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Eduard 1/48 Mig-21SMT/MT Weekend Edition

By Winston Gould

Introduction

The MiG-21 was one of a long list of Mikoyan-Gurevich products to be integrated into the armed forces of the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact, and allied client states. Its predecessors included such notable types as the MiG-15, MiG-17 and the supersonic MiG-19. The roots of this project reach back to the first half of the fifties. In 1954, the Ye-1 project came to an end, and was quickly picked up by the Ye-2. Both had a swept wing. The first machine to feature the delta wing was the Ye-4, which first took to the air on June 16th, 1955. It was also demonstrated a year later at the Moscow airfield Tushino.

The first of the new line to enter production was the MiG-21F, which together with the MiG-21P and F-13 represented the first generation of the MiG-21, and was in production through the end of the fifties and the beginning of the sixties. Subsequent versions included the PF, FL, PFM, R, etc, the production of which peaked at the end of the sixties. The third generation started production in 1968, which included such versions as M, SM, MF, SMT, bis among others. Simultaneously, two-seat training versions were also produced designated MiG-21U, UM and US. Production of the MiG-21 ended in 1985, and was put into service with some fifty nations.

Over the course of the cold war, the opponents of the MiG-21 included the likes of the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter and the Dassault Mirage III. NATO assigned it the reporting name 'Fishbed'. It became the most produced supersonic fighter in terms of quantity. The new machines came off Soviet production lines in Moscow, Gorky and Tbilisi. The MiG-21F-13 was also built under license in Czechoslovakia and the MiG-21FL, M and bis in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The Soviet Union produced 10, 645 examples of all versions, 194 were built in Czechoslovakia and 657 in India. Outside of the Soviet Union, the type flew with a long list of nations on all continents with the exception of Australia. The MiG-21 participated in combat in Vietnam, the Indo-Pakistan wars, the Cuban participation in Angola and in the Arab world's attempt to eliminate Israel. Thanks to the high volume of use, the highest number of aces produced on the type was in Vietnam. The top of the ladder is occupied by Nguyen Van Coc with nine kills.

The type serving as a fighter-bomber served with the Soviet Union and other nations of the Warsaw Pact into the eighties, when it began to be displaced by the MiG-29 Fulcrum. This kit allows you to build foremost a model of the MiG-21MT or SMT. In factory documentation, the types are identified as Izdelye 50 for SMT and Izdelye 96B for MT. They were powered by the Tumansky R-13F-300 with afterburning and carried the Saphir-21/RP-22SM radar. The armament was composed of the GS-23-2L 23mm cannon with 200 rounds. The underwing pylons could carry a combination of FAB bombs up to 500kg in size, UB-16-57 or UB-32A rocket pods, and R-3S, R-3R or S-24 missiles. NATO assigned the MiG-21MT / SMT the codename 'Fishbed K'.

The Kit

The kit comes in a top-opening box containing eight sprues (Seven in gray-colored plastic, one clear plastic). One decal option is offered, a Mig-21MT, MiG-21MT, Serial Number 96.40.15, Dolgoye Ledovo, Russia. These markings are also one of five options included in the Eduard Mig-21SMT/MT ProfiPACK kit number 8233 (Mig-21SMT/MTs, all from the Soviet Union/Russia, two MTs and three SMTs). Three different camouflage schemes and two natural metal schemes.

This weekend edition kit is the standard Eduard Mig-21SMT/MT ProfiPACK offering (Cat. No. 8233) without the photo-etch sets, masks or multiple markings.

The surface detail is nice with a smooth finish, engraved panel lines and raised detail as appropriate for the aircraft. The twelve-page instruction sheet is a black and white, A4 sheet folded in half. The last page is in color for painting reference for the included markings. Construction is shown in 19 packed and very busy steps. Color references are Mr. Color, Mr. Metal Color and Aqueous, with the appropriate paint manufacturer reference numbers and names. No FS or Soviet equivalents are offered.

Construction starts with a very detailed cockpit – no photo-etch required. NOTE: This kit does include decals for the instrument panel and side walls in the appropriate Soviet-era 'Quartz Green' interior color. The option is provided for raised-detail panels/sidewalls without the decals or smooth panels/sidewalls with decals. Next is the afterburner/exhaust section, the main gear wells and the cockpit sidewalls The fuselage is then closed up and the vertical tail and spine are added. The lower wing details are built and the lower wing is added to the fuselage, as well as the horizontal stabilators. Top wings and flaps/ailerons followed by lower fuselage details. The landing gear is completed and added to the lower wing/fuselage. No flattened tires are offered. Complete the cockpit by adding the seat and add the canopy in the open or closed position. This is followed by adding the external pylons and building the plethora of under wing stores. Under wing stores include drop tanks, unguided rockets, air-to-air missiles, bombs and Rocket-Assisted Take-Off (RATO) bottles. The unique IAB-500 Soviet Tactical Nuclear Weapon is missing, but available from Eduard as a separate resin item (Brassin Number 648047). Page 11 of the instructions provide comprehensive external stores configurations. That's it for construction. Paint and decal per the instructions (or find another scheme that you like) and you have a sharp-looking Mig-21SMT/MT.

Conclusion

This kit is exactly what Eduard advertises for its 'Weekend Edition' kits: One version, all plastic (no etched, masks or 'extras') and a 'no frills' instruction sheet. You do get plenty of external stores for the spares box. Highly recommended, especially if you want to build a quality out-of-the-box Russian Federation Air Force Mig-21SMT/MT.

Thank you Eduard for providing the review sample.