AnonymousDFB1 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 All reference material and links in here please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 A good start for reference is the great info provided in the build up thread http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234942608-mig-21-single-type-group-build/page-13#entry1528804 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cooper Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) One observation here (between others because I just saw a MiG-21bis 'armed' with 'vanilla' R-3S/AA-2 Atolls)... Gents, if you're going for latest variants of MiG-21s - like MiG-21bis - then please keep in mind they entered service already after the original R-3S (AA-2 Atoll, i.e. the carbon-copy of the AIM-9B Sidewinder) was definitely considered 'obsolete', and withdrawn from service in most of user air forces. So, don't arm your MiG-21bis' with missiles that were hardly ever, or never at all used on that variant: arm them with something 'more modern'. MiG-21bis entered service with export customers only starting in 1977. Therefore, standard air-to-air armament of MiG-21bis variant consisted of R-13Ms (advanced Atolls, those with seeker heads resembling AIM-9D/G/H/L) and R-60M/MKs. As explained in different threads related to this GB, few of export users - foremost Egypt - have wired even their MiG-21M/MFs for AIM-9N/P Sidewinders. Something similar is valid for air-to-ground weaponry. True, UV-16-57 pods for unguided rockets represented the most widely used weapons. But already the slightly larger UV-32-57s were next to never used. In regards of bombs: older FAB-100-120 and FAB-250M54s remained in widespread use well into the 1990s. However, Soviet MiG-21bis were armed with a wide range of more modern weapons during Afghanistan War, including FAB-250M62, FAB-250ShN (parachute-retarded weapons for low-alt release), ZAB-300 (napalm); Angolan MiG-21MF/PFM/Bis too; Egyptian MiG-21M/MFs have deployed indigenous 'Dibber' anti-runway bombs, and Yugoslav MiG-21bis' were even armed with (British-made!) Hunting BL.755 CBUs. Many of users - especially those involved in different conflicts - have made widespread use of S-24 unguided rockets too. So, when arming your modells, don't always go for 'easiest' solution just because kit manufacturers are doing the same old, stereotypical, mistake. Diversify a little bit (and keep in mind different launch rails for more advanced AAMs!). There is enough reference on hand. Here few ideas: Front row, from left to right: APU-13MT (launch rail for R-13M)APU-13MI (U)APU-7APU-60-II (launch rail for R-60M/MK)APU-60UB-32M2UB-16UMS-5MR-3R (Izd 320V)R-3S (Izd 310A)R-13M (Izd 380A)R-13M1 (Izd 380M, apparently never exported)R-60M (Izd 62A)R-55 (Izd 67)RS-2US (Izd 55, sometimes used on MiG-21bis, but for training purposes only)S-24AH-66 (exported to Iraq only but never used on their MiG-21s; they fired a few from their Mi-25s, during the Iran-Iraq War)Middle row from left to right:ZB-500SKSZB-360SPRD-99 JATO (used a lot on Vietnamese and Egyptian MiG-21PFMs, for starts from forward air bases, close to the 'border/frontline', respectivelly: MiG-21s would be clandestinely 'flown in' with help of Mi-6 helicopters, during the night before action, then surprise the enemy on the next morning by appearing over areas they were not usually appearing)SF-4 Light Flare Chuted for SAB-250-200SAB-250-200 Candle BombOFAB-500SR ChutedFAB-500SR ChutedODAB-500PM ChutedPTAB-500S Rocket/ChutedFAB-500TA High SpeedBETAB-500 (anti-runway bomb; apparently used by Soviets only)FAB-500SL ChutedFAB-500M54TU RetardedFAB-500M54ZAB-500-400 IncendiaryFAB-250M54TU RetardedFAB-250M54OFAB-100-120 RetardedASO-2V Flare/Chute dispensersLast row from left to right:SPS-141-100 Combined ECM Jammer + Flare/Chute dispensers (not known to have been used on MiG-21s outside Europe)IAB-500 2N244H Training deviceGUV-8700 Gun Pod (9A669), 1x AGS-17 30mm automatic grenade launcher (not known to have been used on MiG-21s outside Europe)GUV-8700 Gun Pod (9A624) 2x GshG 7.62mm & 1x Yak-B 12.7mm (ditto)Fuel Droptank 490l WFuel Droptank 800l (this drawing is misleading: this tank - originally developed by Egyptians for their MiG-21F-13s, in 1969 - was rather wide than 'high'; it's profile was the same like that of the 490-litre tank)Fuel Droptank 490l C Edited April 2, 2014 by Tom Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Thanks Tom that's yet more useful info! The new Eduard kits have a wide range of weapons, as they share the weapons sprue across the versions. It's great for the spares but a little bewildering for the modeller!! If people want some more exotic weapons, as Tom mentions, check out the Aerobonus Range from Aires http://www.aires.cz/en/catalog/ They have a lot of what Tom mentions above! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cooper Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 To further illustrate some of what I've said above, plus because it seems that there is something like 'common perception' that Soviets 'didn't deliver their best to everybody'... Ethiopia, supposedly a 'piddle-poor' country, was fresh out of the 'US camp' in 1977, as the Cold War was reaching its heights. It's air force (actually: the entire military) was completely US-trained. And still, when the Soviets entered cooperation with that country, it became not only one of first export customers for MiG-21bis, but also received R-13Ms and - few years later - R-60MKs too. - Here a group of Soviet instructors with an Ethiopian MiG-21bis, in early 1978 (they were in the country for only something like 2-3 months, to help convert EtAF F-86- and F-5A-pilots to MiG-21s): http://www.acig.info/forum/download/file.php?id=7216&t=1 - 20 years later, February 1999, an Ethiopian MiG-21bis seen during take-off for a CAP along the frontlines of the Badme War (with Eritrea) - and still armed with 4x R-13M: http://www.acig.info/forum/download/file.php?id=1721 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) It makes good sense to supply the newest kit to 'allies' to trial for you, especially in combat. A good publicity and sales stunt replacing obsolete US kit with the best Russia can produce, a bit like swapping an old car for a shinny new one, suddenly everyone else in your street wants one!! Tom your links appear to be to part of the site that's restricted! Edited April 2, 2014 by SaintsPhil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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