This is the first edition of a new series from Kagero called 'Topshots'. Basically it is a walk-around publication, providing photographs of the subject in the kind of detail that has become so popular in the last few years.

The subject of this first volume is the MiG-21 MF. It starts with a brief history of the type in English. This is followed by three pages of overall photos of various aircraft in their different camouflage schemes. All the planes in this book are from the Polish Air Force, which retired the type from service in December of 2003, after decades of service.

There then follows page after page of superbly done photographs of every aspect of the aircraft, including several pages of the engine and more pages of the weapons carried by the MiG-21MF. Nothing is left out with seemingly every panel opened and even some equipment pulled out for closer inspection (such as the radar set, normally hidden behind the nose cone).

Included in the book is a Techmod decal sheet in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scale for two aircraft. One is camouflaged and a three view is provided on the back page of the book. It is a similar aircraft as to what is shown on the front cover. The other aircraft is probably an overall gloss light grey. I say probably as the specific aircraft on the sheet is not shown in the book, though several with similar markings are.

All the photographs in this volume are in color and there are a number of additional drawings to help with showing a few of the aircraft systems. About the only thing I'd like to see included would be some sort of color reference to the various shades seen inside and outside the aircraft. This would be especially helpful to modelers.

Overall, an excellent introductory volume and one that I can most highly recommend to those of you who like to see the detail bits of various aircraft.

June 2005

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