MiG-15

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

The MiG-15 needs little introduction so I won’t.

Suffice to say that it has been well-served by model manufacturers (curiously not FROG) over the decades in the “one true scale",  beginning with the simplified Airfix one in the late fifties and a much praised one more recently, just about everyone else has had a go at it from the simplified but quite nice HobbyBoss effort to this latest series from Eduard who have basically set the bar about as high as it can go. This is the latest iteration of the kit, probably about the eleventh from what I can see, with the initial plastic appearing in 2012, with new parts being introduced at intervals since then. Brett reviewed one back on February 5th 2014 and I can do no more than repeat all he said then as nothing bar the decal choices have changed. For more information go back eight years and look at Brett’s detailed review or to my own look at the ‘bis’ Profipack version a couple of years back.

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Just to remind everyone of what is in the Weekend Edition version - all the lovely parts, a new set of four decal choices, but no PE or masks. The parts continue to show excellent production control as I could find almost no seams that will need removal . One of the decal schemes would severely test the modeller’s ability to build in a weekend, and that is the one illustrated on the box! Speaking of which, this kit has a nice strong top-opening one.

Points I would like to reiterate are that there are a number of parts not used in this version so be careful making your choices - these all have a landing light in the splitter body in the nose that requires careful painting of the clear nose insert. Cram as much weight as you can into the two spaces indicated by the Bunny on page 4- this is one serious tail-sitter!  Instructions fill a twenty-page A4 stapled booklet with the last page contains information about in-house add-ons should you want to enhance the kit parts.

There is a choice of under-wing tanks and the location of these is clearly indicated. Similarly there are two variations of wheel centres but no indication of which aircraft uses which. I like the way Eduard make these separate from the tyres to make painting that much easier. The set of bombs and racks will go into your spares box.

Decals are provided for four aircraft, each with details of who and where it was used.

In addition there is a very detailed set of stencils which will keep you occupied for a while or two.

Do note that there are choices to be made as they differ from one aircraft user to another - all explained in the four pages covering stencil locations for Russian and Czech users.

The choices are:

1. ‘1303’ of 3 Fighter Air Regiment, Czechoslovakia in 1958 in an overall NMF and blue checked scheme as part of a display team that critically crashed together with only this craft’s pilot surviving,

2. ‘634’ flown by Maj. Kolyadin of the 28 GIAP, 151 GAID 64 AIK in China November 1950 in Chinese marks, overall NMF with red and white rudder stripes,

3. ‘EP 01’ of 1 Fighter Air Division in Czech Air Force , September 1955, in  temporary red upper surfaces over NMF under and

4. ‘611’ of the Romanian Air Force in the late 1950s, in overall NMF with a blue lightning flash along the fuselage.

Here I quote Brett from 5/2/14:

“the MiG-15 is one of the truly iconic aircraft of history, and it is nice to see that Eduard has given it the treatment it deserves in 1/72 scale. This was basic aircraft in real life and Eduard’s kit should reflect its simple nature with and easy, but well-detailed build.

Highly recommended.”

And I might add that it great to see further iteration of this kit available again!

Thanks to Clear Prop! for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2022 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 22 March, 2022
Last updated 22 March, 2022

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