MiG-19 - Fake

[Bernard B]

IMHO this plastic model is inspired by the German Focke-Wulf Ta 183.

More likely the MiG-15, I would think. I have one of these that my younger brother built, perhaps around 1956? Incidentally, the MiG-15 went through a design stage that was not so similar to the Ta-183, so it is not clear how much influence, if any, was involved. Note similar ships from Lavochkin and Yak. I believe that the Tsiolkovski would work up an aerodynamic configuration, and different companies would use it as a starting point.

My personal theory is that Western intelligence heard about a twin-engined all weather fighter based on the MiG-15 and considered the part of the engines mounted in tandem as obvious Soviet disinformation, because who would do that. So they came up with a more plausible design, and called it MiG-19.

Not clear to me it had anything to do with official intel sources. Note that it does have a vague resemblence to a night fighter MiG built at the time.