MiG-21MF Interceptor

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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

A significant Soviet jet aeroplane, the MiG21 must be familiar to most modellers. It has appeared in numerous forms since its operational debut in the late1950s, as a fighter, interceptor and fighter-bomber, right through the Cold War period. It was progressively updated and altered to suit the needs of the fifty air forces which eventually used it. Although production ceased in 1985, I’m sure there are still quite a few active in the back roads of many a small air force. After all, over 10600 were produced in the USSR, and an additional 194 in the former Czechoslovakia and 657 in India. It saw combat in a number of conflicts and is especially remembered for its role in the Vietnam War.

The 21MF was the principal Moscow-built version for export and 1300 were produced between 1965 and 1974. As such it could be armed with an impressive array of missiles to augment the cannon basic armament. Many ended up in the training role into this century in the USSR and many have found their way to small Third World air arms.

As befits such an important aircraft, it has been the subject of numerous kits in all the major scales. In the ‘one true scale’ over a dozen manufacturers have had a go, although some of them are ‘borrowed’ from earlier ones, sometimes with modifications or extra parts. I certainly recall the fairly basic ones from Airfix and Matchbox in the late 1960s. Until the arrival of the Eduard rendition in the past couple of years Revell had ruled the roost since the early Noughties, while the rather simplified Hasegawa/Acadamy/FROG had been more readily available. Eduard seem to be keen on getting the most from their moulds and this is yet another decal variation offering of the interceptor variant to follow on from the fighter-bomber and display models. In the wings are further variants so watch out for them if these are in your interest area. This is the third or fourth release of this kit. Those looking for embellishments should look at the extensive range of bits and bobs from the likes of Pavla and Quickboost but this kit contains more than enough quality parts to keep most of us very happy.

(Information from internet and kit instructions.)

The ProfiPack kits from this manufacturer represent a treat for modellers, containing as they do the standard kit but with the addition of colour PE, canopy masks and a big range of new/different/unusual decal choices and, in this case, a mind-boggling stencil array.

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The kit has been around for a short while now and comes in the usual sturdy top opening box with a nicely rendered CAD drawing of two Polish jets beating up a beach, no doubt frightening the bejesus out of the crowd of bathers!

This is not an aeroplane that I am familiar with and I was surprised at how small it is. Moulded in the usual dark grey, slightly shiny Eduard plastic, the parts exhibit the excellent fine details and scribing we have come to admire. Sprue gates are commendably fine and no flash is evident on any of the parts on the four large sprue that fill the box.

A very comprehensive 24 page A5 instruction manual explains in colour the construction of the kit in a number of stages, clearly delineating the differences for each of the five airframes catered for by the decals. Some 43 parts are not used in this kit so the spares box will be boosted.

Cockpit and undercarriage bay details are really nice and a great variety of weapons and tanks make up the possible stores. All colour details are clearly indicated in each step for Gunze and ModelMaster paints. The lovely PE set is pre-coloured and will enhance the cockpit, airframe and u/c bays no end.

No nose weight is mentioned and judging by the undercarriage geometry MAY not be needed but I would still suggest a bit of mass on top of part D69, the forward front undercarriage bay roof just in front of the cockpit.

One page of the instructions shows the possible arrangement of tankage and armament - very useful!! And there is page to show the locations of the masks as well.

Markings

A feature of this kit is the enormous sheet of stencils, and four pages of the instructions are devoted to the location of these on the airframe, pylons, tanks and weapons - that should keep the modeller occupied for a day, or two, or three in these isolation times! 

Note that the stencils are in two colours and their different usage to clearly stated for each decal choice.

The five main decal options are as follows, each having  a full-page colour set of drawings as well as a detailed explanation about the aircraft and its crew and uses - a great idea Eduard:

1. No. 7600 11 PLM, Poland early 1990 in NMF

2. No.4017 9. slp/9. sblolp, Czechoslovakia early 1990 in NMF

3. No.784 Jg3, GDR, late 1980 in two greens over pale blue

4. No.6721 Regimentul 71 Romania 1990 in NMF and

5. No.TZ-356 of The Republic of Mali, 2006 in two shades of Brown and two shades of Green over light blue.

This is a lovely detailed kit of this important Cold War fighter-bomber as used by a number of Soviet-bloc air forces, and, later, other air forces in the Third World.

The range of schemes should break the monotony of NMF that so many jets wore.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2020 by Graham Carter
Page Created 23 April, 2020
Last updated 24 April, 2020

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