Eduard Mig-23MLD Updates (for Trumpeter 1:48)

[Mike]

Mig-23MLD Updates (for Trumpeter)
1:48 Eduard

These Photo-Etch (PE) sets have been produced to improve detail and scale thickness of the original kit, which is Eduard's stock-in-trade. There are several sets dealing with various aspects of the kit, so the modeller can pick and choose which parts of the model they wish to focus on, or splurge and detail everywhere. Each set comes in the familiar Eduard flat resealable pack with a white card protecting the frets, and behind them are the instructions.


Interior (49716)
This set contains two PE sheets, one of which is pre-painted and self-adhesive, plus a small piece of acetate with HUD glass shapes printed in black. It begins with a new instrument panel that replaces all but the central section of the kit part, and has laminated and printed instruments and their bezels. The rear bulkhead is detailed, and the HUD is replaced with a delicate mixture of PE and acetate parts. The side consoles are skinned with highly detailed painted instruments, and the sidewalls are similarly treated. The windscreen is given a roll-over hoop and addition details, while the kit ejector seat is comprehensively upgraded with new structural details, headbox skins, seat cushion detail, and a full set of crew belts, all of which is pre-painted and self-adhesive. Finally, the canopy is detailed with an inner frame, placards, and a set of rear-view mirrors.

Interior Zoom! (FE716)
This smaller and cheaper set includes just the self-adhesive pre-painted fret and the acetate sheet, so if you don't want or need the additional brass for whatever reason, then this set is for you.

Exterior (48842)
Consisting of one large bare brass fret, this upgrades the detail on the outside of the model, starting with the deeply buried afterburner ring and tyre hubs. The landing gear struts are given additional actuators, struts and detail parts, as well as brake hosing, which continues on into the wheel bays, where some additional panels are added. The gear bay doors are given a full set of detailed hinges, and the air-brake doors are skinned on the inside, with their shallow bays receiving additional wiring looms.

The engine intakes have their splitter plates removed to be replaced by a new PE part with far superior detail, and inside are a number of flow manipulation devices that are cut from the kit part to be replaced by more accurate and in-scale PE sections. The auxiliary doors are detailed with louvers, and a small panel that sits on the upper section. A number of aerials, sensors and antennae are dotted around the airframe, and a few remaining parts are used to update the chaffe and flare dispensers.

Weapons (48841)
This large sheet of bare PE contains a mass of parts to upgrade the weapons and their pylons. Each pylon is given a PE skin on the mounting surface for the munitions, which is almost blank out of the box. Additional sway-braces are included with the shorter pylons, with only the inaccurate (but practical) bomb attachment lugs needing removal. The weapons themselves are literally festooned with additional detail in the shape of exhausts, electrical conduits, rail-mounting lugs, various additional panels, plus small details for the aft stabilising fins and their air-actuated "rollers". The missiles covered include the R-60, R-27R/T, R-13M and R-3R.

Mig-23MLD Seatbelts FABRIC (49077)
This set utilises the GWH pre-printed and laser cut "fabric" coupled with a small fret of nickel plated PE for the buckles and adjusters. The fabric is peeled from its backing, scrunched up into a ball, then cut from the fret and laced through the buckles just like the real thing, following the instructions carefully. They are fiddly, but the result is so impressive that it is most definitely worth the effort!

Review sample courtesy of

[IGKent]

Great review! Thank so much, Mike!