MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C - 1:72 Revell

[Julien]

MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C

Revell 1:72

The MiG-21 was a second generation fighter for the USSR following the earlier MiGs. It is the most produced jet fighter in history and has seen service in more then 60 countries Air Forces. It also boasts the longest production run of a fighter since the Korean war with production starting in 1959 and only stopping in 1985. The MiG-21 is still in use with many Air Forces.

The MiG-21F-13 (NATO Reporting name Fishbed C) was designed as a short range day fighter. This would be the first MiG021 to be produced in large numbers. The designation F-13 following the MiG-21 shows the F to be Forsirpvannyy (uprated) and the 13 refers to the ability to carry the K-13 missile. Unlike the earlier MiG-21 this variant carried only one NR-30 cannon on the right side with only 30 rounds. The capability though with the "13" was for carriage of the K-13 or AA-2 Atoll missile system. This was a short range infrared homing missile. This was similar in appearance to the US Sidewinder missile, which was no surprise as it was in effect a reverse engineered copy.

The Kit
This kit is a welcome re-release from Revell of their 2004 new tool kit of the Fishbed C. The kit was praised in 2004 for its great detail, engraved panel lines, and indented rivet detail. There is no evidence of any mould wear, and only a small amount of flash. This release looks as good as the first.

Construction starts shockingly enough with the cockpit. The ejection seat features 3 parts with moulded on seat belts. This is constructed and added to the cockpit tub along with the control column and instrument panel. A decal is provided for the instruments. Once the cockpit is built up the two part exhaust nozzle is completed. The exhaust, cockpit, front wheel bay and right side main gear bay can then all be added into the right fuselage half. The left main gear bay is added to the left fuselage half; and then the two halves can be joined together.

Construction then moves to the main wings. These are of conventional upper/lower parts which must be joined together, and added tot he completed fuselage. The tailplanes are then added.The next steps are to add the front airbrakes, the main under fuselage air brake, afterburner actuator fairing, and various cooling intakes. This then completes the underside.

The next major construction stage is to add the landing gear. The front is one leg with an additional part to help mount the single nose wheel. The main gears are again a single wheel with a main gear strut, and an actuator arm. The smaller gear door attaches to the main gear strut. The larger gear door attach direct to the fuselage. Once the gear, and doors are on the nose ring is added (this is one area of the kit know to be slightly inaccurate and Quickboost provide a replacement part if the modeller wants to change it). The front gear doors are added along with the required armament/tanks. The kit provides a centre line fuel tank, a pair of rocket pods, a pair of bombs, and what look to be ECM pods. The last items to be added are then the canopy and the large front pitot probe.

Canopy
The canopy is clear and free from distortion, if not a little thick for this scale.

Decals
Decals are provided for two Aircraft. Both overall Silver lacquer.

• Blue 66, 32nd Air Defence Regiment USSR 1961.
• 737 German Democratic Republic, as flown by 1st German Cosmonaut Sigmund Jähn, 1963-65

Conclusion
This was a great kit from Revell when they released it, and its still great now they have brought it back to us. Arguably still the best F-13 in 1/72 get it while you can. Highly recommended.

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers.

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[Antoine]

Nice!

Let's hope that they re-release both Hunters too.

[Julien]

Yes please

[sofiane1718]

Too bad there isn't as many marking options as the old box of this tooling:

Thanks for the review!

[Julien]

Yes they do seem to have trimmed the decals down a bit.

[Hook]

and what look to be ECM pods.

AFAIK these are AA-2 Atoll training rounds.

HTH,

Andre

[Julien]

Cheers, did not know that. Saying that some AA-2s in the kit would have been good.

[Hook]

Sure, but then again, AIM-9B's aren't exactly thin on the ground.

Cheers,

Andre

[Julien]

Yep

[BerndM]

Messed up the first release, now i have another chance. Its a nice kit.

[Antoine]

Sad for the Finnish markings, they were nice.

For this specific AF, there's a resin recce pod on the aftermarket (galdecals?).

Also, do not forget two nice decal sheets from Aztec.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Antoine

[Borisz]

Actally the kit have some shape misstakes with the nose cone.
The SBS model used to make correction set.

[Julien]

Actally the kit have some shape misstakes with the nose cone.

The SBS model used to make correction set.

Yes if you read the review I mention this, plus the quickboost correction which I have seen. I was not aware of the SBS model one.

[Andre B]

Some Israeli markings would be nice to this kit...

/André

[AlCZ]

Unfortunatelly, this kit have sharpest details and clear surface - better as newest kit from Revell (Gripen....). Gripen have many flashes and soft detaily (dtto 1/48 31years old "Bone" or B-58- still better as newest kit from RoG)... Why revell, why ? After decade ago Revell made nice kits and to-day no ?