG-15bis jet fighter and its Polish licence-built counterpart, the Lim-2, produced by WSK Mielec.

The kit is based on Bronco plastic from tooling developed in 2020, offering movable flaps, ailerons and rudder, a choice of underwing fuel tanks and a two-piece cockpit canopy. Hobby 2000 has added its own box, illustrated assembly instructions, self-adhesive masks for the glazing and a sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf.

The decal sheet includes markings for Polish Lim-2s — MiG-15bis fighters built under licence by WSK Mielec from 1954.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts covering the airframe, cockpit interior and landing gear
• Movable flaps, ailerons and rudder
• Two-piece cockpit canopy
• A choice of underwing fuel tanks
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decals printed by Cartograf
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalogue number: 48008
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled model length: approx. 211 mm
• Assembled model wingspan: approx. 210 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The model comes from tooling developed in 2020 and offers a well detailed airframe with fine recessed panel lines. Movable flaps, ailerons and rudder allow the aircraft to be posed on the ground with the control surfaces deflected, while the two-piece canopy makes it possible to display the cockpit interior. It is worth painting and finishing the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves. The intake duct running through the whole fuselage, so characteristic of the MiG-15, calls for careful seam clean-up and painting before the fuselage is closed, as it is visible through the nose intake.

Most aircraft of this type wore a natural metal finish, so metallic lacquers (for example from the Alclad II or AK Xtreme Metal ranges) sprayed over a smooth gloss base work very well, and varying the shade of individual panels gives a striking result. Applying the decals over a gloss coat is recommended to reduce the risk of silvering, with a satin varnish for the final finish. A light panel wash and subtle staining around the jet exhaust complete the effect.

Tools required:

• Modelling sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in assorted sizes or an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• Panel wash to emphasise details and panel lines

About the aircraft – MiG-15bis:

The MiG-15bis was a development of the fighter that stunned Western air forces over Korea in 1950. The original MiG-15 was created by the Mikoyan and Gurevich design bureau in the second half of the 1940s and first flew on 30 December 1947. Its distinctive wing swept at 35 degrees, barrel-shaped fuselage with a nose intake and high-set tail gave the aircraft excellent rate of climb and a high service ceiling.

The bis version entered production in 1950. The key change was the new VK-1 engine, offering markedly more thrust than the powerplant of the first MiG-15s and raising both top speed and ceiling. The airframe was strengthened, the air brakes and control system were revised, and the 23 mm cannon were replaced by the faster-firing NR-23. The armament remained optimised for destroying bombers: one 37 mm and two 23 mm cannon mounted on a lowerable gun tray, which greatly simplified ground servicing.

The MiG-15bis became the standard fighter of the Warsaw Pact air forces. In Poland it was licence-built by WSK Mielec from 1954 as the Lim-2 (from 'licencyjny myśliwiec', licence-built fighter), and in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody as the S-103. Together with licence production in Poland, Czechoslovakia and China, over 18,000 examples of the whole MiG-15 family were completed, making it one of the most widely built jet aircraft in history. The type flew with dozens of air forces, in many cases into the 1970s and 1980s.

Original aircraft specifications (MiG-15bis):

• Length: 10.11 m
• Wingspan: 10.08 m
• Height: 3.70 m
• Wing area: approx. 20.6 sq m
• Empty weight: approx. 3,680 kg
• Take-off weight: up to approx. 6,100 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: VK-1 turbojet of approx. 26.5 kN thrust
• Maximum speed: approx. 1,075 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 15,500 m
• Range: approx. 1,330 km with underwing fuel tanks
• Armament: one 37 mm N-37 cannon and two 23 mm NR-23 cannon
• Production: MiG-15 family — over 18,000 aircraft including licence production

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that specialises in preparing its own boxings of plastic kits. Its releases follow a re-issue formula: the plastic parts come from established kit manufacturers, while Hobby 2000 adds its own box, illustrated assembly instructions, a fresh decal sheet printed by the Italian printing house Cartograf and — in most aircraft kits — self-adhesive masks for the glazing. The result combines proven tooling with a decal sheet developed for one narrowly defined subject. The company's catalogue covers 1:72, 1:48, 1:35 and 1:32, with a clear emphasis on Second World War and Cold War aviation. A hallmark of the range is its thematic approach: individual boxings are devoted to a single front, campaign, unit or operator of a given type, frequently with Polish connections. Cartograf decals offer a thin carrier film, crisp printing and accurate colour registration, which makes applying the markings straightforward and helps avoid silvering. Hobby 2000 kits are produced in limited runs and many titles do not return to the market once sold out. Today the company is one of the most recognisable Polish publishers of plastic kits, stocked by model shops across Europe.