Airfix Model World – July 2018

EDUARD’S PROMISED 1/

MiG-21MF is finally with us...and
it’s an absolute corker.
The firm already rules the
roost with its awesome 1/
kits of the Fishbed (see p.81),
but modellers who favour
smaller scales now have
what is arguably the best
‘one inch to six feet’ MiG-
on the market. On lifting the
lid, decorated with dynamic
artwork typical of the Czech
manufacturer, one is greeted
by three styrene runners and
one clear frame, tape masks,
pre-coloured photo-etched
metal details and two decal
sheets...but more on the
markings later.
The design is obviously rooted
in that of its 1/48 predecessor
but has been adapted for
accuracy and buildability; in
some cases, the detail is better
than on Eduard’s quarter-
scale equivalent. One pleasing

feature (not available in 1/48)

is that the whole spine is

moulded integrally with the

vertical tail, but there are

also alternative wheel hubs,

an open or closed airbrake,

optional rocket-assisted

take-off bottles and a useful

weapons array; here, just the

air-to-air stores are shown on

the instructions (Alkali, Atoll,

Aphid) but rocket pods and

bombs are also present, hinting

at further boxings.

Decals for Poland, Romania,

Czechoslovakia, East Germany

and Mali are offered, the

last two airframes being

camouflaged. For parts photos

and a full schemes list, visit:

http://www.airfixmodelworld.com.

Further information on this

and other releases is at

http://www.eduard.com

SMALLER-SCALE FISHBED

WHILE AIRFIX’S 1/

Sea Vixen remains out of

production, Trumpeter has

filled this glaring gap

with its own same-scale and

newly tooled FAW.

Kit 05808 has 140 styrene

parts and ten in photo-

etched (PE) brass, and the

panel lines and rivets are

suitably fine. Plus-points

include intake trunking with

engine fronts, moulded

detail in the cockpit and

observer's ‘coal hole’

station, an optional open

or closed airbrake, busy

undercarriage bays, separate

flying control surfaces and

Microcell rocket fairings...but

there are a few odd points.

Firstly, and the most glaring,

is that when the tail booms

are laid alongside Airfix’s

equivalents, Trumpeter’s

curve into the vertical

stabilisers is set further

back, hence they are longer

overall. The mainwheel hubs

are larger in diameter than

Airfix’s, there is no open flap

option and the observer’s

hatch is too long and thin.

Another factor is that while

Trumpeter offers inserts

for where the wings would

fold on the real aircraft,

these are not shown on the

instructions and there are

no hinges or support struts...

it’s as if the firm intended to

offer wing folds, but then a

U-turn occurred.

Weaponry is all air-to-air,

via Red Top and Firestreak

missiles, but their

dimensions are off slightly,

and the clear, faceted nose

cones of the latter stores

are too long. Underwing

fuel tanks are present, and

the main PE components

are wing fences, and front/

rear inserts for the well-

appointed airbrake bay.

Markings for three colour

schemes are provided, all

Extra Dark Sea Grey over

white, and representing

766, 899 and 893 NASs.

The latter livery is in error

though, because Trumpeter’s

instructions state it’s

XN654, which was an FAW.1,

but the decal provided

is XX654, which was a

Scottish Aviation Bulldog.

The squadron motifs are

also rather basic. This kit

is available in the UK from

http://www.pocketbond.co.uk

A NEW FOXY TWIN-BOOM