Eduard Mig-21MF Limited Edition 1:48

[Mike]

Mig-21MF Limited Edition
1:48 Eduard

The Mig 21 has the distinction of being the most numerous supersonic jet fighter aircraft ever built, and has seen service with dozens of counties all over the world. It has seen action in Vietnam, the Middle East, Yugoslavia, Cuba and during numerous conflicts in Africa. It has even been copied by the Chinese, where it is known as the Chengdu J-7. The MF is the export version of the SM with modernised avionics and a better engine, which has seen service with many Soviet states and their post Cold War descendants. Czechoslovakia had a substantial quantity that were split between the Czech Republic and Slovakia when the wall came down, eventually to be replaced by Saab Gripens and Mig-29s respectively.


The Kit
This is a limited edition reboxing of the original MF kit that was released to much acclaim in 2011 that we reviewed here, and contains the book that was included in the Silver Arrows boxing reviewed here. The box is a standard size for the Profipak editions, but when you pick it up you really feel the weight of the book. Inside are the usual 8 large sprues of grey styrene, a large clear sprue in a Ziploc bag, a bag of resin rocket pods, a bag containing two frets of Photo-Etched (PE) parts, one in colour, the other plain, plus the book, the instruction manual and a separate painting and markings manual. This gives the clue to the decal sheets, of which there are three, two of which are around A4 in size, the other slightly smaller. It really is a well-rounded package.

The only differences in terms of the build will be your options, which depend on which decal option of the thirty nine (yes… 39!!!) you will be building. The PE instrument panels have a number of choices both on the main panel and side consoles, and there is a sensor fit difference between some of the marks, so take care when selecting the parts to use. The generous load of weapons on the sprues are augmented by the aforementioned resin rocket pods that are each made up from a front section with a hollow tapering exhaust can. The shackles to attach them to the kit pylons are included on the weapons sprues.

Markings
This is what this boxing is really all about. Thirty Nine decal options, split between Czech and Slovakian aircraft. You can see all the options and even some built up models on the website here. The two large sheets are printed by Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. The stencils are printed in-house, and are of good quality too.

The Book
The book is a weighty tome with 128 pages perfect-bound in a card cover, and it is full of photos of the decal options, both in flight, on the ground, and with numerous close-ups of various areas. Even without English text, they should be a big help in getting the most realistic result you can managed.

Want More?
Such a massive sheet demands consideration of the Overtrees boxes, which allow you to build more of the decal options without having to buy complete kits. If you also want to get the PE, you can purchase that separately too.

Overtrees Styrene

Overtrees PE

In addition, the pre-existing aftermarket available from Eduard and other companies are still out there, and you can find them quite easily by searching on "Mig-21MF".

Conclusion
This is a great kit that doesn't seem to have aged one bit in the last 5 years. The additional goodies with the massive decal sheets make it quite the prize, and that's probably why Eduard seem to have already sold out of the main kit, so you'll have to be quick tracking one down before the model shops run out. It's a shame the book couldn't have been translated to English as well, but there are such a lot of photos that it hardly matters.

Review sample courtesy of

[Antoine]

This is a limited edition reboxing of the original MF kit that was released to much acclaim in 2011 that we reviewed here, and contains the book that was included in the Silver Arrows boxing reviewed here.

Mike, can you please confirm its the same book?

Silver Arrows was related to PF/PFM/R, and this one concern MF???

[helios16v]

Another kit I keep eyeballing...I've come bloody close to pulling the trigger more than once.

[Dr Evil]

Mike, can you please confirm its the same book?

Silver Arrows was related to PF/PFM/R, and this one concern MF???

Antoine, it includes a completely new book dedicated to the MF, deffo not the same one included in the Sliver Arrows boxing but every bit as good.

Worth keeping an eye on Creative Models 'cos they had this kit in their weekly 100 bargains for 35 delivered the other week. Some kits appear fairly regularly in their sale so keep your fingers crossed this is one as it's an absolute bargain at that price.

[Antoine]

That's what I thought, but I didn't have the box in my hands, and Mike did.

[tempestfan]

The box is a standard size for the Profipak editions, but when you pick it up you really feel the weight of the book.

I can testify for that ! The kit came in a parcel with 9 others, and I wondered why it was so heavy...

Having no idea what the overtrees cost, another option could be the Weekend MFL boxing, which may be obtained with a bit of luck for something like 13 €.

[Mike]

Mike, can you please confirm its the same book?

Silver Arrows was related to PF/PFM/R, and this one concern MF???

I'm afraid I can't at the moment, as Dave has the original book... let me compare notes with him and get back to you I suspect I'm probably wrong

[Julien]

39 decal options!!!!

You will need a truck for all the overtrees to build them all

[IGKent]

That's cool! Mike great review!