MiG-21MF Interceptor

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale MiG-21BIS is available online from Squadron.com
  

Can it really be more than seven years since Eduard released their sublime 1/48 scale MiG-21MF? At the time it was a paragon of detail and subtle surface textures. The years have not dimmed its shine.

Now Eduard has released the first of their 1/72 scale MiG-21 family. They have once again chosen the MiG-21MF as the debut offering.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.

Approximately 60 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations more than six decades after its maiden flight. It set aviation records, became the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War and previously the longest production run of a combat aircraft, now exceeded by both the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Eduard's all-new 1/72 scale MiG-21MF Interceptor comprises 184 grey plastic parts (115 destined for the airframe and 69 on the dedicated ordnance sprue); 13 parts in clear, a colour photo-etched fret, self adhesive die-cut masks and markings for five aircraft.

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Thumbnail panels:

This kit represents the version built at the Gorky factory, which differed from the Moscow design in a number of ways.

Surface textures are exquisite. Panel lines are crisp and finely recessed, accompanied by subtle rivet lines. The big stobe lights here tend to exaggerate the effect in the photographs but take my word for it, the surface textures are restrained and world class.

Parts breakdown is straightforward and essentially the same as the 1/48 scale Eduard MiG-21s. The full-length fuselage is split into left and right halves, the wing features a full-span lower half and separate upper sections, and the fin, rudder and spine are moulded as one-piece.

Detail is as good as you'd expect. The cockpit is treated to an instant upgrade thanks to the colour photo-etched fret, which includes an instrument panel, side consoles and harness straps. The base for the instrument panel is a clear part. This clever piece of design means that the circular CRT remains clear, surrounded by the rest of the panel. As an option, a decal is available to apply over the clear instrument panel base part. The plastic pilot's seat looks great with its quilted backrest depicted convincingly.

Wheel well and undercarriage detail is excellent too.

Elevators and flaps are separate parts. The air brake may be posed open or closed. Options include two styles of wheel hub and Rocket Assisted Take-Off units.

The clear parts are thin and free from distortion. The windscreen is moulded separately so the canopy may be posed open or closed.

This is a long-run kit with all the luxuries you'd expect - locating pins, tabs and slots etc.

Self-adhesive canopy masks are provided for the canopy, the wheels and for the dielectric panels on the fin and the ventral strake.

The comprehensive ordnance sprue is made up from 69 parts and includes 800 litre external fuel tanks, 490 litre external fuel tanks, RS-2US, R-13, R-3S and R-60 rockets as well as a variety of pylons.

Instructions are supplied in a 24 page glossy booklet, which includes a full-colour marking guide, stencil placement and weapons placement.

Markings

Five varied and colourful marking options for export examples are provided. The main decal sheet is beautifully printed by Cartograf. The decals are glossy, colour saturation looks excellent and carrier film is thin.

The stencil data sheet has been printed in the Czech Republic. Once again, the quality of these looks excellent - readable under strong magnification for even the smallest markings.

Marking options are:

• MiG-21MF, C/n 96007600, No. 7600, 11. Pu?k Lotnictwa Mys´liwskiego, Mierze?cice, Poland, early 1990s. Overall bare metal.

  MiG-21MF, C/n 96004017, No. 4017, 9.slp/ 9. sbolp, Bechyne?, Czechoslovakia, early 1990s. Overall metallic light grey.

• MiG-21MF, C/n 96002170, No. 784, Jagdfliegergeschwader 3, Preschen, German Democratic Republic, late 1980s. Olive Drab and Green upper surfaces over Light Blue lower surfaces.

• MiG-21MF C/n 96006721, No. 6721, Regimentul 71 Aviat¸ie Vâna?toare, Câmpia Turzii Airbase, Romania,1990s.Overall metallic light grey.

• MiG-21MF, C/n 96005512, No. TZ-356, Senou Airbase, The Republic of Mali, 2006. Greens and browns over Light Blue.

Item No. 672180 - MiG-21MF Late Cockpit

Eduard has released simultaneously released several upgrades for their MiG-21MF kit, starting with a gorgeous BRASSIN cockpit.

This set provides:

• full cockpit with side panels and rear bulkhead

• seat with cushion and headrest

• instrument panel

• gunsight

• control stick

• colored and non-colored photo-etched details

Casting quality and detail are exquisite.

Item No. 672181 - MiG-21MF Exhaust Nozzle

Next up is a BRASSIN resin and photo-etched exhaust nozzle.

Although much of this will be hidden deep inside the fuselage, the detail is once again lovely.

What you will be able to see is certainly an improvement on the already very good plastic parts supplied in the kit.

Item No. 672182 - MiG-21MF Wheels

Resin replacement hubs and tyres with self-adhesive masking sheet.

Item No. 672184 - MiG-21MF Pylons

Resin replacement pylons are offered as a separate BRASSIN set.

No less than seven BRASSIN weapons sets are also available, including UB-16 and UB-32 rocket pods, which are not included in the kit.

Eduard's new 1/72 scale MiG-21MF Interceptor meets the same exemplary standards as its 1/48 scale forerunners. Surface detail is restrained and crisp, detail is fantastic - I particularly like the use of the colour photo-etched parts in the cockpit - and engineering is world-class. The inclusion of self-adhesive canopy masks is always a nice touch.

A whole bunch of plastic ordnance is also supplied in the new MiG-21MF kit, so you will have a big bonus for your spares box too.

This is a remarkable kit and I can't wait to build one!

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2018 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 June, 2018
Last updated 29 June, 2018

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