Scale Aviation Modeller International — February 2018

Mig-21R

Kovozavody Prostejov 1/72 Mig-21R by Carmel J.Attard

AIRCRAFT NAME: M i g -2 1 R

MANUFACTURER: Kovozavody Prostejov

SCALE: 1/72

TYPE: Injection moulded

DECAL OPTIONS: 4

P

opularly nicknamed

”Balalaika”, the Mig-

21MF “Fishbed” J is an

export version of the Mig-21SM,

equipped with RP-22 radar and

the R13F25 300 turbojet engine.

The aircraft was exported widely

and continues to be used to this

day. Its simple controls, weapons,

and avionics are typical of

Soviet-era military design, and

the tailed delta configuration

aids stability, increasing safety

for lower-skilled pilots. These

features enhance its market

to developing countries, with

their limited training programs

and restricted pilot pools.

The Mig-21R represented by

the Kovozavody Prostejov (KP) kit

is the dedicated reconnaissance

variant of the Mig-21. Based on

the Fishbed J airframe, it has the

additional feature of carrying an

under-fuselage pod for cameras

or other sensors. The type

evolved from what was first in

the third-generation Mig-21 line,

dating back to the late 1960s as

a special reconnaissance type.

The electronic equipment

required for recce missions needed

additional space in the broad dorsal

spine, which goes as far back as the

fin root. This housed a 300 litre fuel

tank and the necessary electronics.

The wing was strengthened to

carry two outboard underwing

pylons for 480 litre external tanks.

Two special under-fuselage

reconnaissance pods are used, one

for daylight use and one with non-

visual sensors. Type D is used for

daylight recce duties, and it carries

7 cameras with different focuses for

normal, oblique, and strip photos.

The pod weight is approximately

285 kg. Other types carry a variety

of cameras, radar monitoring,

and countermeasure systems.

THE KIT

This is the second time that the

Czech firm KP have produced an

injection moulded model of the

Mig-21, but it was a nice surprise

that this time it is a new-tooled

Mig-21 reconnaissance variant,

covering European users of the

type. With several Mig-21 variants

produced in kit form, the Mig-

21R by KP is very welcome.

The kit comes with an 8-page,

bi-lingual instruction manual,

with all illustrations in colour.

This contains a Mig-21MF history,

a three-sprue parts plan, and 12

easy-to-follow assembly stages.

There is a detailed page dedicated

to armament and stencil detail,

and four pages of 4-view plans

in colour, depicting each of the

four aircraft liveries found on

the comprehensive decal sheet.

Instructions are in the form of 12

illustrated stages of construction.

The four scheme options are for:

an overall light grey Romanian Air

Force aircraft; two camouflaged

Czech Air Force Migs, one in black

grey and green, the other in mid

brown and green camouflage;

and a Polish Air Force all-metal

finish Mig. The colourful decal

sheet contains national markings

for each, including squadron

insignias, detail stencilling, and

other decorative markings. All of

these carry the central recce pod.

The injection moulded kit comes

in light grey styrene, free from

flash, with fine recessed panel lines

and rivet detail. The cockpit interior

is well executed and includes the

seat, side panels, column, and

rudder pedals, but no crew figure.

Instruments on the control panel

and side panels are finely engraved

or raised, to make matters easy

for painting. The two-part seat is

grey, with areas to paint in leather

and light grey. A choice between

70 • FEBRUARY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

KIT REVIEWS

070-73-Reviews-0218.indd 70 12/01/2018 12:11