#172 Chengdu J-7EB
Building the Chengdu J-7EB as flown by the PLAAF Ba Yi Aerobatic Team. This is the Trumpeter 1:144 kit.
Notes
The Chengdu J-7EB is a specialized, unarmed aerobatic variant of the Chinese J-7 fighter jet (a derivative of the Soviet MiG-21). Built by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, it was exclusively used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) Ba Yi (August 1st) Aerobatics Team 八一飞行表演队 in the late 90s, from 1995/1996 to 2000.
Compared with standard operational J-7Es, the J-7EB is distinguished by:
- Removal of combat equipment (radar, cannon, missile systems) to reduce weight.
- Installation of smoke generation equipment.
- Optimized weight distribution for formation aerobatics.
- Distinctive red-and-white aerobatic paint scheme.
- Some aircraft reportedly had additional instrumentation for display flying.
The aircraft retained the double-delta (“cranked”) wing introduced on the J-7E, giving substantially better low-speed handling and turn performance than earlier MiG-21-derived J-7 variants.
The J-7EB was superseded by the J-7GB, an improved aerobatic version with revised avionics and systems. The J-7GB was used by the Ba Yi (August 1st) Aerobatics Team between 2001 and 2009.
The Kit
The PLAAF Aerobatics Team F-7EB (Air Ballet) Trumpeter No. 01326 1:144 is a 1999 tool and boxing of the J-7EB as used by the PLAAF August 1st Aerobatic Team. The “B” suffix from Biǎoyǎn (表演) meaning performance or show.
Trumpeter mark the kit as “F-7EB” in English, but I think this is a mistake. There was never an export version of the J-7EB (F-7EB), and in fact the Chinese on the box is correct: “歼-7EB” / Jiān-7EB / J-7EB”.
Unless you consider the kit itself to be the export.. in which case F-7EB would be right!
Paint Scheme
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuselage | White | H11 | |
| exhaust | Black | X-1 | RCM011 |
| livery | Red | X-7 | H23 |
| instrument panel | Flat Black | XF-1 | RCM033 |
| air intake, front lower fin | Olive Green | XF-58 | H64 |
| interior | H62 | ||
Pilot
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| uniform | Intermediate Blue | H56 | |
| flesh | Pale Brown | H44 | |
| helmet | Gloss White | H1 | |
| visor | Gloss Black | H2 |
Build Log
Fashioned a pilot with one of the figures from Diorama Human Soldier Yamada Kagaku No.3279 1:150
In-flight conversion requires closing the under carriage bays and filling hard mounting points:
- front wheel bay can be filled with kit part A4 (lugs trimmed)
- rear wheel bays largely filled by kit part A9 (cut in half, one for each side)
- mounting lugs from A15, A16 used to fill receptor holes
A bit of fit and fettling required to get the cockpit looking OK:
Primed and white all over:
Masking the flashy red livery:
A quick watercolour background:
Mounted in a frame from Daiso:
Final Gallery
Credits and References
- this project on scalemates
- The PLAAF Aerobatics Team F-7EB (Air Ballet) Trumpeter No. 01326 1:144
- on scalemates
- instructions
- Purchased from Miniature Hobby for SG$4.70 (Jul-2026).
- Diorama Human Soldier Yamada Kagaku No.3279 1:150
Research References
- Chengdu J-7 variants
- PLAAF August 1st Aerobatic Team
- August 1st Chengdu F-7EB Gallery
- Ba Yi (August 1st) Aerobatics Team 八一飞行表演队
Chinese PLAAF Chengdu J-7
YouTube by Aviation videos archives part4 1975-2015
Build References
F-7EB 1:144 Trumpeter inbox 4k
YouTube by Rafał Książek Rafhart
