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MiG-21SMT - 1:48 Eduard - ProfiPACK Edition


Julien

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MiG-21SMT

1:48 Eduard - ProfiPACK Edition

 

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From its inception in the 1950s the MiG-21 with the NATO reporting name of Fishbed has become the most produced jet fighter in history. With 10645 being produced in the USSR, 194 in Czechoslovakia, and 657 in India. The simple construction and low maintenance costs made the aircraft a favourite of many countries who purchase Eastern Bloc hardware. The SMT was a development of the SM (which brought a uprated engine, built in 20mm canon, and upgraded avionics). The SMT had an increased fuel capacity and is easily distinguished by the larger spine where the fuel tank was. Initially the tank caused stability issues as it disrupted airflow to the tail, however this was resolved by the designers with a slightly smaller tank.


The Kit
Eduard's MiG-21 range is now pretty much established as a great range of kits. The initial MF version came out in 2011 followed soon after by the SMT. In this boxing there are eight sprues of grey plastic, a clear sprue, two sheets of PE (one coloured), masks, and two sets or resin rocket pods. 

 

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Construction begins shockingly with the cockpit area. The front wheel well parts are attached to the underside of the cockpit floor. The instrument panel is then made up from five parts plus the PE. The next step is to complete the engine exhaust. The exhaust is made up from 11 parts and looks to be fairly detailed for plastic parts, this is enhanced by a few PE parts as well. Once complete this is set aside for later. The main wheel bay is then constructed from 9 parts, and again this looks fairly comprehensive for plastic parts.

 

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Construction then moves back to the cockpit. The side consoles are constructed and placed in the appropriate fuselage halves. Again there are PE parts supplied for this.  Once the side consoles are in, the cockpit floor, exhaust assembly, cockpit bulkhead; and nose cone (it is recommended to add weight in here, though the instructions dont mention how much) are all placed indie the fuselage halves and they can be joined together. The nose ring is then added.  The large fuselage spine complete with fin can then be added to the fuselage, and the rudder added. This then complete the main fuselage and construction moves onto the wings.

 

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The wings are a one part bottom wing with split left/right uppers. If the side airbrakes are to be positioned open then they will have to be cut out from the wing. A variety of small parts are added to the wheel bays, along with the walls of the bays. The main wheels wells can then be added to the fuselage and the lower wing glued into place. The tail planes are added at this stage along with various linkages and intakes in the engine bay area.

 

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The upper wings are added next, along with their separate control surfaces. PE wing fences are added. Work then switches to the underside. The main airbrake can be added in either the open or closed position. Flap actuators are added as is the under tail fairing. Work then switches to the undercarriage. The main wheels are built up along with tyres. The front landing leg is also assembled. These are attached along with the main gear doors.

 

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Last touches are to complete the ejector seat. This is 19 part affair in plastic! as good as some resin seats I have seen, and with the addition of the PE seat belts should really look the part. A resin seat with the ProfiPACK kit would have been a nice addition though, The canopies and pitot tubes are added and the underwing/belly pods/ordnance can be added. Drop tanks, large rockets, bombs, and air-2-air missiles are provided for the modeller to use as they want on the plastic sprues. In resin there are two sets of rocket pods.

 

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Clear Parts
The clear parts are up to Eduard's usual standard. Clear and free from distortion.

 

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Decals
The kit provides one sheet of decals for the main aircraft markings and a larger sheet for the myriad of stencils which adorn the aircraft & weapons. Both are printed in house by Eduard and should pose no problems. As this is a ProfiPACK boxing 5 decal options are provided. 

 

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  • MiG-21MT, Serial Number 96.40.14, Dolgoye Ledovo, Russia
  • MiG-21MT, Serial Number 96.40.15, Dolgoye Ledovo, Russia
  • MiG-21SMT, 582 IAP, Chojna Airfield, Poland, Late Eighties
  • MiG-21SMT, Krasnodar Higher Aviation Training Facility, Soviet Union, ca 1980
  • MiG-21SMT, 296 IAP, Soviet Union

 

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Conclusion
This is a great kit from Eduard. Highly recommended.

 

 

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Review sample courtesy of logo.gif

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